A study of uncertainty and optimality in distributed product design.

摘要

Designing complex engineering systems such as aircrafts and automobiles requires their design to be carried out by many teams of engineers, each working on a subdivision of the design activity. Such a design process is known as a distributed design process. Unfortunately, dividing the design problem gives rise to issues that affect the efficiency of the distributed design process. These issues are the infusion of uncertainty into the process and the compromise on optimality of solutions from the process.; This thesis presents work done to aid the process of distributed design. First, using concepts of probability distribution functions a method is developed that enables designers handle uncertainty effectively and second, utilizing a Game Theoretic explanation of the design process, a method is developed to increase optimality of solutions obtained from the design problem.