The recent research on virtual prototyping engineering for complex products

In recent years, based on the previous research work, "virtual prototyping engineering for complex product (CPVPE)" project, combined with current technology developments and application requirements, is further studied and practiced. Some latest research results gained are introduced in This work in detail, which include the collaborative simulation grid based system technology for CPVPE, component based collaborative modeling and simulation technology for CPVP (complex product virtual prototype), multidisciplinary design optimization technology for CPVP, collaborative virtual environment technology, collaborative simulation grid platform based supporting environment technology for CPVPE, etc. Furthermore, a tools suit for CPVPE, namely COSIM-grid, developed by authors and their colleagues is presented. At last, some typical cases based on COSIM-grid are also presented.

1. Introduction

At present, the complex product virtual prototyping technology featured in multidisciplinary collaborative CAX/DFX technology is becoming a hotspot of the product research and development in manufacturing [2]. Facing lots of new challenges raised to traditional virtual prototyping technology, the authors and their colleagues consider that the development of virtual prototype for complex product has become a systematic engineering. Here, we define “complex product” as a kind of product which. has complex customer requirements, complex product composition, complex product technologies, complex manufacturing processes and complex project management, such as aerospace vehicle, airplane, car, complex Mechano-electronics equipment, weapon system, etc. The concept, principle, technology and method of system engineering should be adopted in the research, development, implementation and maintenance of CPVPE. In 2000, a research project named CPVPE was launched in china, in which more than one hundred persons who came from different universities and research institutes participated. A series of important research fruits were obtained [1]. (1)

to establish an advanced, open, distributed and integrated supporting platform/tools suits for supporting the whole life cycle design process and performance evaluation of complex’ product or system to enable its user to develop and execute distributed collaborative engineering and multidisciplinary virtual prototyping session.

(2)

to exploit some key technologies, such as the system technology for CPVPE, Project/Process/Product/Organization management technology for VPECP, The high level modeling technology for multidisciplinary CPVP, The collaborative simulation technology for multidisciplinary CPVP, The early system concept design and late system performance evaluation technology for CPVP, The multidisciplinary design optimization technology for CPVP, VR/Visualization technology for CPVP, The integrated supporting environment technology for CPVPE, etc.

(3)

to fulfill some application demonstration systems for CPVPE.