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Using assembly representations to enable evolutionary design of Lego structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2003

MAXIM PEYSAKHOV  and
WILLIAM C. REGLI
MAXIM PEYSAKHOV
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
WILLIAM C. REGLI
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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Abstract

This paper presents an approach to the automatic generation of electromechanical engineering designs. We apply messy genetic algorithm (GA) optimization techniques to the evolution of assemblies composed of LegoTM structures. Each design is represented as a labeled assembly graph and is evaluated based on a set of behavior and structural equations. The initial populations are generated at random, and design candidates for subsequent generations are produced by user-specified selection techniques. Crossovers are applied by using cut and splice operators at the random points of the chromosomes; random mutations are applied to modify the graph with a certain low probability. This cycle continues until a suitable design is found. The research contributions in this work include the development of a new GA encoding scheme for mechanical assemblies (Legos), as well as the creation of selection criteria for this domain. Our eventual goal is to introduce a simulation of electromechanical devices into our evaluation functions. We believe that this research creates a foundation for future work and it will apply GA techniques to the evolution of more complex and realistic electromechanical structures.

Keywords

Assembly ModelingComputer-Aided DesignEngineering DesignEvolutionary DesignGenetic AlgorithmsLego
Type
Research Article
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , May 2003 , pp. 155 - 168
Copyright
2003 Cambridge University Press

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