Dr. Olaf Diegel, Research Projects

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Research Projects

Below are listed some of the project that I am currently involved with. Some are personal projects, while others are group projects involving members from various research groups, or student projects that I am involved with. As projects progress or are completed, links will be added to the project web pages, so check back often...

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Curved Layer Rapid Prototyping
Current 3D printing technologies work by slicing the computer 3D model into thin flat slices ad then building each slice on top of the previous one. This results in parts with a stair-case effect and a weakness between the laminations. This project is developing a method for depositing the layers of build material as curved layers rather than flat ones. This means that the parts no longer suffer from the stair case effect and are consistently strong across their surface. It also means that a variety of fibers can be introduced to the material to strengthen it. This project is being undertaken in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and India Institute of Technology.

Conductive 3D Printing
This research will develop a novel conductive 3D printing technology to print plastic components with integral conductive polymer electronic circuits and components. The elimination of printed circuit boards and many electronic components used in electronic products creates a revolutionary new type of product in which the housing becomes the products’ electronic circuit, dramatically reducing cost and eliminating any restrictions in product shape.
The project will develop conductive materials, algorithms to convert PCB designs into 3D paths, the electromechanical design of multiple material print-heads, and techniques for connecting traditional components to the conductive tracks. This project is an extension of our Curved Layer Rapid Prototyping Project.

Rapid Prototyping as Design methodology
The traditional Prototype as Design technique, as used by the NASA’s Ames Research Center, is very useful in creating unique, one-of-a-kind research hardware for small, high-risk projects. It is a useful technique in NPD projects as it often helps to produce better results faster. With the relatively recent advent of newer and faster RP technologies, both virtual and physical, a higher rate of design iteration can now be achieved, which often results in better project outcomes. The incorporation of these technologies into the design effort can be seen as a Rapid Prototype as Design process. This research is developing a complete RPaD design methodology.

Tools and techniques for Rapid Product Development
I am developing a variety of tools and techniques, including software packages for better managing the fuzzy front end of innovative product development projects.
The tools and techniques are tested and developed on a range of commercial product development project in which the aim is to substantially reduce the product development cycle, from conception through to manufacturing.

Rapid Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping Tools and Techniques
This research is investigating more effective ways of using rapid prototyping and rapid prototyping technologies to, once again, improve speed to market and, ultimately, to be able to mass-manufacture individually customized products.

Human Centered Design
This research looks at better ways of developing products that are completely intuitive to users of any sex, age or culture to use. In particular it aims at developing home health monitoring and other biomedical devices that do not require you to be a rocket scientist to operate

Predictive Health Monitoring Systems
This research is developing a computer system that inputs data from various health monitoring devices (blood pressure, weight, temperature, glucose, asthma) and makes intelligent decision using this data. The ultimate aim of this project is to, rather than people getting sick and going to see a doctor, give them the power to take control of their own heath and in preventing them from getting sick in the first place

Indoor Tracking Systems
This project involves the creation of a ubiquitous network in which a user, wearing an RFID enabled watch or piece of jewelry, can be automatically tracked through his house or office. The data from the users location and his personal data from the watch can then be used to control his environment.

Intelligent Domestic Robot Control Algorithms
This project involves the creation of software algorithms that allow automated domestic appliances, such as vacuum cleaners or lawn mowers, to intelligently navigate an obstacle filled room, covering the surface area in the shortest possible time and using the least amount of energy.

Generic Plug And Play Mechatronic Control System
Research will be carried out on the design and development of a Generic Plug and Play Mechatronic Control System. This system will be designed for use on industrial robots. The flexibility of the system will allow it to be used on any Mechatronic systems.

All Terrain Omni-Directional Mobile Robot
An all terrain omni-directional mobile robot is currently being researched and developed by the Mechatronics and Robotics research group. The vehicle will be optimised for travel in changing environments. The basis of the system is its unique wheel design and configuration. In addition an intelligent control system is being researched and developed to control the vehicle. The system will also incorporate a robust navigation and guidance system.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Cell
A 'state of the art' Computer Integrated Manufacturing Cell (CIM) will be developed in collaboration with the Massey Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group, Massey University, Auckland.
Manufacturing enterprises are facing challenges to reconstruct themselves in order to survive in the ever more competitive agile environment. CIM has been adopted as one of the manufacturing strategies to enable companies to be sustainable in the agile manufacturing environment. The real-time control of CIM continues to pose challenges because of the high inflexibility of the Shop Floor Control System (SFCS). Often CIM cells consist of highly flexible machines but the control software is unable to enhance the flexibility of these machines to exploit the frequent changes regarding productions, processes and technologies. The control of software is typically custom written, very expensive and difficult to modify and often the main source of inflexibility in CIM.
Research projects in Mechatronics and Robotics will centre around aspects related to the design and development of a CIM cell, using low cost hardware and software.

