Spring Quarter 1999

ME/IE 8773-8774

A System Level KBE Tool for Vehicle Production DEFINITION

by

Dale E. Calkins, D. Eng.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-2600
Currently on sabbatical at FORD, Dearborn, MI

Wednesday, June 2 1999
1:25 - 2:15 p.m.
Room 102 ME
Broadcast on UNITE Channel B
Coffee will be available in 152 ME following the seminar

A tool based on Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) known as the ÒAutomobile Design Support SystemÓ (AutoDSS) is under development at the University of Washington. The architecture of AutoDSS was developed to address the high-level system definition of an automobile for product definition. Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE), also knows as Rule-Based Design, provides the engineer with the ability to develop a true Generative Virtual Prototype of a product prior to committing to manufacturing. A Generative Virtual Prototype is a systems model that represents both the geometric and non-geometric attributes of a product. These attributes are embedded in the computer model, which has the ability to instantiate a virtual prototype of the automobile. The kernel of the DSS is the use of the ÒGenerative Virtual PrototypeÓ approach in contrast to the ÒDesign AdvisorÓ approach. The use of either type of KBE tool is to be appropriate at the various stages in the design process as the definition of the product proceeds through the conceptual, preliminary and detailed stages.

Dale E. Calkins received a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Detroit, a M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from San Diego State University, and a D. Eng. in Naval Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Calkins is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. He has served as faculty advisor to the UW SAE Student Chapter and instructor of the course in which the car was designed and built. Prof. Calkins is currently on sabbatical at Ford in Dearborn, MI. His professional engineering career includes experience in the industrial, government, academic, and consulting sectors of research and development and engineering design. His technical specialties include Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) and Computer-Aided Design Engineering (CAD/CAE) in the aeronautical, marine and automotive fields.

Informal Faculty Luncheon: Wednesday, June 2, 1999, 11:45 am, Room 404, Campus Club. Dr. Calkins will be able to attend.