Towards the development of an integrated design framework using the Blackboard model

Current research into the process of engineering design is extending the use of computers towards the acquisition, representation and application of design process knowledge in addition to the existing storage and manipulation of product-based models of design objects. This is a difficult task because the design of mechanical systems is a complex, often unpredictable process involving ill-structured problem solving skills and large amounts of knowledge, some which may be of an incomplete and subjective nature. Design problems require the integration of a variety of modes of working such as numerical, graphical, algorithmic or heuristic and demand products through synthesis, analysis and evaluation activities.

This report presents the results of a feasibility study into the blackboard approach and discusses the development of an initial prototype system that will enable an alphanumeric design dialogue between a designer and an expert to be analysed in a formal way, thus providing real-life protocol data on which to base the blackboard message structures.

Patterns of interaction in construction team meetingsξ

Sir John Egan’s 1998 report on the construction industry (Construction Task Force 1998) noted its confrontational and adversarial nature. Both the original report and its subsequent endorsement in Accelerating Change (Strategic Forum 2002) called for improved working relationships—so-called ‘integration’—within and between both design and construction aspects. In this paper, we report on our observations of on-site team meetings for a major UK project during its construction phase. We attended a series of team meetings and recorded the patterns of verbal interaction that took place within them. In reporting our findings, we have deliberately used a graphical method for presenting the results, in the expectation that this will make them more readily accessible to designers. Our diagrams of these interaction patterns have already proved to be intuitively and quickly understood, and have generated interest and discussion among both those we observed and others who have seen them. We noted that different patterns of communication occurred in different types of meetings. Specifically, in the problem-solving meeting, there was a richness of interaction that was largely missing from progress meetings and technical meetings. Team members expressed greater satisfaction with this problem-solving meeting where these enriched exchanges took place. By making comparisons between the different patterns, we are also able to explore functional roles and their interactions. From this and other published evidence, we conclude that good teamworking practices depend on a complex interplay of relations and dependencies embedded within the team.

Growth setbacks in new firms

New firms in emerging industries are subject to complex dynamic processes which defy the attempts at prediction embodied in business conjectures. Discontinuous growth is common, but the issue of interruptions in the early growth of new firms has not been adequately addressed in the mainstream literature. We examine the prevalence of interruptions to growth in a cohort study of the growth trajectories of firms founded in 1990, then look to cases studies of individual firms to investigate underlying causes. We find that substantial growth is rare and continuous growth unusual, and that growth interruptions are the result of both internal and external dynamics. The managers of growing firms face shortages of vital resources and significant problems of resource synchronisation and coordination, many of which can lead to what are, in effect, changes of phase state. Meanwhile, the volatile environment of an emerging industry presents particular problems to young firms which have not yet built up reserves to sustain them through short-term crises. However, problem solving by those that survive provides an important source of learning which can underpin their future development. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

IREE: Automated Vision Tracking of Project Related Entities

The purpose of this supplemental project was to collect invaluable data from the large-scale construction sites of Egnatia Odos motorway needed to validate a novel automated vision-tracking method created under the parent grant. For this purpose, one US graduate and three US undergraduate students traveled to Greece for 4 months and worked together with 2 Greek graduate students of the local faculty collaborator. This team of students monitored project activities and scheduled data collection trips on a daily basis, setup a mobile video data collection lab on the back of a truck, and drove to various sites every day to collect hundreds of hours of video from multiple cameras on a large variety of activities ranging from soil excavation to bridge construction. The US students were underrepresented students from minority groups who had never visited a foreign country. As a result, this trip was a major life experience to them. They learned how to live in a non-English speaking country, communicate with Greek students, workers and engineers. They lead a project in a very unfamiliar environment, troubleshoot myriad problems that hampered their progress daily and, above all, how to collaborate effectively and efficiently with other cultures. They returned to the US more mature, with improved leadership and problem-solving skills and a wider perspective of their profession.

