Function-oriented design of mechatronic modular product platforms through systematic restriction of degrees of freedom

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Günther Schuh
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development ; Production Systems, Operations Management, Quality Management and Factory Planning
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 384797698

In the development of new products the fulfillment of product functions is increasingly realized in electrics/electronics and software. The development of these mechatronic systems requires a strong function orientation, in order to ensure the integration of the different disciplines. The increasing importance of mechatronic systems and the stronger function-oriented development have to be regarded when designing modular product platforms. Existing approaches regarding the development of mechatronic systems or the design of product platforms are insufficiently addressing the specific requirements for the design of modular product platforms for mechatronic systems. Taking into consideration the described situation the objective of the planned research proposition is to develop a design model, which enables an increased efficiency of modular product platforms for mechatronic systems. The main elements of the solution are the structuring of a system in mechatronic function modules and the targeted restriction of system-relevant degrees of freedom. Through the functional orientation and the restriction of degrees of freedom the optimal usage of design variables within the partial disciplines of mechatronic systems will be ensured. The proposed approach is structured in five partial models. The objective of the first model is the structuring of a system in mechatronic function modules. Within the second model classifications for degrees of freedom in mechatronic systems will be developed and embedded within a process model for the derivation of specific degrees of freedom. Based on the structured function modules and the identification of degrees of freedom the third partial model quantifies the impact of a variation of a degree of freedom (design variable variation) on the system regarding the fulfillment of function, cost und interdependencies using performance indicators. Applying these performance indicators within the fourth partial model a method for the design of modular function modules through a systematic restriction of degrees of freedom is developed. The objective is to fulfill the demanded function by applying flexibility in the degrees of freedom which have a minimum effect on additional costs of the system. To realize this objective within this step a system model through graph theory and a system analysis through change propagation is used. The final step of the methodology is constituted by the fifth partial model for the configuration of the whole system from mechatronic function modules through the systematic identification and dissolution of target conflicts. The planned research proposition contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of mechatronic systems and enables the design of efficient modular platforms for mechatronic products.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants