DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN AI DRIVEN GENERATIVE ENGINEERING
Year: 2024
Editor: Grierson, Hilary; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon
Author: Köring, Timo; Gerhard, Detlef; Neges, Matthias
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Institute for Product and Service Engineering, Digital Engineering Chair, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Page(s): 223 - 228
DOI number: 10.35199/EPDE.2024.38
ISBN: 978-1-912254-200
ISSN: 3005-4753
Abstract
Progress in digital design tools has continuously changed the engineering design process. The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens up completely new opportunities for the development of innovative products and systems. Computational design synthesis techniques such as generative design can be used to explore a design space with many solutions optimized for different objectives that may even exceed the capabilities of experienced human designers. By using CAD tools that deploy these techniques, designers no longer have to limit themselves to the variation and simulation of a few parameters, which is due to the time pressure in product development, but also to the lack of specialist knowledge of the complex correlations. Instead, a broad open solution space with an unrestricted number of potential solutions is provided by computational support. Engineering designers thus can focus on evaluating the solutions and selecting the solution that makes the most sense for the specific application. This is dramatically changing the product development process. The impact of AI on the design process, the handling of the new techniques and methods, as well as the implementation for future product development and innovation activities results in an enormous need for training and further education of designers. This paper presents a comprehensive skill development programme for industry professionals and engineering students to provide the necessary skills (methodology and tools) in terms of generative engineering, design automation, structure and topology optimization. It includes an introduction to generative engineering (GE) as well as its foundations and software applications. The concept of the skill development programme is predominantly organized as eLearning divided into learning nuggets but is complemented by an additional hybrid practical part. The paper describes the approach employed in developing this program and highlights its outcomes. The teaching methodology and concept along with the focal teaching points are introduced. In addition, subsequent optimization measures and requirements are determined, which are based on the evaluation of the learning paths and learning nuggets carried out in the project by industry participants and their feedback. Finally, the potential of the suggestions for improvement and the resulting changes are discussed.
Keywords: Generative Engineering Education, skill development programme, Generative Design