The conceptual design phase of an aerospace system development program is typically characterized by short duration and relatively limited resources, yet design decisions are made that have critical implications on program risk. To address the more aggressive requirements, one of these decisions is the selection of advanced technologies. System developers need to assess advanced technologies early on, but are faced with uncertainties surrounding the potential net benefits. The concept introduced in this study is uncertainty characterization as a way to better understand the associated risk. A framework was developed to guide the interaction between the technology developer and the system developer. The objective is to gain a more comprehensive landscape of the technology options by explicitly considering the effects of uncertainty in the decision making process. This can ultimately facilitate prioritization and resource management during conceptual design. An example case of advanced wing technology was applied to the design of a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle to demonstrate the implementation of the framework.

Understanding math is an important part of school, yet it is a common source of anxiety as many children find the subject difficult to grasp. One approach to encourage children to learn math is to implement game elements (gamification) in technology-enhanced learning (TEL) systems. However, designers must consider what motivates children to use such systems to better encourage them to learn. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to investigate how gamification can be implemented in the design of a mobile TEL application, in this case the Albert application, to motivate children to learn math. This was researched by designing a concept focusing on avatars for Albert and letting users between the ages of 10 and 12 evaluate it. The design process followed the Double Diamond model, and the game elements were designed according to three core drives from the Octalysis framework. The results showed that children who like math are more likely to become motivated by the presented gamification concept than the children who have a more negative attitude towards math. As a conclusion, one can motivate children to learn math using a TEL platform by including avatarism as a form of gamification. / Att förstå matte är en viktig del av skolgången, samtidigt kan det ofta vara ångestframkallande för barn som anser att ämnet är svårt att greppa. Ett sätt att uppmuntra barn att lära sig matte är att implementera spelelement i så kallade ”Technology-Enhanced Learning” (TEL)-system. Dock måste designers ha i åtanke vad som motiverar barn att använda sådana system för att bättre kunna uppmuntra dem att lära sig matte. Målet med denna uppsats var därför att undersöka huruvida spelelement kan implementeras i designen av en mobil TEL-applikation, i vårt fall Albertapplikationen, för att motivera barn att lära sig matte. Detta undersöktes genom att designa att koncept fokuserat på avatarer för Albert, och låta användare mellan åldrarna 10 och 12 utvärdera det. Designprocessen följde Double Diamond-modellen, och spelelementen designades utefter tre ”core drives” från Octalysis-ramverket. Resultaten visade att det är mer sannolikt att barn som gillar matte blir mer motiverade av det presenterade konceptet, än barn som har en mer negativ inställning gentemot ämnet. Vi kunde dra slutsatsen att en kan motivera barn att lära sig matte genom att inkludera avatarism i en TEL-applikation.

<p>Syftet med examensarbetet har varit att undersöka möjligheterna att utveckla, producera och lansera en ny universell laddare. Målet har varit att kunna ladda så många modeller av så många produkter som möjligt, vilket innefattar mobiltelefoner, kameror, datorer och MP3-spelare etc. Arbetet skulle leda fram till ett förslag på produkt.</p><p>Genom att undersöka befintliga patent och produkter, har marknaden granskats och slutsatsen är att det finns en uppsjö av universella laddare på marknaden. Dock finns det få produkter som inger säkerhet, möjliggör multipel laddning och som är stationära. Dessa egenskaper blev grundstenar i den kravspecifikation som utarbetades. Genom en teknisk analys och kundundersökning sammanställdes ytterligare viktiga parametrar.</p><p>Resultatet blev en stationär produkt som kan ladda både en bärbar dator och flera mindre elektroniska produkter. Genom att använda en metod som i rapporten betecknas tappteknik kan rätt laddningsförhållande garanteras. Med hjälp av en mikroprocessor och produktspecifika tappar eller ändadaptrar kan laddning av i princip alla sorters produkter och modeller ske.</p><p>Arbetet har även innefattat konstruktion, CAD och prototypframtagning.</p> / <p>The purpose with this thesis work has been to investigate the possibilities to develop, manufacture and introduce a new universal charger. The aim has been to be able to charge as many models of as many different products as possible, including cell phones, cameras, laptops, MP3-players etc. The work would lead to a product proposal.</p><p>By an examination of existing patents and products, has the market been reviewed. The conclusion is that there already are big amount of universal chargers in the international market. Yet there are only a few products that inspire safety, have a multiple charging function and which are for stationary use. Those properties became fundamentals in the specification. With a technical analyse and a customary review were more parameters included.</p><p>The result is a stationary product that can be used to charge both a laptop and several smaller electronic products. By using a method that is called tip technology can the right charging conditions be guaranteed. With a micro processor and with tips which are specific for each product can mostly all sorts of products and models be charged.</p><p>The work has also included mechanical design, CAD and the build of a prototype.</p>

