The IPAD System:A Future

Management/Engineerinq/DesignEnvironment

Carlos A. Garrocq and Michael J. HurleyGeneral Dynamics CorporationConvair Aerospace Division

San Diego, California

Introduction

The design of a new aerospace vehicle is a complex,long-term process. At the onset, a set of objectives isidentified in the areas of mission, weight, performance,payload, etc., which are specified with a fairly goodknowledge of the available design technology andconstraints. The designer possesses a fund of accumulatedexperience and knowledge that he applies, with imaginationand intuition, to meet the requirements and constraints he

April 1975

has been given. The knowledge and experience of thedesigner are more and more frequently being delegated tothe computer; intuition and imagination can never be. Inspite of the extensive use of computers in portions of thedesign process, total turnaround times are long; drudgeryinterrupts and stalls the engineer. The total project data issegmented and scattered throughout the design team tosuch an extent that accessing, coordinating, and updatingbecome difficult and complex. The team gets the job done,but only after painfully tedious effort.

23

iI

USER

Figure 1. IPAD Overview

A better way, the Integrated Programs for Aerospace-Vehicle Design (IPAD) System, has been found to be a

feasible concept.* Some of the purposes of the IPAD studywere to determine what sections of the design process are

amenable to automation; how much monitoring must theautomation have; how can the design process be effectivelyorganized; and, most important, how can the management/design/engineering team members retain the visibility andcontrol necessary to exercise their intuition and imagina-tion in the design process. These purposes have beenaccomplished and are reflected in the IPAD system designapproach presented herein. IPAD will be flexible and it willbe open-ended, since it must be able to absorb new

developments in design, analytical techniques, and com-puter system technology as they occur. Rather than a

computer program, IPAD is a system of automatedprocedures providing a framework within which aerospacevehicle design can be accomplished with speed, efficiency,and confidence.

The overall goal of IPAD is the automation ofappropriate sections of the design process to shorten designtime, reduce cost, and improve the ultimate product.

*Two independent and parallel feasibility studies were funded bythe NASA Langley Research Center, from March 1972 to August1973, to define an IPAD System and its implementation schedule.This paper summarizes the IPAD System design approachgenerated by the General Dynamics Corporation and does notpurport to be NASA's final views for IPAD.

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Engineering Usage Philosophy

Figure 1 shows an overview of project team activitiesthat an IPAD system is to support and illustrates theengineering usage philosophy. The more importantingredients of those activities and the usage philosophyitself are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The User IPAD has been conceived and designed arounda project team as its main user, to enhance team creativitythrough effective communications and interaction amongits members. An individual user will participate in thedesign process using the IPAD system in either of fourdifferent modes:

Interactive monitoring, which puts at his disposition themost capable interactive devices, minicomputers, hostcomputer, and all features of the IPAD system. Thismode will be used mostly with interactive operationalmodules to monitor input/output (alpha-numeric,graphical, or both) by either: (1) single project teammembers in performance of their individual tasks, or (2)several members interacting with each other insequential or iterative activities involving one or moredesign/engineering disciplines.

Batch spin-oft whereby the user starts a task in theinteractive mode and ends it by requesting an immediatebatch processing (perhaps requiring long execution time)while he performs other tasks.

COMPUTER

Interactive typewriter, which enables him to access areduced set of the IPAD system capability. This modewill be mainly used with interactive operational modulesrequiring small amounts of input/output data transmis-sion.

Batch, which from the operations point of view providesa capability similar to present usage of computers,although with the benefits of data base management andother features of the IPAD system. This mode will beprincipally used with noninteractive operational modulesor production jobs that do not require a man in theloop. The batch processing can be requested either froman interactive device or a remote terminal, or by directsubmittal to the computer operations desk.

Automated Operational Modules The total automatedcapability of the engineering/science community is residentin a library of automated operational modules consisting ofboth a public domain library, accessible to all parties, andprivate libraries containing modules with limited orrestricted availability because of their contents beingprivate data, classified information, or the like. From thetotal gamut of available modules, a project team will selectthose applicable to its specific project to assemble a projectlibrary of automated operational modules that will beinstalled on the IPAD computer complex. The contents ofthis -library are dynamic in the sense that programs areadded or removed as the need arises and are resident ondisk or tape depending on their usage rate. Allproject-related activities such as management, marketing,economics, technical disciplines, and design/drafting willhave their respective automated capabilities installed in thesystem.

Master Data Bank This bank stores all historical,statistical, and other data that has been accumulated fromprevious studies and is a vital part of the experience of adesign team. The contents of this bank are of both thepublic-domain and private-data type, mostly the latter.Typical contents of this bank would be weight statisticaldata, raw or curved-fitted test data for aerodynamics,propulsion, structures, etc.; engine data; design criteria andspecifications; standard parts; subsystems data; and manyothers. Project team members will select from this bankthat data pertinent to their project and place it in residencyon disk or tape, depending on the extent of the data and itsusage rate.

Multidisciplinary Data Bank Now the user-with theengineering knowhow described above and the rest of theIPAD system components described below-is ready todevote his attention to generating the data that willcompletely define the product, including all technicalgroups, marketing, economics, operations research, etc.Most of this data will be contained in the multidisciplinarydata bank for proper access by all parties concerned. Theinflow of data into this bank is supervised by the projectdata bank administrator, who ensures that the data isreviewed and approved before it is inserted into the bank.

