Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Introduction
The title of the topic, “Neural Networks and Micromechanics,” seems artificial.
However, the scientific and technological developments in recent decades demon-
strate a very close connection between the two different areas of neural networks
and micromechanics. The purpose of this topic is to demonstrate this connection.
Some artificial intelligence (AI) methods, including neural networks, could be
used to improve automation system performance in manufacturing processes. How-
ever, the implementation of these AI methods within industry is rather slow because
of the high cost of conducting experiments using conventional manufacturing and
AI systems. To lower the cost, we have developed special micromechanical equip-
ment that is similar to conventional mechanical equipment but of much smaller size
and therefore of lower cost. This equipment could be used to evaluate different AI
methods in an easy and inexpensive way. The proved methods could be transferred
to industry through appropriate scaling. In this topic, we describe the prototypes of
low cost microequipment for manufacturing processes and the implementation of
some AI methods to increase precision, such as computer vision systems based on
neural networks for microdevice assembly and genetic algorithms for microequip-
ment characterization and the increase of microequipment precision.
The development of AI technologies opens an opportunity to use them not only
for conventional applications (expert systems, intelligent data bases [
1
], technical
diagnostics [
2
,
3
] etc.), but also for total automation of mechanical manufacturing.
Such AI methods as adaptive critic design [
4
,
5
], neural network-based computer
vision systems [
6
-
10
], etc. could be used to solve automation problems.
To examine this opportunity, it is necessary to create an experimental factory
with fully-automated manufacturing processes. This is a very difficult and expen-
sive task.
To make very small mechanical microequipment, a new technology was pro-
posed [
11
-
14
]. This technology is based on micromachine tools and microassembly
devices, which can be produced as sequential generations of microequipment. Each
generation should include equipment (machine tools, manipulators, assembly
devices, measuring instruments, etc.) sufficient for manufacturing identical but
smaller equipment. Each subsequent equipment generation could be produced by
