1. A Natural Approach to Design A DNA-Based Analogy for the Design of Sustainable Artifacts Presented by: Dr. Filippo Salustri Associate Professor, Ryerson University Co-author: Damian Rogers PhD Candidate, Ryerson University

2. Research Question Can using a natural DNA analogy for engineering design theory help designers achieve sustainable design, while maintaining or improving quality, speed, and cost? Can using a natural DNA analogy for engineering design theory help designers achieve sustainable design, while maintaining or improving quality, speed, and cost?

3. What is Engineering Design? Is what happens every time something is engineered Is what happens every time something is engineered Interested in the ‘functional’ form rather than the ‘physical’ or ‘artistic’ form Interested in the ‘functional’ form rather than the ‘physical’ or ‘artistic’ form Design can mean either or both Design can mean either or both Many different methods used for design Many different methods used for design QFD, TRIZ, systems-based, etc QFD, TRIZ, systems-based, etc Most are quite similar Most are quite similar Simplicity, steps, outcomes Simplicity, steps, outcomes

4. Sustainable Design “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” Sustainability has become a requirement on design Sustainability has become a requirement on design Mostly, sustainability is an after-thought Mostly, sustainability is an after-thought Some design methods deal with sustainability Some design methods deal with sustainability DfS, DfE, Biomimicry, Bio-inspired design, etc DfS, DfE, Biomimicry, Bio-inspired design, etc Current methods do not contain sustainability aspects within the processes Current methods do not contain sustainability aspects within the processes DNA analogy engrains sustainability directly into the design process DNA analogy engrains sustainability directly into the design process

5. Why a DNA analogy? The “building blocks of life” – building blocks of artifacts The “building blocks of life” – building blocks of artifacts Nature uses DNA to preserve information for organisms Nature uses DNA to preserve information for organisms Humans tend to throw away this same information and/or do not update it with advances Humans tend to throw away this same information and/or do not update it with advances Operations manual covered by countless layers of dust Operations manual covered by countless layers of dust Keeping information helps create products more efficiently and with better results Keeping information helps create products more efficiently and with better results Lets us see what worked/did not work before Lets us see what worked/did not work before Nature is inherently sustainable, so then a design process based off nature should also be sustainable Nature is inherently sustainable, so then a design process based off nature should also be sustainable

6. Does DNA make sense for an artefact?

7. Lifecycle Processes

8. Evolution – why laptops are like giraffes Both evolved for specific reasons Both evolved for specific reasons Giraffe evolved a long neck allowing them to eat the food from high branches Giraffe evolved a long neck allowing them to eat the food from high branches The laptop evolved into a product which is more rugged to protect against accidental drops The laptop evolved into a product which is more rugged to protect against accidental drops

9. Products Evolving Products evolve over time Products evolve over time Evolve through external influences Evolve through external influences Internally, through genetic mutation or inter-breeding Internally, through genetic mutation or inter-breeding Through scientific advances Through scientific advances Light pen on hard, specialized monitor Touch sensitive kiosk screen PDA with touch screen Mobile phone with touch screen

10. Natural Selection We use “natural selection” for products We use “natural selection” for products I term it ‘quasi-natural’ selection I term it ‘quasi-natural’ selection Consider “Beta” and “HD DVD” Consider “Beta” and “HD DVD” Selection is partly in/out of our control Selection is partly in/out of our control Factors like: Factors like: Environment Environment Media Media Market analysis Market analysis Economy Economy Current affairs Current affairs

11. Mutation Permanent change to the genetic structure Permanent change to the genetic structure Spontaneous or induced, beneficial or harmful Spontaneous or induced, beneficial or harmful Occurs in products too Occurs in products too Manufacturing defects Manufacturing defects On-site changes On-site changes Part replacement Part replacement Technology change Technology change Design decision Design decision

12. An organic vs. artificial gene

13. The Analogy Holds Analogy between natural and artificial design holds Analogy between natural and artificial design holds Lifecycle processes Lifecycle processes Evolution Evolution Natural selection Natural selection Mutation/inter-breeding Mutation/inter-breeding Genes Genes