The decisions taken during the aircraft conceptual design stage are of paramount importance since these commit up to eighty percent of the product life cycle costs. Thus in order to obtain a sound baseline which can then be passed on to the subsequent design phases, various studies ought to be carried out during this stage. These include trade-off analysis and multidisciplinary optimisation performed on computational processes assembled from hundreds of relatively simple mathematical models describing the underlying physics and other relevant characteristics of the aircraft. However, the growing complexity of aircraft design in recent years has prompted engineers to substitute the conventional algebraic equations with compiled software programs (referred to as models in this thesis) which still retain the mathematical models, but allow for a controlled expansion and manipulation of the computational system. This tendency has posed the research question of how to dynamically assemble and solve a system of non-linear models. In this context, the objective of the present research has been to develop methods which significantly increase the flexibility and efficiency with which the designer is able to operate on large scale computational multidisciplinary systems at the conceptual design stage. In order to achieve this objective a novel computational process modelling method has been developed for generating computational plans for a system of non-linear models. The computational process modelling was subdivided into variable flow modelling, decomposition and sequencing. A novel method named Incidence Matrix Method (IMM) was developed for variable flow modelling, which is the process of identifying the data flow between the models based on a given set of input variables. This method has the advantage of rapidly producing feasible variable flow models, for a system of models with multiple outputs. In addition, criteria were derived for choosing the optimal variable flow model which would lead to faster convergence of the system. Cont/d.

L'objectif de cette étude est de résoudre les qualités de vol d'une aile volante long courrier, au stade de la conception avion. Le concept d'aile volante promet un gain important en terme de performances et de niveau de finesse par rapport aux configurations classiques. Ce gain est obtenu par l'intégration des quatre fonctions principales de l'avion (portance, contrôle, propulsion, transport) dans un seul corps. Ces choix de configuration entraînent des challenges à relever, dont l'obtention de qualités de vol respectant la certification. La configuration initiale étudiée présente de fortes instabilités longitudinales et latérales, une faible autorité en roulis, et des difficultés à effectuer la manœuvre de rotation au décollage. Dans cette étude sont proposées des solutions, combinant des surfaces de contrôle innovantes et des degrés de libertés originaux, qui tirent profit des avantages de la configuration. Les qualités de vols sont résolues dans un processus de résolution avec aussi peu de boucles que possible, et l'impact sur les performances est minimisé. En sortie de ce processus se trouve l'architecture de surface de contrôle optimisée, qui minimise l'impact des qualités de vol sur le coût de la mission. / The aim of this study is to solve the handling qualities problems of a long range blended wing body, at the conceptual design phase. That concept, also named flying wing in this report, is an aircraft which integrates the four aircraft functions (lift, control, propulsion, passengers transportation) in one single body. That configuration presents a benefit in cruise lift-over-drag ratio, as well as in noise emissions, due to the shielding effect provided by the inner wing to mask the engine noise.That configuration choice leads also to challenges. One of them is the handling qualities. The baseline studied flying wing presents initially longitudinal and lateral instabilities, as well as lack of roll manoeuvrability and difficulty to do the rotation at takeoff. In this report are proposed solutions, combining innovative control surfaces and original drivers, which are adapted to the configuration advantages. The handling qualitiesare solved in a resolution process with as few loops as possible, and the impact on the performances is minimized. The output of that process is the best control surfaces architecture and airfoils design which minimizes the impact of the handling qualities resolution on the cost of the mission.

Para serem classificadas e aprovadas por uma sociedade classificadora, todas as estruturas offshore são submetidas a análises baseadas em regras padrão; os critérios de estabilidade utilizados são baseados no código IMO MODU (Internacional Maritime Organization Mobile Offshore Drilling Units), que referencia quase todos os tipos de unidades flutuantes, como de superfície, semi-submersíveis, e auto elevatórias, entretanto, encontram-se problemas ao tentar enquadrar alguns conceitos inovadores a um desses tipos, devido às grandes diferenças entre o existente e os novos projetos. A fim de prever o comportamento de uma estrutura flutuante, são necessárias análises de estabilidade que predigam o comportamento da plataforma em operação intacta, e eventualmente em caso de avarias. Com o propósito de superar dificuldades e encontrar os critérios apropriados, foi realizado. em conjunto pelo Departamento de Engenharia Naval e Oceânica da USP e Petrobras, esse estudo para gerar análises que cerceiem o comportamento desses novos tipos de plataforma e adéqüem as regras existentes aos novos conceitos para certificações futuras. Pode se observar que unidades do tipo FPSO são as mais comuns em campos de produção brasileiros por apresentarem grande área de convés, capacidade de armazenamento e serem unidades cuja operação é muito conhecida, além de terem baixos custos de construção, seja ela inteiramente construída ou apenas convertida. Entretanto, esse tipo de unidade apresenta movimentos não adequados para a utilização de Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs), inviabilizando sua utilização em águas ultra-profundas. Analisando as condições brasileiras, nota-se que ao considerar ondas, corrente e vento, as relações dimensionais de um FPSO não teriam a melhor proporcionalidade possível, principalmente devido às interferências hidrodinâmicas proporcionadas pelo swell. Isso impeliu o desenvolvimento de um novo conceito que atendesse melhor a função especifica da unidade, batizado monocoluna. Para esse conceito, foram gerados inúmeros cascos, porém apenas alguns deles foram escolhidos como ideais para serem submetidos a mais minuciosas análises, e nessa dissertação se discutem os critérios de estabilidade que devem ser aplicados a monocoluna. Todas as análises foram conduzidas considerando métodos numéricos e as dimensões finais foram aplicadas a ensaios em tanques de provas para que se comprovasse a eficiência dos sistemas criados. / To be classified and approved by a classification society, all offshore structures shall be submitted and analyzed according to standard rules. The stability criteria are based on the IMO MODU (International Maritime Organization Mobile Offshore Drilling Units) Code which has reference to almost all types of floating units such as surface, column-stabilized and self elevating. Although it refers to a wide range of naval systems, problems were found when dealing with new concepts due to differences between these concepts and those presented by the rules. In order to predict the behavior of a floating structure, it is necessary to perform stability analyses that foresee how the platform will respond when in operation either intact or eventually damaged. With that in mind, this study that would analyze and evaluate the existing rules came up along with the Department of Naval and Ocean Engineering of the University of São Paulo and Petrobras, this study intends to check the applicability of the existing rules and propose more adequate rules for the monocolumn. It is possible to observe that FPSO units are more common at the Brazilian oil fields due to the presence of great deck area and storage capacity, their operation is well known, they have low constructions costs either if they are built from scratch or converted. Even so, this type of unit presents inadequate responses to the use of Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs), what doesnt allow its use in ultra deep water. Analyzing the Brazilian weather and sea condition, specially focusing on waves, sea strings and wind, the FPSO dimensions are not the best, especially due to the swell hydrodynamic responses. That forced the development of a new concept that better fulfill the units specific function, named monocolumn. Lots of units were defined as valid, but only some with the best responses were chosen for deeper analysis, therefore this study discusses the stability criteria that shall apply to this concept. All the analyses were conduced considering numerical methods and among all the possibilities, final dimensions were generated and prototypes were built and tested in test tanks to prove their efficiency.

