Techniques for applying generative design to the configuration of mechanical assemblies
AssigneeAutodesk, Inc.
InventorsHyunmin CHEONG, Mehran EBRAHIMI, Francesco IORIO, Adrian BUTSCHER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A design engine automates portions of a mechanical assembly design process. The design engine generates a user interface that exposes tools for capturing input data related to the design problem. Based on the input data, the design engine performs various operations to generate a formalized problem definition that can be processed by a goal-driven optimization algorithm. The goal-driven optimization algorithm generates a spectrum of potential design options. Each design option describes a mechanical assembly representing a potential solution to the design problem.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for generating design options for mechanical assemblies, the method comprising:
- generating a partial design that defines a portion of a mechanical assembly based on first data received via a user interface;
- determining a set of design criteria associated with the partial design based on second data received via the user interface;
- generating, via one or more operations performed by one or more processors, a problem definition based on the partial design and the set of criteria;
- and
- causing, via one or more additional operations performed by the one or more processors based on an optimization algorithm, a set of design options to be generated based on the problem definition, wherein each design option included in the set of design options includes a different mechanical assembly derived from the partial design and satisfying the set of design criteria.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate design options for mechanical assemblies by performing the steps of:
- generating a partial design that defines a portion of a mechanical assembly based on first data received via a user interface;
- determining a set of design criteria associated with the partial design based on second data received via the user interface;
- generating, via one or more operations performed by one or more processors, a problem definition based on the partial design and the set of criteria;
- and
- causing, via one or more additional operations performed by the one or more processors based on an optimization algorithm, a set of design options to be generated based on the problem definition, wherein each design option included in the set of design options includes a different mechanical assembly derived from the partial design and satisfying the set of design criteria.
A system for generating design options for mechanical assemblies, comprising:
- a memory storing a design engine;
- and
- a processor that, upon executing the design engine, is configured to perform the steps of:
- generating a partial design that defines a portion of a mechanical assembly based on first data received via a user interface,
- determining a set of design criteria associated with the partial design based on second data received via the user interface,
- generating, via one or more operations performed by the processor, a problem definition based on the partial design and the set of criteria, and
- causing, via one or more additional operations performed by the processor based on an optimization algorithm, a set of design options to be generated based on the problem definition, wherein each design option included in the set of design options includes a different mechanical assembly derived from the partial design and satisfying the set of design criteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.