10/20/2014

Outline

Conceptual Design

Overview
Definitions

Asst. Prof. Dr. M. I. Can Dede

Conceptual

Design Steps
Activity Analysis
Concept Generation
Analysis and Feasibility
Evaluation Methods
Documentation

Office hours: Tuesdays 14:30-15:15

Office: Z-09
Robotics Laboratory: Z-30
Phone: 750-6778
e-mail: candede@iyte.edu.tr

Overview

Definitions

The Conceptual Design is the

first part of the design process
after the specifications have
been determined and
knowledge through research
has been gained.

What

is the Conceptual Design

process?
It is the generation of design alternatives or
Design Concepts and the supporting analysis
to determine the feasibility of each
alternative.

This is to act as the

intellectual exercise to
generate ways accomplishing
the actual design.
This step is successful if we
have at least one feasible
alternative to work with when
we are done.

What

is a Design Concept?

It is a design alternative that includes at least

one physical principle and one abstract
embodiment.
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Definitions

Definitions
Abstract Embodiment Example

What is a physical principle?

This is a natural law or effect that produces a
useable method of modifying a signal or device to
produce a functional output.
For example, buoyancy is the upward force that keeps things
afloat. The net upward buoyancy force is equal to the
magnitude of the weight of fluid displaced by the body. This
force enables the object to float or at least seem lighter.

An abstract embodiment is a diagram that

shows the relative relationship between the
actors in the design.

Design
Element

Physical
Principle

Embodiment
Method

Underwater
Stability

Bouyancy

Air filled cups

Foams

Data
Communication

RF
Optical
Wire

Radio/modem
Laser/detector
Wiring harness

Energy
Storage

Chemical
Storage

Battery

Definitions
The Conceptual Design Diagram
A diagram with the Design Concept,

Definitions
is

Example: Develop a Conceptual Design

Diagram for the underwater vehicle stability
system that is composed of air filled
vessels/foams and thrusters.

Including the physical principles being used, and

The Abstract Embodiment.

This is basically a block diagram or extended

sketch with the necessary aspect labeled.

Note, actual components are not specified at this

level.

Note: systems usually need to have individual

Conceptual Design Diagrams for the component
subsystems rather than all-in-one diagrams.

Potential Physical Principles that can be

considered: Bouyancy, Hydrodynamic Effects.
Here, we will consider the Conceptual Design
Diagram for the Air-filled vessel Thruster option.
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Definitions

Conceptual Design Steps

Provide
capability to
control the
amount of
air

Motor control
signals

The

proper Conceptual Design

Process has the following stages:

Air
Control
Air-filled
Vessel

Air control signals

Vessel
Design

Less affected by
hydrodynamic
effects

Vessel
Connecti
on

Motor
Control

Vessel
Material

Propeller
Design

Activity Analysis:

Sealing
Motor speed
signals

Thruster
Thruster
Connecti
on

how will the design be used in various stages

such as hovering mode, diving mode, start-up
and shutdown, etc., as appropriate for the needs.

Generate Alternative Concepts:

the design team uses various strategies to
generate Concepts that should meet the design
requirements.

Air-filled Vessel
Principle:
Create Bouyancy

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Conceptual Design Steps

Activity Analysis

Conceptual

The Activity Analysis

Design Process (cont.)

stage really is
an exercise to determine how the
design that meets the specifications is
to be used in real life.

Analyze:
use engineering analysis, simulation, bench testing,
etc. to verify that the design concept does work to meet
the specifications.

Feasibility Test:

This includes user activities and

understanding the inputs and outputs (signals,
power, etc.).

does the design analysis indicate that the design

concept will meet the specifications and actually can per
executed.

Evaluate:

To

determine which one or set of the feasible design

concepts left are best.
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do this activity, you will need to

perform a functional decomposition
and an I/O analysis.

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Activity Analysis

Activity Analysis

The functional decomposition takes the

design functional requirements and refines
them respective subfunctions and subsubfunctions.
The functions are not broken down by
expected embodiments but by similar
functions.

The I/O analysis looks at the control, data,

and power signals coming into and out of a
function.
This will become a basis for the designs
Interface Control Document that specifies
and documents all interface details.
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Activity Analysis
Vehicle

Stability Example
Functional Decomposition
Air Vessel-Thruster
Adjustable Bouyancy
Depth control
Thruster activity
Foam-Thruster
Depth Control
Thruster activity

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Activity Analysis
Activity Analysis

Vehicle

Stability Example
I/O Analysis
Air Vessel-Thruster

results:

An assessment of which functions can

be combined
A check-off to ensure that all required
functions are addressed
An understanding of the required
interfaces
A possibility that the design
requirements may need to be reviewed
and iterated upon to update them.

Thruster Control Signal in

Air pump control signal in
Motor speed out
Pressure sensor signal out
Foam-Thruster
Thruster Control Signal in
Motor speed out
Pressure sensor signal out

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Concept Generation

Analysis and Feasibility

The

Analyze:

design team uses various

strategies to generate Concepts that
should meet the design requirements.

use engineering analysis, simulation, bench

testing, etc. to verify that the design concept does
work to meet the specifications.

(This is also sometimes called synthesis.)

Use brainstorming, past experience,
similar designs, Google searches,
sleeping on it, etc.
This process may take some time!

Feasibility

Test:

does the design analysis indicate that the design

concept will meet the specifications and actually
can per executed.
* From the analysis and testing, we should also
eliminate those designs that cant be built, would
cost too much, etc.
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Evaluation Methods

Evaluation Methods

Once

Weighted

the design concepts are generated

and evaluated for feasibility, the surviving
design concepts need to be evaluated to
determine which one is best.

Evaluation Method:

Select the evaluation criteria and place in

column 1 of a matrix.
Importance weights are assigned to each
criterion and placed in column 2 of the matrix.
The concepts to be evaluated are placed in
subsequent columns of the matrix.
Each concept is rated against the criteria and a
score of 0 to 4 is given. A 0 implies unsatisfactory
performance while a 4 implies very good
performance.
Each score is multiplied by the weighting factor
and the scores are summed. Highest weighted
score wins.

How does one define best?

One common method is to use the criteria
for the design and weigh the relative
importance to determine best.

Note: the designers must be careful not to rig the

weighting to make a favorite come out best.
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Evaluation Methods

Documentation

Example evaluation matrix.

At the end of the Conceptual Design stage,

the following documents should be part of
the design documentation, at a minimum:

Notice, functional requirements are not included

because it is assumed that all design concepts meet
the testable requirements.
This is for the intangibles or more subjective
criteria.
Testable requirements with varying degrees of
performance can also be included.
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Operations Concept document

Conceptual Design Diagram
Functional Decomposition
I/O Analysis
Design Analysis showing that Conceptual
Design meets requirements
Design Evaluation matrix
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Documentation
Additional

documents that can be

started at this stage include:
Budget details: actuator, sensor type,
power, electronics, mechanical parts, etc.
Start considering how the various
components will be integrated and tested.
Integration and test plans can be started
at this point.

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