Comments to olaf.diegel@aut.ac.nz
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

Copyright 2007 Olaf Diegel

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Curved Layer Rapid Prototyping Current 3D printing technologies work by slicing the computer 3D model into thin flat slices ad then building each slice on top of the previous one. This results in parts with a stair-case effect and a weakness between the laminations. This project is developing a method for depositing the layers of build material as curved layers rather than flat ones. This means that the parts no longer suffer from the stair case effect and are consistently strong across their surface. It also means that a variety of fibers can be introduced to the material to strengthen it. This project is being undertaken in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and India Institute of Technology. Conductive 3D Printing This research will develop a novel conductive 3D printing technology to print plastic components with integral conductive polymer electronic circuits and components. The elimination of printed circuit boards and many electronic components used in electronic products creates a revolutionary new type of product in which the housing becomes the products’ electronic circuit, dramatically reducing cost and eliminating any restrictions in product shape. The project will develop conductive materials, algorithms to convert PCB designs into 3D paths, the electromechanical design of multiple material print-heads, and techniques for connecting traditional components to the conductive tracks. This project is an extension of our Curved Layer Rapid Prototyping Project.
Rapid Prototyping as Design methodology The traditional Prototype as Design technique, as used by the NASA’s Ames Research Center, is very useful in creating unique, one-of-a-kind research hardware for small, high-risk projects. It is a useful technique in NPD projects as it often helps to produce better results faster. With the relatively recent advent of newer and faster RP technologies, both virtual and physical, a higher rate of design iteration can now be achieved, which often results in better project outcomes. The incorporation of these technologies into the design effort can be seen as a Rapid Prototype as Design process. This research is developing a complete RPaD design methodology.
Tools and techniques for Rapid Product Development I am developing a variety of tools and techniques, including software packages for better managing the fuzzy front end of innovative product development projects. The tools and techniques are tested and developed on a range of commercial product development project in which the aim is to substantially reduce the product development cycle, from conception through to manufacturing.
Rapid Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping Tools and Techniques This research is investigating more effective ways of using rapid prototyping and rapid prototyping technologies to, once again, improve speed to market and, ultimately, to be able to mass-manufacture individually customized products.
Human Centered Design This research looks at better ways of developing products that are completely intuitive to users of any sex, age or culture to use. In particular it aims at developing home health monitoring and other biomedical devices that do not require you to be a rocket scientist to operate
Predictive Health Monitoring Systems This research is developing a computer system that inputs data from various health monitoring devices (blood pressure, weight, temperature, glucose, asthma) and makes intelligent decision using this data. The ultimate aim of this project is to, rather than people getting sick and going to see a doctor, give them the power to take control of their own heath and in preventing them from getting sick in the first place
Indoor Tracking Systems This project involves the creation of a ubiquitous network in which a user, wearing an RFID enabled watch or piece of jewelry, can be automatically tracked through his house or office. The data from the users location and his personal data from the watch can then be used to control his environment.
Intelligent Domestic Robot Control Algorithms This project involves the creation of software algorithms that allow automated domestic appliances, such as vacuum cleaners or lawn mowers, to intelligently navigate an obstacle filled room, covering the surface area in the shortest possible time and using the least amount of energy.
Generic Plug And Play Mechatronic Control System Research will be carried out on the design and development of a Generic Plug and Play Mechatronic Control System. This system will be designed for use on industrial robots. The flexibility of the system will allow it to be used on any Mechatronic systems.
All Terrain Omni-Directional Mobile Robot An all terrain omni-directional mobile robot is currently being researched and developed by the Mechatronics and Robotics research group. The vehicle will be optimised for travel in changing environments. The basis of the system is its unique wheel design and configuration. In addition an intelligent control system is being researched and developed to control the vehicle. The system will also incorporate a robust navigation and guidance system.
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Cell A 'state of the art' Computer Integrated Manufacturing Cell (CIM) will be developed in collaboration with the Massey Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group, Massey University, Auckland. Manufacturing enterprises are facing challenges to reconstruct themselves in order to survive in the ever more competitive agile environment. CIM has been adopted as one of the manufacturing strategies to enable companies to be sustainable in the agile manufacturing environment. The real-time control of CIM continues to pose challenges because of the high inflexibility of the Shop Floor Control System (SFCS). Often CIM cells consist of highly flexible machines but the control software is unable to enhance the flexibility of these machines to exploit the frequent changes regarding productions, processes and technologies. The control of software is typically custom written, very expensive and difficult to modify and often the main source of inflexibility in CIM. Research projects in Mechatronics and Robotics will centre around aspects related to the design and development of a CIM cell, using low cost hardware and software.