Chapter 13: Knowledge Management

Title: Automated design process modelling and analysis using immersive virtual reality

Author(s): Raymond Chun Wai Sung, James Millar Ritchie, Theo Lim, Graham Robinson, Philip Day

Address: School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University EH14 4AS, UK | School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University EH14 4AS, UK | School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University EH14 4AS, UK | School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University EH14 4AS, UK | School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University EH14 4AS, UK

Reference: International Conference on Product Lifecycle Management 2009 pp. 611 - 623

Abstract/Summary: This paper presents research which demonstrates how the detailed logging and analysis of a user's actions in a cable harness virtual reality (VR) design and manufacturing system permits automated design task analysis and process mapping, which facilitates information push. Based on prior research, which utilised user-logging to automatically generate assembly plans and time and motion study techniques to improve the system's efficiency, the research described here involves the extraction of design knowledge that is embedded within the log files. Once this has been extracted, it is then represented and formalised using IDEF0 diagrams, design rationale editor (Dred) graphs, process specification language (PSL) and extensible markup language (XML) information representations. Finally, using the design knowledge acquired, an online help system has been developed which aids a user to carry out design tasks that are similar to ones performed previously beforehand by expert users.

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