Soft computing in engineering design optimisation

Issue title: SAIS & SSLS Workshop 2005

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Drack, Lorenz | Zadeh, Hossein S.

Affiliations: Maritime Platforms Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Department of Defence, 506 Lorimer St., Fishermans Bend, VIC 3207, Australia | School of Business Information Technology, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, GPO Box 2497V, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 9925 5806; Fax: +61 3 9925 5850; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The implementation of Soft Computing methodologies in two aerospace design problems is presented, one being the design of quiet and efficient aircraft propellers, and the other being the manoeuvre control of a satellite. They were chosen as they present very challenging engineering design problems with nonlinearities and discontinuities in the design space. The methodologies used include Simulated Annealing for design optimisation, Neural Networks for system representation and Fuzzy Logic for system control. The choice of these methods over conventional analytical techniques is shown to enable the solution of these design problems. The propeller design methodology described produces designs that have equivalent or improved performance and significantly reduced noise when compared to commercial off-the-shelf designs. The optimal satellite controller described shows significant improvements in reduced settling time and overshoot when compared to conventional controllers.

Keywords: Optimisation, soft computing, neural networks, simulated annealing, propeller design, propeller noise, satellite control, fuzzy logic control

Journal: Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 353-365, 2006