Month: September 2019

Construction Powered by Machine Learning

CADD CENTRE

The Engineering and Construction Industry is one of the fastest and most lucrative industries in the world. Due to its massiveness, it is now on its way to join hands with digital technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. These initiatives aim to meet the growing demands of more and more buildings soon.

The Annual Connect and Construct Summit conducted in London recently by Autodesk discussed how the construction industry could tackle this growing demand. One of the construction partners at the event was the Royal BAM Group. It is a lifecycle construction firm with several projects all over the world. These firms use the concepts of Machine Learning to enhance their workflow. There are several other reasons why these companies are using Machine Learning to power their business.

Data Analysis

The concepts and methods of Machine Learning can collect a massive amount of construction data. These tools can then use this data to catch errors and fixing them in a short time. The concept also helps to saves costs in hiring experts and fixing errors.

Insights by Construction IQ

Construction IQ is a part of Autodesk 360 platform which uses BIM project data and machine learning to predict risks associated with a project. The technology is also able to identify some issues which were difficult to predict otherwise such as fall hazards, water hazards, pending inspections, and even issue which is overdue from a long time.    

Machine learning tools can categorize these issues into high and low risks and notify the contractors and subcontractors about them. Construction IQ also identified one of the biggest risks that focused on the human errors. It was found that workers at several times fix the issue indicated by the system manually but forget to close it in the system. This revealed the shortcomings of the digital shortcomings of the present systems and the areas on which machine learning needs intervention. The machine learning algorithms thus helped the construction professionals by providing realistic insights with the help of smart algorithms to mitigate them.     

Empowering BIM 360

Machine learning-powered Construction IQ, together with BIM 360 helped the construction teams to reveal actionable details and improved performance. For instance, it increased number of active users in BIM 360 tool, increased number of active projects in BIM 360, the BIM Collaboration tool also saw additional active projects in BIM 360 Glue, and the BIM construction Docs also saw a surge in active users.

Overall, the concept of machine learning and automation are gaining more success today than ever before. Apart from the other domains, it is also on its ways to revolutionize the construction industry. The technology will also help to develop innovative and stronger building designs in the near future.   

Better Electrical and Mechanical Design Collaboration – 4 Rules

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Development of intricate and convergent designs is a fact CAD software is starting to live with. The adoption is happening in many ways; one of the prominent ways is the collaboration of electrical and mechanical design. Products now need better integration for better mechanical stability, electrical components, and unified industrial design. Due to the same, the barrier between electrical and mechanical designers is worn down.

How can electrical and mechanical teams work collaboratively, is that even a good idea? Let us discuss some rules to take the design team on the right path.

Rule 1 – Communication within Design Teams with Universally Shared Data

Data silos take place when the electrical and mechanical designers are unable to share data effectively. To enhance collaboration:

  • Breaking these data silos completely can be a better approach.
  • While following this approach, both the electrical and mechanical teams must be able to access the same universal data.
  • The real-time, as well as up-to-date version of the PCB, should be seen by the mechanical designer for his designing enclosure.
  • Conflict of components with mechanical design change must be immediately seen by the electrical engineer.

Rule 2 – Close the Gap between ECAD and MCAD

  • It will be much better to access the data in a way that is appropriate for both design teams.
  • No need for other software to access data for both electrical and mechanical teams.
  • It is critical for design software to adjusting and house multidisciplinary teamwork.
  • Making data accessible for each team in a way they both can work together and implement a bidirectional workflow.
  • An MCAD perspective is presented here as SOLIDWORKS, and ECAD perspective is presented as Altium Designer; however both presented with varied perspective eventually showing same data.

Rule 3 – Compatible Digital Tools across Engineering Disciples

  • Bidirectional flow of data all over the designing software can turn out as the best way to start.
  • ECAD and MCAD tools must establish a consistent design setting. Collaborative features such as revision history as well as comments, can be accessed from any application.
  • The issues of data silos and ineffective communication techniques will flourish unless the application is not compatible.

Rule 4 – Reduce Data Transition Overhead and Maximize Results

  • When more than one application, namely ECAD and MCAD is used by a design team which was not designed for data interoperable, the it is unavoidable to use data translation program.
  • Success or failure of data translation is based on the model’s complexity as well as the data formats in the question.
  • Data translation is sheer overhead that does not add any value to a product designing team. 
  • Designers can effectively use their time by removing the need for workflow and quickly launch their product to the market.

Nevertheless, if the software used by you is not as interoperable as defined in the above four rules, find a way to abate data translation to develop collaborative success with electromechanical design teams.

Trends Influencing Manufacturing Technology

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Manufacturing is often seen as producing physical things, transferring them to another and so forth. However, the scenario is no more the same. Ever-changing demand for quick delivery, customized products, market engagement; along with increase in economic production as well as the shift in supply chain have brought change in the way manufacturing businesses operate. Therefore, organizations are required to incorporate cost-effective techniques while doing business in order to become productive. Increased efficiency, enhanced awareness, decrease in the requirement of breaks and downtime, improvement in the quality of products, etc. are a reflection of some recent developments in manufacturing technology.

  • Increased efficiency is the end goal of manufacturers as it helps in energy consumption, where technology plays a major role in saving power.
  • Improvement in product quality can help in eliminating the errors in the making of same products when the ultimate aim is consistency. Quality concerns, securing the reputation of the business as well as the ability to meet the ever-changing demands, can deal with enhancing product quality.
  • A decrease in the requirement of breaks and downtime can constantly help with production delays.
  • Greater awareness can be explained in terms of monitoring the working state of every delicate part of the business, starting from order number to product statistics.

Some other areas of trends having an influence on the manufacturing technology are highlighted below.

Artificial Intelligence

The future is all good with AI integrated technology in the manufacturing world. The AI market is estimated to grow from $8billion to $72 billion between 2016 and 2021. AI helps manufacturers to optimize the use of equipment, enhance workflow efficiency, improve recruitment process, and optimize predictive analytics.

The branches of AI in the manufacturing sector involves:

  • Computer vision
  • Robotics
  • Automated planning and scheduling
  • Natural language processing
  • Speech recognition

3D Printing Making its Way

“The line between supply chain and manufacturing are becoming difficult to distinguish,” says Lou Rassey, CEO of Fast Radius (an additive manufacturer based in Chicago). He further adds that the things we produce have the power to change the ways we live, making it simple. Additive manufacturing helps in getting new and powerful tools that bring picture into reality, which was once a mere imagination.

It has been predicted that printing of aerospace, defence parts as well as automotive designs will be the biggest manufacturing sectors to employ 3D printing.

The fastest-growing sectors involve:

  • Prototype printing  
  • Medical implant or device printing
  • Dental printing
  • Product creation

The Future of Manufacturing Technology and Processes

Looking forward to the growing opportunities which the manufacturers must grab, it is important to pay attention to the technology essential for their current and future needs. It has to be a priority to profit from emerging technologies such as AI, as well as 3D printing, along with listening to customer demand and capitalizing on R&D.