A review of TRIZ, and its benefits and challenges in practice

TRIZ (the theory of inventive problem solving) has been promoted by several enthusiasts as a systematic methodology or toolkit that provides a logical approach to developing creativity for innovation and inventive problem solving. The methodology, which emerged from Russia in the 1960s, has spread to over 35 countries across the world. It is now being taught in several universities and it has been applied by a number of global organisations who have found it particularly useful for spurring new product development. However, while its popularity and attractiveness appear to be on a steady increase, there are practical issues which make the use of TRIZ in practice particularly challenging. These practical difficulties have largely been neglected by TRIZ literature. This paper takes a step away from conventional TRIZ literature, by exploring not just the benefits associated with TRIZ knowledge, but the challenges associated with its acquisition and application based on practical experience. Through a survey, first-hand information is collected from people who have tried (successfully and unsuccessfully) to understand and apply the methodology. The challenges recorded cut across a number of issues, ranging from the complex nature of the methodology to underlying organisational and cultural issues which hinder its understanding and application. Another contribution of this paper, potentially useful for TRIZ beginners, is the indication of what tools among the several contained in the TRIZ toolkit would be most useful to learn first, based on their observed degree of usage by the survey respondents. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

构建现代企业问题求解环境

在知识经济时代的激烈竞争中 ,现代企业要在市场中保持竞争优势 ,企业的业务过程就要不断地改善以适应市场的变化 ,传统的企业业务管理方法已经不再适应新的经济形势 ,新型的信息技术能够支持企业实现业务过程的持续改善 (BPCI) ,本文主要介绍支持企业实现业务持续改善的企业问题求解环境的软件体系结构和动态建模方法。应用先进的软件技术和方法可以帮助企业快速建立业务管理系统 ,同时降低实施成本 ,保护企业在信息系统的已有投资 ,最大限度满足企业动态多变的需求以适应多变的市场。

基于直方图插值的均值移动小尺寸目标跟踪算法

小尺寸目标跟踪是视觉跟踪中的难题。该文首先指出了均值移动小尺寸目标跟踪算法中的两个主要问题:算法跟踪中断和丢失跟踪目标。然后,论文给出了相应的解决方法。对传统Parzen窗密度估计法加以改进,并用于对候选目标区域的直方图进行插值处理,较好地解决了算法跟踪中断问题。论文采用Kullback-Leibler距离作为目标模型和候选目标之间的新型相似性度量函数,并推导了其相应的权值和新位置计算公式,提高了算法的跟踪精度。多段视频序列的跟踪实验表明,该文提出的算法可以有效地跟踪小尺寸目标,能够成功跟踪只有6×12个像素的小目标,跟踪精度也有一定提高。

形状填充率的物体识别算法

针对经典形状上下文算法对物体关节相对位置变化敏感的缺点,提出一种基于剪影局部形状填充率的物体识别算法.该算法以物体不同的轮廓控制点为圆心,计算不同半径下物体剪影像素所占总像素的比例,即为控制点的局部形状填充率;将不同控制点、不同半径长度所计算的形状填充率数值构成一个特征矩阵,该矩阵反映了物体整个剪影的统计特性.通过不同数据库的实验结果表明,文中算法对物体的细节有很强的描述能力,对物体关节的相对位置不敏感,并且受剪影轮廓控制点数量影响小.

An application of the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic inference in a decision support system for forage selection

Forage selection plays a prominent role in the process of returning cultivated lands back into grasslands. The conventional method of selecting forage species can only provide attempts for problem-solving without considering the relationships among the decision factors globally. Therefore, this study is dedicated to developing a decision support system to help farmers correctly select suitable forage species for the target sites. After collecting data through a field study, we developed this decision support system. It consists of three steps: (1) the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), (2) weights determination, and (3) decision making. In the first step, six factors influencing forage growth were selected by reviewing the related references and by interviewing experts. Then a fuzzy matrix was devised to determine the weight of each factor in the second step. Finally, a gradual alternative decision support system was created to help farmers choose suitable forage species for their lands in the third step. The results showed that the AHP and fuzzy logic are useful for forage selection decision making, and the proposed system can provide accurate results in a certain area (Gansu Province) of China.

用计算机辅助创新软件解决产品技术创新问题的研究

本文简要介绍了发明问题解决理论TRIZ和机算机辅助创新软件Pro/Innovator的主要内容,建立了基于创新理论TRIZ和CAI软件的创新问题解决流程模型,作为特例建立了Pro/Innovator1.0的简化流程图,最后用软件完成了一个工程实例问题的创新设计。

数控自动编程专家系统

本文简要地介绍了数控自动编程专家系统.其中包括:专家系统知识表示的形式;分层次的黑板结构;前向推理求解策略和相应的解释功能;系统针对不同类型的曲线组合,采用不同的独立的知识源(KS)进行处理.由于在知识的处理上采用编码技术,在前向推理求解策略中使用启发信息和“剪技”技术,提高了系统的时空效率.系统中的规划程序能自动规划切削路径.输出供数控车床使用的 NC 代码,并可在显示屏上进行图形显示和切削仿真.目前原型系统已经在 IBM-PC 和 Sun3/60计算机上利用FORTRAN 语言实现.

