Disassembly Sequence Evaluation Using Graph Visualization and Immersive Computing Technologies

Abstract

With the goal of making product recovery economically viable, disassembly sequence planning and evaluation can be used to influence product design features early in the product design process. Several researchers have investigated using optimization methods to determine disassembly sequences. One of the difficulties with using this approach is that because of the unique aspects of product disassembly at the end of life, input parameters for the optimization algorithms are commonly unavailable or estimated under high uncertainty. In practice, design engineers explore disassembly sequencing using either CAD software or manipulation of physical prototypes. These approaches produce solutions, but only intuitive solutions are explored and more optimal solutions may exist. To support decision making early in the design process, the research presented in this paper combines these two approaches within an immersive computing technology (ICT) application to aid in early product design with the goal of designing products with consideration of product recovery, reuse and recycle.The ICT application displays both 3D geometry of the product to be disassembled and an interactive graph visualization of the potential disassembly paths. The user can naturally interact with the geometric models and explore the potential paths indicated by the graph visualization. The optimal path can be indicated and the user can explore other potential paths. The result is an application that combines the strength of mathematical modeling with visualization and human interaction to provide an experience where the user can explore potential effects of design decisions. The initial application has been implemented in a 3 wall immersive projection environment and preliminary results show this approach proves to be an efficient method of evaluating and training potential disassembly sequences. Keywords Visualization Disciplines Mechanical Engineering Deborah Thurston Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL 61820 thurston@illinois.edu ABSTRACT With the goal of making product recovery economically viable, disassembly sequence planning and evaluation can be used to influence product design features early in the product design process. Several researchers have investigated using optimization methods to determine disassembly sequences. One of the difficulties with using this approach is that because of the unique aspects of product disassembly at the end of life, input parameters for the optimization algorithms are commonly unavailable or estimated under high uncertainty. In practice, design engineers explore disassembly sequencing using either CAD software or manipulation of physical prototypes. These approaches produce solutions, but only intuitive solutions are explored and more optimal solutions may exist. To support decision making early in the design process, the research presented in this paper combines these two approaches within an immersive computing technology (ICT)...

Visual Analytics Tools for Sustainable Lifecycle Design: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Opportunities

“…VA tools facilitate designers to visualize computer-aided designs for products and explore disassembly strategies. Previous research has looked at supporting such tasks through immerse virtual environments [141]. Decision-support systems that concurrently visualize life cycle flows and product structure for evaluating alternative end-of-life strategies have also been developed [142].…”

Disassembly Sequence Evaluation: A User Study Leveraging Immersive Computing Technologies

“…1 Disassembly graph of a six piece wooden puzzle [2] projection screen environment. A graph representation of the potential disassembly sequences is rendered in the same space as the virtual product geometry.…”

“…Additionally, they support exploration of potential alternatives and evaluation of multiple cost-effective approaches. 1 Previous work has only begun to examine the coupling of traditional disassembly sequence planning methods with the real-time potential of ICT [2][3][4][5]. In attempts to further investigate this area the authors have designed, implemented, and evaluated an ICT application in a large-scale projection screen-based immersive environment.…”

Immersive technology as a decision making tool for product design

“…Previous work has only begun to examine the coupling of traditional disassembly sequence planning methods with the real-time potential of ICT (Berg et al, 2012;Behdad et al, 2014aBehdad et al, ,b, 2013. In attempts to further investigate this area the authors have designed, implemented, and evaluated an ICT application in a large-scale projection screen-based immersive environment.…”

“…The ICT application is described in section 6.4. A user study is presented in section 6.5, with results Figure 6.1 Disassembly graph of a six piece wooden puzzle Berg et al (2012) and discussion in section 6.6. Section 6.8 presents conclusions and insights into future research opportunities.…”