An Integrated Approach to Design Mechatronic Systems: Cross-Disciplinary Constraint Modeling

Abstract

Mechatronic systems encompass a wide range of disciplines and hence are collaborative in nature. Currently the collaborative development of mechatronic systems is inefficient and error-prone because contemporary design environments do not allow sufficient information flow of design and manufacturing data across the electrical and mechanical domains. Mechatronic systems need to be designed in an integrated fashion allowing designers from both electrical and mechanical engineering domains to receive automated feedback regarding design modifications throughout the design process. Integrated design of mechatronic products can be realized through the integration of mechanical and electrical CAD systems. One approach to achieve this type of integration is through the propagation of constraints. Cross-disciplinary constraints between mechanical and electrical design domains can be classified, represented, modeled, and bi-directionally propagated in order to provide automated feedback to designers of both engineering domains. In this paper, the authors focus on constraint classification and constraint modeling and provide a case study example using a robot arm. The constraint modeling approach presented in this paper represents a blueprint for the actual implementation.