Policy-Based Object-of-Interest Control in Additive Manufacturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Additive manufacturing systems face challenges in generating three-dimensional objects while ensuring safety and compliance, particularly in identifying and modifying objects of interest, such as dangerous or illegal items, to prevent misuse and ensure regulatory adherence.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a policy-based action system that classifies objects of interest within the manufacturing process, modifying object model data to add identifiers, change properties, or delay printing, and using specific agents and materials based on associated policies stored in a database, allowing for real-time adjustments during the additive manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additive manufacturing systems generate three-dimensional objects through selective solidification of build material, then manufacturing flexibility and customization are improved, but safety risks and regulatory compliance challenges worsen due to potential production of dangerous or illegal items
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and classification of objects of interest before completing the manufacturing process. By analyzing object model data in advance and determining policy-based actions, the system prevents harmful objects from being fully produced while allowing legitimate manufacturing to proceed uninterrupted.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where objects are identified during manufacturing, classified as objects of interest, and have policy-based actions applied in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the manufacturing process to prevent production of harmful items while maintaining flexibility for legitimate objects.
2Reliability
If the system identifies and modifies objects of interest by adding identifiers or changing properties, then safety and compliance are improved, but processing time and operational disruption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs identification and classification of objects of interest during the object generation process itself, rather than as a separate post-processing step. By determining policy-based actions and modifying object model data in real-time during manufacturing, the system avoids additional processing time and operational disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing system performs self-regulation by automatically identifying objects of interest, classifying them, and applying appropriate policy-based actions without requiring external intervention. This self-service approach maintains regulatory compliance while minimizing processing time through integrated real-time analysis and decision-making.
3Ease of operation
If the system delays printing or modifies object model data in real-time, then control over dangerous objects is improved, but manufacturing productivity and throughput worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines policy-based actions and modifies object model data during the object generation process before manufacturing completes. By implementing control measures in advance during data processing rather than as post-manufacturing interventions, the system maintains full productivity while achieving effective control over objects of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification, classification, and policy-based action application occur continuously during the manufacturing process without interrupting the production flow. The system maintains continuous manufacturing throughput by integrating control operations into the existing manufacturing workflow rather than creating separate stopping and restarting cycles.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An example method for use in additive manufacturing comprises operating, by a processor, on object model data, the object model data describing an object to be generated in an additive manufacturing process. The example method comprises determining, by a processor, based on the object model data, whether a portion of the object to be generated is identified as an object of interest. In response to a determination that a portion of the object to be generated is identified as an object of interest, then the method comprises determining, by a processor, whether a policy-based action is associated with the object of interest. In response to a determination that a policy-based action is associated with the object of interest, then the method comprises executing, by a processor, the policy-based action, and generating, by a processor, the object according to the policy-based action.