New Course Announcement

16.888/ESD.77J Multidisciplinary System Design Optimization

We are offering a new course in design optimization of engineering systems that involve multiple disciplines. These range from traditional engineering disciplines such as structures, aero-dynamics, controls, propulsion, optics ... but also embrace more contemporary areas such as reliability, financial and lifecycle modeling. The course differs from traditional optimization or design courses in several ways:

• focus on the problem formulation and setup, rather then on proofs and theorems about the search algorithms themselves

• show approaches to coupling simulation codes from disparate disciplines and heterogeneous applications (Matlab, Excel, C-code...)

• focus on engineering design problems, rather than OR topics such as schedule, supply chain or revenue optimization

• explicitely discuss how to solve multiobjective problems

• show the power of using combinations of gradient search and heuristic approaches such as genetic algorithms and simulated annealing

• students work on a specific design project and we encourage combining research and classwork

• computer lab sessions with state of the art CAE/CAD and optimizer software will be available

Official Description:
16.888 Multidisciplinary System Design Optimization (New)
(Same subject as ESD.77)
Prereq.: 18.085 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-3-6
Lab: F9-12 (33-218) Lecture: MW11-12:30 (33-319)

Engineering systems modeling for design and optimization. Selection of design variables, objective functions and constraints. Overview of principles, methods and tools in multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO). Subsystem identification, development and interface design. Review of linear and non-linear constrained optimization formulations. Scalar versus vector optimization problems from systems engineering and architecting of complex systems. Heuristic search methods:
Tabu search, simulated annealing, genetic algorithms. Sensitivity, tradeoff analysis and isoperformance. Multiobjective optimization and pareto optimality. System design for value. Specific applications from aerospace, mechanical, civil engineering and system architecture.

O. de Weck, K. Willcox

Last year we offered this as a prototype under course number 16.899/ESD.934J

The overall course rating was:
"Overall, the subject is worthwhile" 4.923/5.0

Selected student comments:
"I can work on my research using teachings from this class."
"Very fresh topic (i.e. immature and still evolving). Very useful. The engineering world will change in this direction".
"Instructors very dynamic, young, available, motivating."
"Relevance of material, application to personal research area."

Also, this year we are leading the beta testing effort for iSIGHT v7.0 Academic.
iSIGHT is an industry leading design optimization software and class participants will receive, free of charge, a CD-ROM with the software (limited to 8 design variables). In return you will be expected to provide feedback about the quality and usefulness of the code and suggestions for improvement.

Press release:
http://www.engineous.com/release12_11_MIT.htm

If you are interested, the first class will take place:
Wednesday, February 5, 2003 from 11:00am-12:30p.m. in 33-319