A criação do projeto conceitual de um bancos de dados que represente adequadamente um determinado domínio de aplicação continua sendo um dos principais desafios da área de banco de dados. Por outro lado, a discussão sobre métodos ágeis de desenvolvimento de software alcançou, recentemente, a comunidade de banco de dados. Este trabalho apresenta o projeto conceitual de bancos de dados sob a luz de métodos ágeis de desenvolvimento. Desenvolvemos uma extensão do arcabouço Naked Objects que permite uma validação ágil e precisa do projeto conceitual junto ao especialista do domínio. Em nossa abordagem, o projeto conceitual de bancos de dados é descrito por meio de anotações que representam as abstrações de dados em um ambiente dinâmico de validação. / Creating a conceptual database design that adequately represents a specific application domain continues to be one of the main challenges in the database research. On the other hand, the discussion regarding agile methods of software development has recently become a subject of interest to the database community. This work presents a new approach to create a conceptual database design according to agile methods. We have created an extension of the Naked Objects framework that allows an agile and precise validation of the conceptual database design by the domain specialist. In our approach, the conceptual database design is described through annotations that represent data abstractions in a dynamic validation environment.

Para serem classificadas e aprovadas por uma sociedade classificadora, todas as estruturas offshore são submetidas a análises baseadas em regras padrão; os critérios de estabilidade utilizados são baseados no código IMO MODU (Internacional Maritime Organization Mobile Offshore Drilling Units), que referencia quase todos os tipos de unidades flutuantes, como de superfície, semi-submersíveis, e auto elevatórias, entretanto, encontram-se problemas ao tentar enquadrar alguns conceitos inovadores a um desses tipos, devido às grandes diferenças entre o existente e os novos projetos. A fim de prever o comportamento de uma estrutura flutuante, são necessárias análises de estabilidade que predigam o comportamento da plataforma em operação intacta, e eventualmente em caso de avarias. Com o propósito de superar dificuldades e encontrar os critérios apropriados, foi realizado. em conjunto pelo Departamento de Engenharia Naval e Oceânica da USP e Petrobras, esse estudo para gerar análises que cerceiem o comportamento desses novos tipos de plataforma e adéqüem as regras existentes aos novos conceitos para certificações futuras. Pode se observar que unidades do tipo FPSO são as mais comuns em campos de produção brasileiros por apresentarem grande área de convés, capacidade de armazenamento e serem unidades cuja operação é muito conhecida, além de terem baixos custos de construção, seja ela inteiramente construída ou apenas convertida. Entretanto, esse tipo de unidade apresenta movimentos não adequados para a utilização de Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs), inviabilizando sua utilização em águas ultra-profundas. Analisando as condições brasileiras, nota-se que ao considerar ondas, corrente e vento, as relações dimensionais de um FPSO não teriam a melhor proporcionalidade possível, principalmente devido às interferências hidrodinâmicas proporcionadas pelo swell. Isso impeliu o desenvolvimento de um novo conceito que atendesse melhor a função especifica da unidade, batizado monocoluna. Para esse conceito, foram gerados inúmeros cascos, porém apenas alguns deles foram escolhidos como ideais para serem submetidos a mais minuciosas análises, e nessa dissertação se discutem os critérios de estabilidade que devem ser aplicados a monocoluna. Todas as análises foram conduzidas considerando métodos numéricos e as dimensões finais foram aplicadas a ensaios em tanques de provas para que se comprovasse a eficiência dos sistemas criados. / To be classified and approved by a classification society, all offshore structures shall be submitted and analyzed according to standard rules. The stability criteria are based on the IMO MODU (International Maritime Organization Mobile Offshore Drilling Units) Code which has reference to almost all types of floating units such as surface, column-stabilized and self elevating. Although it refers to a wide range of naval systems, problems were found when dealing with new concepts due to differences between these concepts and those presented by the rules. In order to predict the behavior of a floating structure, it is necessary to perform stability analyses that foresee how the platform will respond when in operation either intact or eventually damaged. With that in mind, this study that would analyze and evaluate the existing rules came up along with the Department of Naval and Ocean Engineering of the University of São Paulo and Petrobras, this study intends to check the applicability of the existing rules and propose more adequate rules for the monocolumn. It is possible to observe that FPSO units are more common at the Brazilian oil fields due to the presence of great deck area and storage capacity, their operation is well known, they have low constructions costs either if they are built from scratch or converted. Even so, this type of unit presents inadequate responses to the use of Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs), what doesnt allow its use in ultra deep water. Analyzing the Brazilian weather and sea condition, specially focusing on waves, sea strings and wind, the FPSO dimensions are not the best, especially due to the swell hydrodynamic responses. That forced the development of a new concept that better fulfill the units specific function, named monocolumn. Lots of units were defined as valid, but only some with the best responses were chosen for deeper analysis, therefore this study discusses the stability criteria that shall apply to this concept. All the analyses were conduced considering numerical methods and among all the possibilities, final dimensions were generated and prototypes were built and tested in test tanks to prove their efficiency.