14. Where to get artifact DNA? Where in the process is the starting point? Where in the process is the starting point? A sort of chicken and egg problem A sort of chicken and egg problem The forms already exist in current products The forms already exist in current products For example, there are plenty of existing homes to analyze For example, there are plenty of existing homes to analyze Can analyze existing products to establish the genes, then use the genome to create a new product Can analyze existing products to establish the genes, then use the genome to create a new product Similar to the way the Human Genome was mapped Similar to the way the Human Genome was mapped

15. A First Step Towards DNA Analyze a sample group of some existing product, in order to break it down into its DNA analogous components (genes) Analyze a sample group of some existing product, in order to break it down into its DNA analogous components (genes) Effectively; data mining Effectively; data mining Stats, product history, marketing, media, etc Stats, product history, marketing, media, etc Must take into account that the genes are context dependent Must take into account that the genes are context dependent ie: genes for the structure of a house will not be the same in different regions (Nunavut vs. Florida) ie: genes for the structure of a house will not be the same in different regions (Nunavut vs. Florida) Mobile phone charger Mobile phone charger

16. Creating Genes Once the characteristic genes for a product are identified and classified, they have to be made into usable forms Once the characteristic genes for a product are identified and classified, they have to be made into usable forms Each gene will be expressed through use of a pattern Each gene will be expressed through use of a pattern a pattern describes a process, method, or activities related to creating the artifact which they describe a pattern describes a process, method, or activities related to creating the artifact which they describe Each gene has genetic options Each gene has genetic options Gene for exterior cladding may have options for: brick, stucco, vinyl siding, etc Gene for exterior cladding may have options for: brick, stucco, vinyl siding, etc Each option contains performance characteristics Each option contains performance characteristics The stucco gene option has information on things like: lifetime, wear, thermal resistivity, air penetration rating, carbon footprint, etc The stucco gene option has information on things like: lifetime, wear, thermal resistivity, air penetration rating, carbon footprint, etc The gene pattern shows a designer how/when/where to use that gene/gene option The gene pattern shows a designer how/when/where to use that gene/gene option Gene patterns include a measure of sustainability Gene patterns include a measure of sustainability The patterns are linked via a pattern language The patterns are linked via a pattern language

17. An Artificial Genome A collection of gene patterns is analogous to a genome for an organism. A collection of gene patterns is analogous to a genome for an organism. One or more genes can define a chromosome One or more genes can define a chromosome One or more chromosomes defines a full genome One or more chromosomes defines a full genome This collection of artificial genetic information is the ‘artificial genome’. This collection of artificial genetic information is the ‘artificial genome’. The genome then contains enough information to reproduce a product, given certain contextual parameters The genome then contains enough information to reproduce a product, given certain contextual parameters Contextual parameters are usually in the customer requirements Contextual parameters are usually in the customer requirements These define what expectations and conditions a product must meet These define what expectations and conditions a product must meet Requires the role of the designer Requires the role of the designer

18. Using DNA to Create an Artefact

19. Is DbD Effective? Need an experiment to test hypothesis Need an experiment to test hypothesis 2 groups of volunteers: 1 test and 1 control 2 groups of volunteers: 1 test and 1 control Both groups given the same task: given a list of requirements, design an urban bicycle Both groups given the same task: given a list of requirements, design an urban bicycle Control group used common design process Control group used common design process Test group used DbD Test group used DbD Analyze the final product of each participant Analyze the final product of each participant Novelty, Usefulness, and Cohesion Novelty, Usefulness, and Cohesion NASA TLX NASA TLX Short questionnaire Short questionnaire Experimental results found in our paper at ASME Conference Experimental results found in our paper at ASME Conference

20. Conclusions Analogies reduce problem complexity Analogies reduce problem complexity An analogy is possible, since there are many similarities between artifacts and organisms An analogy is possible, since there are many similarities between artifacts and organisms Genes can be made from known product information in order to design new products Genes can be made from known product information in order to design new products Genes are constructed using patterns Genes are constructed using patterns Patterns are proven to reduce problem complexity and increase efficiency Patterns are proven to reduce problem complexity and increase efficiency Gene options contain information and characteristics on their sustainable aspects Gene options contain information and characteristics on their sustainable aspects

21. Thank you for your attention The floor is now open for questions!