分布式问题求解系统及其在CIMS中的应用

分布式问题求解(Distributed Problem Solving)系统是分布式人工智能系统的一个十分重要的分支，它能够完成不同解题系统之间的合作解题，具有灵活、处理速度快、可靠性高、资源共享等优点，存在着广泛的应用领域。本论文详细介绍了一个应用于CIMS领域问题求解的分布式智能系统-分布式问题求解（DPS）系统的设计过程。该系统是由多个处理结点组成的基于黑板的分布式智能系统，它将CIMS中的CAD、CAPP、CAM有机地集成为一体，可以并行地执行分散在不同结点的知识源，并通过合适的控制策略通讯机制，使它们合作解题，同时使不同地理位置上的计算机性能得到充分发挥和利用。系统中每个结点的结构大体相同，主要包括：知识获取子系统、结点控制系统（包括负责接收与发送信息的前编处理模块、任务分解模块、任务综合模块、任务评估与分配模块、子任务调度与结果处理模块），子任务求解系统及黑板解释系统。该系统已在由以本网连接的SUV计算机上运行，在三个机器结点间实现合作解题，应用于CIMS领域问题求解，效果良好。

地震波场延拓+菲涅尔体叠加方法及成像效果

In the increasingly enlarged exploration target, deep target layer(especially for the reservoir of lava) is a potential exploration area. As well known, the reflective energy becomes weak because the seismic signals of reflection in deep layer are absorbed and attenuate by upper layer. Caustics and multi-values traveltime in wavefield are aroused by the complexity of stratum. The ratio of signal to noise is not high and the fold numbers are finite(no more than 30). All the factors above affect the validity of conventional processing methods. So the high S/N section of stack can't always be got with the conventional stack methods even if the prestack depth migration is used. So it is inevitable to develop another kind of stack method instead. In the last a few years, the differential solution of wave equation was hold up by the condition of computation. Kirchhoff integral method rose in the initial stages of the ninetieth decade of last century. But there exist severe problems in it, which is are too difficult to resolve, so new method of stack is required for the oil and gas exploration. It is natural to think about upgrading the traditionally physic base of seismic exploration methods and improving those widely used techniques of stack. On the other hand, great progress is depended on the improvement in the wave differential equation prestack depth migration. The algorithm of wavefield continuation in it is utilized. In combination with the wavefield extrapolation and the Fresnel zone stack, new stack method is carried out It is well known that the seismic wavefield observed on surface comes from Fresnel zone physically, and doesn't comes from the same reflection points only. As to the more complex reflection in deep layer, it is difficult to describe the relationship between the reflective interface and the travel time. Extrapolation is used to eliminate caustic and simplify the expression of travel time. So the image quality is enhanced by Fresnel zone stack in target. Based on wave equation, high-frequency ray solution and its character are given to clarify theoretical foundation of the method. The hyperbolic and parabolic travel time of the reflection in layer media are presented in expression of matrix with paraxial ray theory. Because the reflective wave field mainly comes from the Fresnel Zone, thereby the conception of Fresnel Zone is explained. The matrix expression of Fresnel zone and projected Fresnel zone are given in sequence. With geometrical optics, the relationship between object point in model and image point in image space is built for the complex subsurface. The travel time formula of reflective point in the nonuniform media is deduced. Also the formula of reflective segment of zero-offset and nonzero offset section is provided. For convenient application, the interface model of subsurface and curve surface derived from conventional stacks DMO stack and prestack depth migration are analyzed, and the problem of these methods was pointed out in aspects of using data. Arc was put forward to describe the subsurface, thereby the amount of data to stack enlarged in Fresnel Zone. Based on the formula of hyperbolic travel time, the steps of implementation and the flow of Fresnel Zone stack were provided. The computation of three model data shows that the method of Fresnel Zone stack can enhance the signal energy and the ratio of signal to noise effectively. Practical data in Xui Jia Wei Zhi, a area in Daqing oilfield, was processed with this method. The processing results showed that the ability in increasing S/N ratio and enhancing the continuity of weak events as well as confirming the deep configuration of volcanic reservoir is better than others. In deeper target layer, there exists caustic caused by the complex media overburden and the great variation of velocity. Travel time of reflection can't be exactly described by the formula of travel time. Extrapolation is bring forward to resolve the questions above. With the combination of the phase operator and differential operator, extrapolating operator adaptable to the variation of lateral velocity is provided. With this method, seismic records were extrapolated from surface to any different deptlis below. Wave aberration and caustic caused by the inhomogenous layer overburden were eliminated and multi-value curve was transformed into the curve.of single value. The computation of Marmousi shows that it is feasible. Wave field continuation extends the Fresnel Zone stack's application.