Les récentes avancées en matière de systèmes d'acquisition et de modélisation ont permis la mise à disposition d'une très grande quantité de données numériques (e.g. images, vidéos, modèles 3D) dans différents domaines d'application. En particulier, la création d'Environnements Virtuels (EVs) nécessite l'exploitation de données nu-mériques pour permettre des simulations et des effets proches de la réalité. Malgré ces avancées, la conception d'EVs dédiés à certaines applications requiert encore de nombreuses et parfois laborieuses étapes de modélisation et de traitement qui impliquent plusieurs experts (e.g. experts du domaine de l'application, experts en modélisation 3D et programmeur d'environnements virtuels, designers et experts communication/marketing). En fonction de l'application visée, le nombre et le profil des experts impliqués peuvent varier. Les limitations et difficultés d'au-jourd'hui sont principalement dues au fait qu'il n'existe aucune relation forte entre les experts du domaine qui ont des besoins, les experts du numérique ainsi que les outils et les modèles qui prennent part au processus de déve-loppement de l'EV. En fait, les outils existants focalisent sur des définitions souvent très détaillées des formes et ne sont pas capables de supporter les processus de créativité et d'innovation pourtant garants du succès d'un pro-duit ou d'une application. De plus, la grande quantité de données numériques aujourd'hui accessible n'est pas réellement exploitée. Clairement, les idées innovantes viennent souvent de la combinaison d'éléments et les don-nées numériques disponibles pourraient être mieux utilisées. Aussi, l'existence de nouveaux outils permettant la réutilisation et la combinaison de ces données serait d'une grande aide lors de la phase de conception conceptuelle de formes et d'EVs. Pour répondre à ces besoins, cette thèse propose une nouvelle approche et un nouvel outil pour la conception conceptuelle d'EVs exploitant au maximum des ressources existantes, en les intégrant et en les combinant tout en conservant leurs propriétés sémantiques. C'est ainsi que le Modèle de Description Générique de Formes (MDGF) est introduit. Ce modèle permet la combinaison de données multimodales (e.g. images et maillages 3D) selon trois niveaux : Conceptuel, Intermédiaire et Données. Le niveau Conceptuel exprime quelles sont les différentes parties de la forme ainsi que la façon dont elles sont combinées. Chaque partie est définie par un Elément qui peut être soit un Composant soit un Groupe de Composants lorsque ceux-ci possèdent des carac-téristiques communes (e.g. comportement, sens). Les Eléments sont liés par des Relations définies au niveau Con-ceptuel là où les experts du domaine interagissent. Chaque Composant est ensuite décrit au niveau Données par sa Géométrie, sa Structure et ses informations Sémantiques potentiellement attachées. Dans l'approche proposée, un Composant est une partie d'image ou une partie d'un maillage triangulaire 3D. Quatre Relations sont proposées (fusion, assemblage, shaping et localisation) et décomposées en un ensemble de Contraintes qui contrôlent la po-sition relative, l'orientation et le facteur d'échelle des Composants au sein de la scène graphique. Les Contraintes sont stockées au niveau Intermédiaire et agissent sur des Entités Clés (e.g. points, des lignes) attachées à la Géo-métrie ou à la Structure des Composants. Toutes ces contraintes sont résolues en minimisant une fonction énergie basée sur des grandeurs physiques. Les concepts du MDGF ont été implémentés et intégrés au sein d'un outil de design conceptuel développé par l'auteur. Différents exemples illustrent le potentiel de l'approche appliquée à différents domaines d'application. / Due to the great advances in acquisition devices and modeling tools, a huge amount of digital data (e.g. images, videos, 3D models) is becoming now available in various application domains. In particular, virtual envi-ronments make use of those digital data allowing more attractive and more effectual communication and simula-tion of real or not (yet) existing environments and objects. Despite those innovations, the design of application-oriented virtual environment still results from a long and tedious iterative modeling and modification process that involves several actors (e.g. experts of the domain, 3D modelers and VR programmers, designers or communica-tions/marketing experts). Depending of the targeted application, the number and the profiles of the involved actors may change. Today's limitations and difficulties are mainly due to the fact there exists no strong relationships between the expert of the domain with creative ideas, the digitally skilled actors, the tools and the shape models taking part to the virtual environment development