AIAA AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Technical Committee (MDOTC) (Chair) MDOTC Members AIAA Journal Editorial Board (Associate Editor) Research Labs Working on Design and Optimization Design Automation Laboratory (University of Notre Dame) The Design Automation Laboratory in Fitzpatrick Hall currently houses three SUN Sparcstations and features CNC machining capabilities, Aries Technology CAD/CAE software, and Computervision CAD/CAE software for CAD/CAE tool development. The laboratory is currently developing an optimization-based CAD tool for electronic package design. This work involves the use of artificial neural networks for design space mapping and incorporates distributed processing (i.e., parallel processing) for computer aided engineering processes. The development of optimization-based design tools for the multidisciplinary design of flight vehicles is also underway. A CAD analysis tool for integrated plastic snap fastener design is currently in development. Other focus areas include design for manufacturing, life cycle design, and design for recyclability. Systems Realization Laboratory at Georgia Tech. In the Systems Realization Laboratory (SRL), our principal objectives are to foster: The study of the role of analytical, experimental and computational tools in solving open, multidisciplinary problems in the product realization process with a view towards understanding the design process and advancing the science of design form a holistic, systems, decision-based perspective; The development and implementation of approaches that harmonize the roles of analysis, synthesis and visualization, as well as the interactive roles of engineers and their computers. The application of these approaches to a variety of engineering systems. The study of how design is learned and can be taught in an information-driven environment. The transfer of this philosophy of design and decision making to students at universities and to practicing engineers in industry. Our key research thrust is in the realization of open engineering systems. Current investigations include development of tools for robust concept exploration and system design, environmentally conscious design and manufacture; de- and remanufacture; system configuration and manufacture using available assets; virtual and rapid prototyping; modeling uncertainty and decision-support.   Multidisciplinary Optimization & Design Engineering Laboratory (University of Buffalo) Current research in MODEL has grown out of efforts to develop techniques for design synthesis in nonhierarchic (coupled) environments. A major focus has been the development of methods that use a decomposition approach to break large, intractable problems into smaller subproblems, while maintaining their couplings. This approach is particularly amenable to the design organization setting in which engineers work in groups divided by task and disciplinary specializations, thus taking advantage of the division of labor, while permitting the concurrency of operations. A major obstacle in using decomposition methods for optimization has been in ensuring that the optimized system is equal to (or an improvement upon) the sum of the optimized subsystems. Preliminary research has demonstrated the viability of decomposition approaches for small academic problems. Current research focuses on extending these methods to accommodate the special requirements of the manufacturing community, which represent challenging new areas for research development. Integration & Design Engineering Laboratory (IDEL) (University of Illinois at Chicago) The Integration & Design Engineering Laboratory (IDEL) is one of the research laboratories in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago. It is located in a thirty million dollars Engineering Research Facility (ERF) that includes many modern research laboratories. The main research area of IDEL is engineering design and manufacturing. The focus of research work done at IDEL under the direction of Dr. Wei Chen, is to advance the theory, methods, and tools for solving complex design and manufacturing problems. This research is becoming more and more important in the context of globally competitive markets and the need to quickly respond to the change. Detailed descriptions of research areas and projects are provided. Advanced Mechanical Design Laboratory (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) Mechanical Design Laboratory's current research interests include development of advanced mechanical design automation methods focusing on topics related to kinematics and dynamics of machinery; study of trade-off based robust design methods with particular emphasis on decision-based design and statistical exploration based optimization techniques; and modeling and simulation of double-disk grinding processes. Trade-off Based Robust Modeling and Design (TRED) Laboratory (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) This research, partially funded by NSF (National Science Foundation), aims to develop a trade-off based robust modeling and design methodology for identification of statistically optimal product specifications. It is based on concepts from utility theory into a robust design paradigm to quantitatively incorporate qualitative knowledge and preferences of different attributes without loss of generality and accuracy.The primary goal of this research involves the determination of a trade-off based decision model formulation for direct and simultaneous treatment of multiple objectives and constraints in the design process, and its integration with a statistical exploration based robust optimal design generation strategy. This research could lead to a better understanding of the engineering modeling process, and advance the state of knowledge by which the inherent complexities arising from representing physical design problems using idealized computer-based abstractions can be addressed. Results of this research will also contribute towards the identification of a consistent body of synergistic, integrated engineering design methods based on design of experiments, utility theory, computer-based simulation models, finite element methods, and design optimization principles. Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL) at Georgia Tech. The Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL) was founded in 1992 and is one of a small number of academic/educational research laboratories in the country that focus on aerospace systems design. The ASDL is an integral part of a confederation of autonomous centers and laboratories that together share office and laboratory space, classroom and conference facilities, and computing resources. Where appropriate and effective, the groups collaborate on joint research projects. Such a collaboration is highly effective for design research and is facilitated by the proximity of the groups to each other and to the research facilities. This pilot program provides a visible identity for research and teaching in design engineering and analysis methods. Since design is inherently a multidisciplinary activity, it is essential for a successful program that students and faculty, from a variety of groups, have the oppurtunity to work closely together in teams. The laboratory is presently comprised of three professors, one research engineer, one post-doctorate fellow, and thirty-five graduate research fellows and assistants. The Sigma Optimization Group (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Optimization is an essential technology in domains ranging from pure mathematics and theoretical chemistry to automated manufacturing and engineering design. Our work advances the mathematical foundations of optimization while providing rigorous solutions to important problems, primarily in the area of process systems engineering. Recently, we developed global optimization algorithms for mixed-integer nonlinear programming and provided the first analytical investigations for problems in process operations. Multidisciplinary Optimization Branch of The Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics Division. (NASA) The MDOB mission is to lead LaRC in: Identification, development, and demonstration of multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) methods. The transfer of promising MDO technology to American industry in a timely manner. The facilitation of relevant basic MDO research within NASA, industry, and universities. The Consummate Design Center The Consummate Design Center (TCDC) is a virtual resource center for all types of designers. Its purpose is to help promote design principles, methods, and technologies that lead to the creation of quality products and services for our global society. Companies and other Organizations working on Design and Optimization iSIGHT World Leading Design Exploration Technology Engineous Software, Inc. (Engineous), based in Morrisville, NC, was founded in August, 1994. Engineous is a leading developer of advanced engineering management software products and services for industries utilizing computer simulation models that facilitate the design of large-scale, industrial products. Recognizing the demand for significantly higher engineering productivity, in 1995, Engineous introduced the initial version of iSIGHT, the first software framework that automates, integrates, and optimizes existing design environments. iSIGHT enables engineering designers to explore more design alternatives and reach optimal designs faster. This leads to significantly lower product costs and increased overall product performance. Engineous has offered regular releases of iSIGHT.   VMA Engineering Leaders in Structural Analysis and Design Optimization VMA Engineering was founded by Dr. Garret N. (Gary) Vanderplaats in May of 1984. Our headquarters is located in Colorado Springs, CO. VMA Engineering specializes in optimization research and development for engineering applications, and offers a wide range of products and services in the field of design automation. Our optimization products are used worldwide in a variety of industries. In January 1992, VMA Engineering released a complete structural optimization program called GENESIS®. The design features of GENESIS are the latest methods available for both sizing and shape optimization. We make extensive use of second generation approximation concepts to enhance efficiency and reliability of the design process.GENESIS is the only commercially available structural synthesis program that makes full use of second generation approximation concepts to insure efficiency and reliability. GENESIS was designed from the start to be a fully integrated analysis/optimization program which will operate on anything from a workstation through a supercomputer (a PC version is also available now).   Altair Engineering Altair Engineering partners with companies around the world, offering software solutions as well as services that employ the latest advances in technology. We stand behind our products and services with the engineering expertise necessary to ensure our customers meet their objectives. If you deal with engineering simulation and analysis problems on a daily basis, Altair offers you best-in-class computing technology, unsurpassed engineering expertise, and the best overall value available.   LMS International LMS is pursuing a methodology which positions state-of-the-art techniques as well as newly arising technologies within the reference frame of the engineering process cascade, with the goal of evolving the present "Design-Build-Test-Analyze-Fix" cycle into a" Target-Synthesize-Design-Model-Simulate-Optimize-Validate" process. Key to this methodology is deploying refinement attribute modeling and analysis in a systematic cumulative fashion, allowing to evolve from exeperimentally-based and descriptive testing on late-stage prototype hardware, to combined numerically-generated system and loads modeling, behavior prediction and simulation, and ultimately to cross-disciplinary optimization based on the "digital" or "virtual" product. Such an approach will enable our customers to streamline their creative processes from design concept to product completion, to make well-informed and balanced key decisions from the most upfront stages onwards; to improve productivity at every stage, and to reach new standards of engineering refinement. All of which means: empowering our customers to bring better products to market faster and more economically. CPLEX Optimization, Inc. The CPLEX division of ILOG provides large-scale mathematical programming software and services for resource optimization. Our linear, mixed-integer and quadratic programming solvers are known for superior performance and reliability--particularly on large, difficult problems. Our software and services are offered worldwide through distributors and subsidiary offices. Our products are available for PCs, UNIX workstations, mainframes and supercomputers. Optimization Technology Center The Center's mission is to make potential users in industry, government, and academia aware of how optimization techniques can aid their work, and to make the latest techniques widely available. Our products are designed to help at each stage of problem solving, from modeling real-world applications through solving the mathematical problem to interpreting the results. The Optimization Technology Center is a joint enterprise of Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University. It was founded in 1994 with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and Northwestern University. Other Related Sites Decision Based Design Open Workshop MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGN OPTIMIZATION (MDO) METHOD EVALUATION Design from the Perspective of Competitive Advantage Global Optimization The CWP Object-Oriented Otpimizaiton Library Michael Trick's Operations Research Homepage OpsResearch.com VMCON2 (SQP implemented in FORTRAN) ANSYS Center for Research on Parallel Computation