团队有效性：协作行为与作业特征作用机制研究

Organizations are increasingly turning to team-based structures to contend with the pressure of the increasing global competition, consolidation, innovation and need for diverse skills, expertise, and experiences. This ongoing transformation in the basic organization of work has captured the attention of researcher. And group and team research has become increasingly centered in the fields of organizational psychology and organizational behavior since the 1990s. A great deal empirical studies were conducted; a number of variables contributing to team effectiveness and several IPO models were summarized. But teamwork behaviors, the dynamic and adaptive interactions among team members during the task completion, were still very vague. So were the team task characteristics, an important input variable of the IPO models. The effects of team task characteristics and teamwork behaviors on team effectiveness were explored according to IPO model on the basis of the reviews on previous studies, the Hierarchical Conceptual Structure of Teamwork Behaviors (Rousseau et al.,2006), and the task characteristic theory(Hackman & Oldman, 1975). The questionnaire data from 479 team members and 110 team managers of 22 organizations were analyzed. The results indicate: A. Teamwork behaviors consist of 13 behavioral dimensions: team mission analysis, goal specification, planning, coordination, cooperation, information exchange, performance monitoring, backing-up behaviors, intra-team coaching, collaborative problem solving, team practice innovation, psychological support and integrative conflict management. The hierarchical conceptual structure was partly supported with five variable identified, i.e., preparation of work accomplishment, task-related collaborative behaviors, work assessment behaviors, team adjustment behaviors and the management of team maintenance. The formal four variables are in a sequential way. B. The task characteristic theory at individual level is applicable to the team level. This means that the team task characteristics consist of task variety, identity, significance, feedback, autonomy, interdependence. C. The correlations among task characteristics, teamwork behaviors and outcomes support the IPO model. The regulation of team performance mediated the effects of task meaningfulness and interdependence on team outcomes, with the direct effects of task meaningfulness on the preparation behaviors and the direct effects of interdependence on the task-related collaborative behaviors. The management of team maintenance mediated the effects of autonomy on team cohesion and satisfaction. The regulation of team performance has a direct effect on the team performance and the management of team maintenance. And the management of team maintenance has a direct effect on the team attitude and the regulation of team performance.

顿悟中的蔡格尼克效应：左右脑在解题失败与提示信息加工时的活动差异

Zeigarnik effect refers to the enhanced memory performance for unfinished tasks and studies on insight using hemi-visual field presentation technology also find that after failing to solve an problem, hints to the problem are more effective received and lead to insight experience when presented to the left-visual field (Right hemisphere) than presented to the right-visual field, especial when the hints appeared with a delay. Thus, it seems that right hemisphere may play an important role in preserving information of unsolved problems and processing related cues. To further examine the finding above, we introduce an Chinese character chunking task to investigate the brain activities during the stage of failure to resolve problems and of hint presentation using Event-Related Potentials (ERP) and functional MRI technology. Our FMRI results found that bilateral BA10 showed more activation when seeing hints for unsolved problems and we proposed that it may reflect the processes of information to failure problems, howerver, there was no hemispheric difference. The ERP results after the effort to the problems showed that unsolved problems elicited a more positive P150 over the right frontal cortex while solved problems demonstrated a left hemispheric advantage of P150. When hints present, P2 amplitudes of hints were modulated by the status of problem only in the right hemisphere but not in the left hemisphere. Our results confirmed the hypothesis that failure to solve problems would trigger the perseverance processes in right hemisphere, which would make right hemisphere more sensitive to related information of failure problems.