1 of 11 Web-Based Self-Paced Virtual Prototyping Tutorials Rajankumar Bhatt Graduate Student Chin Pei Tang Graduate Student Leng-Feng Lee Undergraduate Student Venkat Krovi Assistant Professor Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering State University of New York at Buffalo 318 Jarvis Hall, Buffalo NY Automation, Robotics & Mechatronics Laboratory (ARM Lab)

2 of 17 VP in Engineering Virtual Prototyping (VP) – Simulation-Based Design (SBD) – has gained popularity in most engineering design processes. Significant demand from industry for students trained in this methodology. However, not much room in engineering curriculum permits widespread adoption in the lecture-based classroom currently.

3 of 17 Tutorials Goal Introduce VP to students in Machines and Mechanism Design Develop a series of Web-Based Self- Paced Tutorials, permit the students to: Create engineering analysis models Develop skills for interactive SBD Develop engineering judgment

4 of 17 Conventional Approach 1. Conceptual Design 2. Build Physical Prototype 3. Measure Performance and Test 4. Modify Physical Prototype 5. Manufacture Product Criteria met? No Yes $$$

5 of 17 Virtual Prototyping 1. Conceptual Design 2. Build Virtual Prototype 3. Measure Performance and Test by Simulation 4. Refine Virtual Prototype 5. Build Physical Prototype Criteria met? No Yes 6. Test Physically 7. Manufacture Product No Yes Criteria met? Less $ !!!

6 of 17 Why VP now? The availability of low-cost PC based parametric simulation and analysis tools. The capability of integrating multiple functionalities into a unified environment.

7 of 17 Need for Our Tutorials Our students do not have experience with Operating the CAD application software Analyzing the resulting output Factors impeding wide-spread adoption of existing tutorials to directly augment the engineering class: The vendors’ tutorials may be targeted at more experienced user. The overall complexity and time required to learn these tools. Lack of linkage (to the course material)

8 of 17 Traditional Approach Concepts and ideas of mechanism theory are delivered in class-room based lecture. Mathematical formulation are emphasized. Approach limits the complexity of the model handled.

9 of 17 VP Approach VP allows us to: Quantitatively analyze complex mechanisms and their motions. Interactively examine many different alternatives However, is a “black box” approach GrashofNon-Grashof Interactively animate motions of the mechanism

10 of 17 Our Philosophy Link Traditional Approach and VP Approach VP ApproachTraditional Approach Link Grashof Non-Grashof

11 of 17 Implementation Get familiarized to the tools Develop engineering judgment skills Understand various mechanisms Introduce VP into engineering design process Build physical systems based on SBD Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3