A Computer-Automated Design Tool For Intelligent Virtual Prototyping Of Offshore Cranes

Abstract

In close collaboration with the maritime industry, virtual prototyping with maritime application has been an important research topic for Aalesund University College for some years. In this paper, we describe the development of a computer-automated design tool for intelligent virtual prototyping of offshore cranes. Our work is part of a research project funded by the Research Council of Norway and takes place in close cooperation with two partners from the maritime industry. A literature review of virtual prototyping, computer-automated design, and modelling and simulation of offshore cranes sets the stage for the description of a design tool whose main components consist of a computational model, a simulator, and a genetic algorithm. We show how domain-specific constraints can be accounted for in conjunction with an automated optimisation procedure of design parameters to yield crane specifications that closely match the desired design criteria. Limitations of slewing rings and hydraulic cylinders are of particular importance in offshore crane design and are used as an example of the multitude of design calculations that form the computational model. Being work in progress, we report on completed parts and the work that remains.

Grey wolf optimizer (GWO) for automated offshore crane design

“…On the client-side, a web GUI facilitates the process of either manually by trial-and-error selecting the design parameters of the crane, or automatically using an optimization algorithm (contained in a product (crane) optimization client). The GUI also provides a simple visualization of the designed crane and its 2D workspace safe working load (SWL) chart [5]. Additionally, the MCOC uses various optimization algorithms for optimizing the design parameters in a manner that achieves the crane's desired design criteria [7][8].…”

“…Based on the values of these parameters, which can be set manually or by a client CautoD tool such as MCOC, the crane calculator is able to calculate a fully specified crane design and its associated KPIs [5]. The goal of the designer is therefore to determine appropriate design parameter values that achieve some desired design criteria based on KPIs, or to try to improve an existing design.…”

“…We have previously developed a computer-automated design (CautoD) software framework for product design optimization and tested it on the design of offshore cranes [5][6][7][8]. The framework has several components.…”

“…The framework has several components. On the server-side, a crane prototyping tool (CPT) with a crane calculator is able to calculate a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) of a specified crane design based on a set of about 120 design parameters [5]. A client-side web graphical user interface (GUI) facilitates the process of manually selecting the design parameters in the CPT to obtain a simple visualization of the designed crane and its 2D safe working load (SWL) chart [5].…”

“…On the server-side, a crane prototyping tool (CPT) with a crane calculator is able to calculate a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) of a specified crane design based on a set of about 120 design parameters [5]. A client-side web graphical user interface (GUI) facilitates the process of manually selecting the design parameters in the CPT to obtain a simple visualization of the designed crane and its 2D safe working load (SWL) chart [5]. For design optimization, we have developed a client-side product optimization client, namely the Artificial Intelligence for Product Optimization (AIPO) module that uses a genetic algorithm (GA) for optimizing the design parameters in a manner that achieves the crane's desired design criteria (e.g., KPIs related to performance and cost specifications) [6].…”