A Decomposition Based Approach to Optimal Layout of Complex Systems such as UAV’s and Satellites

The design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) is a complex process of creating a reliable system of reasonable cost that can survive in hostile environments. Although UAV’s have unique aspects to them, similar goals can be found in almost any complex, competitive product. One aspect of the design of these systems that tends to be both difficult and poorly supported with available computer design technology today is the difficult step of determining placement locations for the components within a product housing or container (the space available for component placement). In Phase I we developed technology to hierarchically cluster sets of components into subsystems, each of which can be laid out first independently and then refined as they are integrated into a complete system placement. The next challenge to clustering is to create smart clusters to enable the system’s ability to satisfy design constraints during layout of large and complex interactive systems. Constraints are especially critical and challenging in full 3D geometry where the functional interactions are highly coupled, as with UAV design. The method for computationally decomposing a system based on constraints, and solving the system and subsystem layout problem while satisfying constraints is the focus of this STTR.