Virtual Prototype Tolerance Attributes for Probabilistic Certification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current product lifecycle management (PLM) systems face challenges in certifying complex systems with infinite failure modes, as they rely on physical prototypes which are costly and impractical for early design stages and large-scale projects, lacking a method to accurately simulate behavioral tolerances for probabilistic certification.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for simulating behavior of modeled objects by storing tolerance attribute values and executing simulations based on these attributes, allowing for probabilistic certification through virtual prototyping, tiered abstraction modeling, and automated simulation frameworks, enabling verification and validation at every stage of the product lifecycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical prototypes are used for certification, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate due to multiple prototype changes and inability to simulate early design stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual prototypes (digital twins) that replicate the behavior and characteristics of physical prototypes. These virtual models allow certification simulations to be performed in the digital domain, eliminating the need for multiple physical prototype iterations while maintaining certification accuracy through verified simulation models.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables certification simulations to be performed during early design stages using virtual prototypes before physical prototypes are available. This preliminary virtual certification identifies potential issues early, allowing design modifications to be made in the virtual model rather than requiring multiple physical prototype changes later.
2Reliability
If physical prototypes are used for certification, then validation evidence is improved, but productivity and ease of manufacture deteriorate due to infeasibility for large-scale projects and operational changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical prototypes with virtual prototypes that can be rapidly instantiated and modified. This copying approach maintains validation evidence quality while dramatically improving productivity, as virtual prototypes can be created and tested without the manufacturing lead times and costs associated with physical prototypes, especially for large-scale projects like aircraft or oil rigs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic reconfiguration of virtual prototypes to assess certification for new missions or operational changes. The virtual models can be easily modified to reflect different configurations or operational scenarios, allowing rapid re-certification without the need to manufacture new physical prototypes for each scenario.
3Productivity
If simulation is used without tolerance attributes, then productivity is improved by enabling early stage certification, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to unknown simulation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tolerance attributes as new parameters in the simulation model that explicitly define the accuracy and uncertainty bounds of simulated behavior. By incorporating these tolerance parameters, the simulation maintains early-stage certification productivity while providing quantified measurement precision through verified tolerance ranges that establish confidence in the simulation results.
4Measurement precision
If tolerance attributes are incorporated in simulation, then measurement precision and reliability are improved through verified accuracy, but device complexity increases due to additional verification processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual verification processes with automated computational verification methods. The tolerance attribute verification is performed automatically through computational algorithms that check simulation outputs against defined tolerance criteria, reducing the need for manual analysis and expert review while maintaining high measurement precision.
5Productivity
If virtual prototypes are used without known accuracy, then productivity is improved by enabling continuous certification throughout product lifecycle, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to inability to certify with confidence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where simulation results are continuously verified against tolerance attributes and validation criteria throughout the product lifecycle. This feedback loop maintains measurement precision by automatically checking certification confidence levels, allowing continuous certification productivity while ensuring results remain within verified accuracy bounds.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for simulating behavior of a modeled object includes storing a tolerance attribute value in a memory area for a specified parameter of the modeled object, defining a set of rules representative of a plurality of assumptions of a model simulation, executing the model simulation based on the tolerance attribute, verifying an output of the model simulation with respect to a set of rules that are dependent on input and output values for which the tolerance attribute as verified, and validating the output behavior against requirements for every stage of the product lifecycle, from preliminary design to end of life.