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 EDAM places a high priority on funding research projects that enhance the delivery of the courses in the two degree programs and enable new collaborations between Portuguese and MIT researchers and industrial affiliates.
The projects are divided into the two main themes of the focus area: Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing.
Educationally Coupled Research (ECR)
Research projects in the Engineering Design theme focus on developing innovative paradigms and methodologies for product development and design. Collaboration with industrial partners is a key contributing factor to the development of these projects. Topics under this theme include lean design in product development, lengthscale dependency in aeronautical component design and evaluation, and eco-efficient design.
The Advanced Manufacturing research projects fall into two major categories: manufacturing processes and manufacturing systems. Projects in the first category involve technology development and economic and environmental performance evaluation of cutting-edge manufacturing processes, whereas projects in the second category evaluate design and planning strategies for manufacturing systems. Manufacturing process research topics contain evaluations of advanced reaction injection molding technology and micromolding processes, and manufacturing systems research topics encompass lean manufacturing, supply chain management, and production line analysis.
Pilot Research Project
One example of research collaboration is a flagship pilot research project investigating lightweight materials in automotive body components. The project was initiated as a demonstration of multidisciplinary and collaborative research among Portuguese and American universities and industry partners.
This partnership of the three Portuguese universities, MIT, INTELI, and industrial affiliates CEIIA and VW Autoeuropa, involves the case study of an automotive closure component as a means to establish a process for evaluating the implementation of alternative lightweight materials and manufacturing technologies in engineering design applications. Designs in three alternative material technologies were compared with the baseline closure design from performance, cost, and environmental impact perspectives.
The project successfully developed an evaluation methodology for alternative materials in engineering applications that comprehends performance and context, but more importantly acted as a laboratory for experimenting with techniques for collaboration amongst academic and industrial partners with a variety of backgrounds and expertise.
Research Projects
EDAM in automotive
Research Team: IST - Arlindo Silva
Objectives: Contribute to strengthening of the Portuguese position in the worldwide automotive industry by introducing new and multidisciplinary approaches in the design and production of complex systems and products with high added value.
1.1 Automotive smart flooring based in photonics
1.2 Multifunctional Moulded Auto Parts produced from RIMCOP Technology
1.3 Analysis and Improvement of Production Lines
1.4 Increasing flexibility and collaboration in the automotive supply network
EDAM in aeronautics
Research Team: FEUP - Pedro Camanho
Objectives: Contribute to the development of the Portuguese aeronautical industry, including new approaches in aeronautic solutions combining mechanical and electronics assembling processes, regarding optimization of product performance and the reduction of the production cost.
2.1 Lengthscale dependency in aeronautical component design and evaluation
2.2 New Design Concepts for Aeronautical Products Weldedby Friction Stir
2.3 Repair of aeronautical structures
EDAM in medical devices and micromanufacturing
Research Team: UMinho - Luis Rocha
Objectives: To induce innovative product development of medical devices, including the design of novel products and solutions and the use of advanced manufacturing technologies.
3.1 RFID-Enabled and Visible Medical Devices
3.2 MicroMoulding - The cost model and technologic solutions
Integrated cost and life cycle considerations in engineering design and manufacturing
Research Team: IST - Elsa Henriques
Objectives: Integration of traditional (e.g., mechanics and electronics) and emerging (e.g., nanomaterials) disciplines in engineering design and manufacturing activities in order to meet the required specifications for complex systems and assure service performance. Combination of design methodologies with competitive manufacturing processes and strategies (ex. Lean manufacturing).
4.1 Eco-efficient design and advanced manufacturing: Systems perspectives on materials technology decision making
4.2 Lean Design in Product Development
4.3 Materials Selection Considering Technical Performance, Process Cost and Life Cycle Evaluation
4.4 Plastic Injection Molding Paradigm Shifting: From Design the Mould to Design of Moulds Life Cycle
Sustainable solutions
Research Team: UMinho - Júlio Viana
Objectives: Support the design process (functional, performance and assembling) with a systematic and embedded analysis of the effects in the relevant ecosystems caused byproducts and processes to be developed in order to achieve solutions with minimized environmental impact.
5.1 Lightweight structure &environmental friendly interior automotive door module
5.2 Eco-design and Advanced Manufacturing: Cork Applications for Nautical Products
Social and human aspects in engineering design and manufacturing
Research Team: FEUP - Lia Patricio
Objectives: Association between human perceptions and technical aspects of a product, bringing together technical and human disciplines to enable a positive perception of the product by potential consumers and users.
6.1 Creativity in product development
6.2 Designing the travel experience
Ongoing Projects (started in Year 1)
- Automotive smart flooring based in photonics Creativity in product development Designing the travel experience Eco-efficient design and advanced manufacturing:Systems perspectives on materials technology decision-making Lean Design in Product Development
- Length scale dependency in aeronautical component design and evaluation ultifunctional Moulded Auto Parts produced from RIMCOP Technology Plastic Injection Molding Paradigm Shifting: From Design the Mould to Design of Moulds Life Cycle
- RFID-Enabled and Visible Medical Devices
Selected Projects (to start in Year 2)
- New Design Concepts for Aeronautical Products Welded by Friction Stir Materials
- Selection Considering Technical Performance, Process Cost and Life Cycle Evaluation
- Repair of aeronautical structures
- MicroMoulding - The cost model and technologic solutions
- Light door / green door: lightweight and environmentally friendly automotive door structures
- Analysis and Improvement of Production Lines
- Increasing flexibility and collaboration in the automotive supply network
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