Contact Information

Research Interests

My research focuses on engineering design synthesis. Engineering design synthesis refers to the process of realizing a system that serves a function. I am especially interested in understanding and exploring the role of information and computation in design synthesis. I am currently working on two problems in engineering design synthesis.

The first problem deals with the synthesis of complex engineered systems like airplanes and automobiles. Complex engineered systems involve hundreds or even thousands of people in the design and manufacture of the system. Integrating the tasks of the different engineers and coordinating their decision making processes is a complex endeavor. My research looks at developing the fundamental principles and computing environments for effective integration and coordination of the tasks performed by engineers in synthesizing complex engineered systems. 

The second problem deals with the synthesis of adaptive and reconfigurable systems. Engineered systems today largely have a fixed structure. The structure is often designed to function optimally under certain operating conditions. There is little ability for a system to reconfigure its structure to serve new functions or continue functioning optimally when subjected to hostile or changing environments. My research looks at how adaptive and reconfigurable systems can be developed. I am developing computational methods for autonomous and dynamic reconfiguration of a system's structure to serve new functions or continue operating optimally when subjected to hostile environments.

Publications

Book Chapters

• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2006,  A 'plug-and-play' computing environment for collaborative product design and manufacturing across an extended enterprise, Collaborative Product Design and Manufacturing Methodologies and Applications, edited by Li W. D., Ong S. K., Nee A. Y. C. and McMahon C. A. (in press).

Journal Articles

• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., An adaptive fixture design system for automatically dealing with design changes, (in review).
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2006, Fixture design information support for integrated design and manufacturing, International Journal of Production Research, 44(11), pp2205-2219.
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2005, Automated synthesis of modular fixture designs using an evolutionary search algorithm, International Journal of Production Research, 43(23), pp5047-5070.

• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2004, Design change synchronization in a distributed environment for integrated product and process design, Computer Aided Design and Applications, 1(1-4), pp43-53.
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. Bok, S. H. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2004, Developing distributed applications for integrated product and process design, Computer Aided Design, 36(8), pp679-689.
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. Bok, S. H. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2003, Development of an internet-enabled interactive fixture design system, Computer Aided Design, 35(10), pp945-957.

Conference Papers

• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2005, An adaptive modular fixture design system for integrated product and process design, 2005 IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, August 1-2, Edmonton, Canada.
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2005, Towards a 'plug-and-play' computing environment for integrated product and process design across an extended enterprise, 2005 CIRP Design Seminar, May 22-25, Shanghai, China.
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. Bok, S. H. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2003, Development of a reference enterprise model for fixture design information support in integrated manufacturing, 2003 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 15-21, Washington D C, USA.
• Mervyn, F., Senthil Kumar, A. Bok, S. H. and Nee, A. Y. C., 2002, Internet-enabled smart interactive fixture design, 2002 Japan-USA Symposium on Flexible Automation, July 14-19, Hiroshima, Japan.

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