An Extenics-Based Scheduled Configuration Methodology for Low-Carbon Product Design in Consideration of Contradictory Problem Solving

Abstract

Low-carbon product design involves a redesign process that requires not only structural module modification, but more importantly, generating innovative principles to solve design contradictions. Such contradictions include when current design conditions cannot satisfy design requirements or there are antithetical design goals. On the other hand, configuration tasks in the reconfiguration process are interdependent, which requires a well-scheduled arrangement to reduce feedback information. This study proposes an effective configuration methodology for low-carbon design. Firstly, configuration tasks and configuration parameters are designated through quality characteristics, and the directed network along with the associated values of configuration tasks are transformed into the design structure matrix to construct the information flow diagram. Then, the Extenics-based problem-solving model is presented to address design contradictions: low-carbon incompatibility and antithetical problems are clarified and formulated with a basic-element model; extensible and conjugate analysis tools are used to identify problematic structures and provide feasible measures; the Gantt chart of measures execution based on the information flow diagram is constructed to reduce feedback and generate robust schemes with strategy models. The methodology is applied to the vacuum pump low-carbon design, the results show that it effectively solves contradictions with innovative design schemes, and comparative analysis verifies the performance of Extenics.

Research on Judgment and Solving Strategy of Flow Problems in Complex Engineering Systems

“…This study considers solving the flow problem in local as well as global dimensions. Considering that the primitive model of extenics theory adopts the combination of an object (O), characteristic (C), and value (V) as the primitive unit to describe things, it can easily and accurately describe any problem [29]. Therefore, firstly, the extenics theory has been proposed to solve the flow problems; for flow problems that cannot be solved by applying the extenics theory, by considering the diversity of the solution methods of the flow evolution rules, they have been used to continue to solve the flow problems.…”

Building Product Family Platform and Product Service System Based on Extension Innovation Method

“…Extension design is aimed at resolving the common contradictions in product family design, namely, the ones among demand and function, technology, structure or cost, and those between subsystems. It expresses problems and requirements in the form of basic-element and designs the module configuration of the product family extension innovation method, which is a formalized and modeled approach to reveal the law of creativity and dialectical thinking [34][35][36][37] . The core of this method is to deal with the contradictions in design through the Double Diamond model.…”

The Hybrid Position/Force Walking Robot Control Using Extenics Theory and Neutrosophic Logic Decision

“…By using Extenics principle 2.2 [ 40 ], which Ren et al [ 18 ] used to design low carbon products, the object from Equation (3) can be extended and decomposed into two matter elements for which O 1 and O 2 are defined as kinematic control and dynamic control, respectively. The two objects have the same characteristics as the primary object (called “hybrid control”) but with different values: …”

“…A combination of techniques and control methods was thus selected. The first one, Extenics [ 18 ] or extension logic [ 19 ], entails defining the control parameters and robot properties or abilities and is used by scientists to configure problem-solving algorithms [ 18 ] and even design toys for children with special needs [ 20 ].…”