Authors:
            
                    Masakazu Kobayashi
                    
                        
                    
                     and
                
                    Masatake Higashi
                    
                        
                    
                    
                
        
        
            Affiliation:
            
                    
                        
                    
                    Toyota Technological Institute, Japan
                
        
        
        
        
        
             Keyword(s):
            Design optimization, Conceptual design, Lifecycle assessment, Functional design, Layout design, Hierarchical optimization, Genetic algorithm.
        
        
            
                Related
                    Ontology
                    Subjects/Areas/Topics:
                
                        Artificial Intelligence
                    ; 
                        Computational Intelligence
                    ; 
                        Evolutionary Computing
                    ; 
                        Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization
                    ; 
                        Genetic Algorithms
                    ; 
                        Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics
                    ; 
                        Intelligent Control Systems and Optimization
                    ; 
                        Soft Computing
                    
            
        
        
            
                Abstract: 
                In our previous research, the integrated optimization of functional / layout designs based on genetic algorithm was developed for supporting conceptual design phase. This method can optimize a functional structure and a parts layout simultaneously by evaluating performance, cost and size. In this paper, we now focus on consideration of lifecycle characteristics in response to rise of environmental awareness in recent years and combine our previous integrated method with lifecycle assessment (LCA) in order to enable creation of product concepts that balance various characteristics including lifecycle ones at a higher level. This paper also shows an application of the proposed method to a personal computer design and discusses the effect of consideration of lifecycle characteristics during conceptual optimization.