process. Actually, existing tools mainly focus on the detailed geometric definition of the shapes and are not suitable to effectively support creativity and innovation, which are considered as key elements for successful products and applications. In addition, the huge amount of available digital data is not fully exploited. Clearly, those data could be used as a source of inspiration for new solutions, being innovative ideas frequently coming from the (unforeseen) combination of existing elements. Therefore, the availability of software tools allowing the re-use and combination of such digital data would be an effective support for the conceptual design phase of both single shapes and VR environments. To answer those needs, this thesis proposes a new approach and system for the conceptual design of VRs and associated digital assets by taking existing shape resources, integrating and combining them together while keeping their semantic meanings. To support this, a Generic Shape Description Model (GSDM) is introduced. This model allows the combination of multimodal data (e.g. images and 3D meshes) according to three levels: conceptual, intermediate and data levels. The conceptual level expresses what the different parts of a shape are, and how they are combined together. Each part of a shape is defined by an Element that can either be a Component or a Group of Components when they share common characteristics (e.g. behavior, meaning). Elements are linked with Relations defined at the Concep-tual level where the experts in the domain are acting and exchanging. Each Component is then further described at the data level with its associated Geometry, Structure and potentially attached Semantics. In the proposed ap-proach, a Component is a part of an image or a part of a 3D mesh. Four types of Relation are proposed (merging, assembly, shaping and location) and decomposed in a set of Constraints which control the relative position, orien-tation and scaling of the Components within the 3D viewer. Constraints are stored at the intermediate level and are acting on Key Entities (such as points, a lines, etc.) laying on the Geometry or Structure of the Components. All these constraints are finally solved while minimizing an additional physically-based energy function. At the end, most of the concepts of GSDM have been implemented and integrated into a user-oriented conceptual design tool totally developed by the author. Different examples have been created using this tool demonstrating the potential of the approach proposed in this document.

A hybrid method that addresses the design and optimization of long-span steel trusses is presented. By utilizing advancements in present day computing and biologically inspired analysis and design, an effort has been made to automate the process of evolving optimal trusses in an unstructured problem domain. Topology, geometry and sizing optimization of trusses are simultaneously addressed using a three stage methodology. Multi-objective genetic algorithms are used to optimize the member section sizes of truss topologies and geometries. Converting constraints into additional objectives provides a robust algorithm that results in improved convergence to the pareto-optimal set of solutions. In addition, the pareto-curve plotted based on how well the different objectives are satisfied helps in identifying the trade-offs that exist between these objectives, while also providing an efficient way to rank the population of solutions during the search process. A comparison study between multi-objective genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, and reactive taboo search is conducted to evaluate the efficiency of each method with relation to its overall performance, computational expense, sensitivity to initial parameter settings, and repeatability of finding near-global optimal designs. The benefit of using a three stage approach, and also implementing the entire model on parallel computers, is the high level of computational efficiency that is obtained for the entire process and the near-optimal solutions obtained. The overall efficiency and effectiveness of this method has been established by comparing the truss design results obtained using this method on bridge and roof truss benchmark problems with truss designs obtained by other researchers. One of the salient features of thisresearch is the large number of optimal trusses that are produced as the final result. The range of designs available provides the user with the flexibility to select the truss design that best matches their design requirements. By supporting human-computer interactions between these stages, the program also incorporates subjective aesthetic criteria, which assist in producing final designs in consonance with the user's requirements.