The Design and Modeling of an Optimized Mechatronic System Using a Set Based Concurrent Engineering

A mechatronic system consists in a close intersection between mechanics, electronics, control engineering and software engineering. Typically, the controller design and the system design are developed and optimized contemporaneously. However, a poorly designed mechanical system will not at any time be able to hand out a good performance by adding a good controller. Furthermore, to design complex systems, the designers have to follow the traditional point-based development model where one solution is iteratively modified until it fits the specifications. The main problem with the point-based development model lies in the several resets and modifications that return to the previous steps to satisfy the requirements that meet those of the current stage. Therefore, in this paper, we propose to use Set Based Concurrent Engineering to develop a complex system after that we propose to carry a preliminary optimization of the parametric model of the system in the preliminary design before adding the control system. This approach is shown with a simulation model using Modelica for a case study in the automotive field of an Electronic Throttle Body (ETB).