A Consistent Preliminary Design Process for Mechatronic Systems - Simulation and Modeling Methodologies, Technologies and Application - page 95

A Consistent Preliminary Design Process
for Mechatronic Systems

Jean-Yves Choley 1 , Régis Plateaux 1 , Olivia Penas 1 ,
Christophe Combastel 2 , and Hubert Kadima 3

1 SUPMECA, Lismma, 3 rue F. Hainaut, 93407 Saint Ouen Cedex, France
2 ENSEA, ECS-lab, 6 avenue du Ponceau, 95014 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex, France
3 EISTI, Laris, avenue du parc, 95011 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex, France
{jean-yves.choley,regis.plateaux,olivia.penas}@supmeca.fr
[e-mail], [e-mail]

Abstract. In this paper, a consistent and collaborative preliminary design
process for mechatronic systems is described. First, a functional analysis is car-
ried out from user requirements with SysML. This allows one to define suitable
architectures and associated test cases. Each of them has to be analysed and op-
timized separately in order to select the best architecture and the best set of key
parameters. The next step of the preliminary design is a modelling of its archi-
tecture and its behaviour. In order to merge multi-physical and geometrical pa-
rameters, our generic method relies on a topological analysis of the system and
generates a set of equations with physical and topological constraints previously
defined. Finally, an interval analysis is implemented, allowing one to explore
exhaustively the search space resulting from a declarative statement of con-
straints, in order to optimize the parameters under the constraint of the relevant
test cases. An automotive power lift gate scenario has been chosen to test this
design process.

Keywords: Mechatronic, preliminary design, SysML, CSP solver, topology.

1 Introduction

Nowadays, system engineering problems are solved using a wide range of domain-
specific modelling languages and tools. Standards such as ISO 15288 detail the large
number of system aspects and various components of multi-domain systems [1-2]. It is
also not realistic to create an all-encompassing systems engineering language capable
of modelling and simulating every aspect of a system. However, for multi-domain
systems, a global approach is necessary. Indeed, each domain has its own methodolo-
gies and languages, thus impeding the consistency of the different modelling. Hence, a
global optimization is difficult during the preliminary design process of these systems.
Mechatronic systems development involves considering the modelling of their
components together with their interactions. Models can be used to formally represent
all aspects of a systems engineering problem, including requirements, functional,
structural, and behavioural modelling. Additionally, simulations can be performed on
these models in order to verify and validate the effectiveness of design decisions.