Product Visibility Data in the multidisciplinary databank at any stage of the design can be used to provideproduct-related visibility in terms of drawings, technical

April 1975

reports, manufacturing plans, facilities, marketing, etc. Thefinal set of data defines the product that goes tomanufacturing.

IPAD Organization

An IPAD system is defined herein as consisting of fourmajor components, as shown in Figure 2: (1) amanagement/engineering capability represented by abattery of automated operational modules for variousmanagement/design/engineering disciplines, (2) an IPADframework software that supports and augments theengineering capability, (3) an operating system software,which features a comprehensive data base managementsystem, and (4) a computer complex hardware, on which allthe engineering, IPAD, and system software will bemounted and exercised. From this statement, it can beinferred that the management/engineering capability canand should be tailored to the specific needs of themanagement/design/engineering team (i.e., the battery ofoperational modules for aircraft design would be differentthan that for missiles, or Navy vessels, or terrestrial vehicles,or civil engineering projects, although many commonelements could be identified). On the other hand, the IPADframework software, the operating system software, andthe computer complex hardware could have essentially thesame basic capabilities for all users, with freedom of choicein specific software and in type and quantity of equipmentdesired within each computer complex.

The organization, engineering usage philosophy, and theaccompanying IPAD design concept developed in this studyprovide the flexibility required to satisfy the project needsof any management/engineering/design team, which in turnwill use and exploit the IPAD system's capability to suit itsown purposes.

MANAGEMENT/ENGINEERINGCAPABILITY

Figure 2. Major IPAD System Components

Management/Engineering/Design Capability

Designing an aerospace vehicle is a complex process,requiring the intervention of many specialized disciplinesthat define the myriad of details that makes a productperform successfully. This design process is typicallydivided into various phases or levels of design. Someaerospace companies use conceptual, preliminary, anddetailed design phases, while others further break downthese basic phases into additional levels. In this study,emphasis has been put in identifying grass-root manage-ment/engineering/design functions, their logical place andsequencing in the total process, and their intercommunica-tion needs. Because of this, all partitions of the design

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* ENHANCED FOR DATA MANIPULATION LANGUAGE (DML)** SUPPORTING DML ENHANCED COMPILERS

Figure 3. Computer Software Associated with IPAD

process become immaterial, and the choice of one oranother phase breakdown can be made on the basis ofconvenience or accepted practice within a company,without affecting the design process itself. The IPADsystem design that will cater to the varied modus operandiof many different companies must, of necessity, be auser-oriented and directed modular system with flexibilityfor change, adaptation, and growth.

The management/engineering/design capability is repre-sented within IPAD by a battery of disciplinary operatingmodules. The core of each disciplinary operational modulewill contain the computer programs identified in this studyor equivalent programs from other agencies and aerospacecompanies, provided that they perform the same individualfunctions or an aggregate of them. The philosophy behindthe assembling of each disciplinary operational module is tostart by adapting existing automated procedures, makingthem interactive as required, and interfacing them with thesystem by means of special-purpose utilities. Whereautomated capability is lacking, the thrust should be indeveloping the operational modules themselves, but nowthey can be planned with all IPAD features in mind formaximum efficiency and responsiveness to user needs. Bythese means a disciplinary operational module will becomean aggregate of automated procedures supported by a seriesof general-purpose- and special utilities that will be adequatefor IPAD's first release capability. Any further improve-ments on operational modules should fall under thecategory of general technology development with the onlyprovision being, perhaps, meeting specific requirements forease of insertion in IPAD. A set of tutorial aids could beeasily assembled for this purpose.

As a conlusion of this study, it is recommended that thefollowing operational modules be included mainly byrefurbishing existing software, and to a lesser extent bydeveloping new programs where absolutely necessary.

1. Management.2. Vehicle synthesis.3. Configuration design.4. Aerodynamics.

26

5.6.7.8.9.

10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.

Performance.Propulsion.Mass properties.Flight control and stability.Design specifications/criteria.Subsystems design (various).Loads.Structural analysis/synthesis.Structural dynamics.Materials.Thermodynamics.Operations research/reliability.Economic analysis.IPAD specifications/tutorials for new operationalmodules.

IPAD Framework Software

From the user's point of view, IPAD is a framework thatsupports and augments the capabilities of his computerizedmanagement, design/drafting, and analytical tools. Fromthis viewpoint, the framework is composed of a number ofutilities and interfacing capabilities, as shown in Figure 3.The elements of this software are:

The IPAD EXECutive, which is the principal contactthat the IPAD user has with the system. The EXEC isadditionally supported by four utilities:a. The task control sequence skeleton writer, which is

an interactive program to assist the user in writing asequence of automated tasks.

b. The task control sequence skeleton expander, whichis an interactive (or batch) program to assist the userin tailoring a task sequence to his specific application.

c. The interceptor, which enables the user to maintain arecord of his transactions.

d. The user's task trajectory recorder, which performsautomatic recording of the sequence of transactionsin which the user was actually engaged.

COMPUTER

General-purpose utilities, to provide an augmentation ofthe user's operational modules. There are five general-purpose utilities in the present design of IPAD, some ofwhich are highly modular and can be developed invarious release levels as discussed below.a. The statistical utility module (STATUM), which

provides the user with a statistical package that canbe used at an interactive terminal.

b. The general-purpose optimizer (OPTUM), whichprovides the user with an interactive collection ofmultivariable search techniques and tutorial aids foroptimization and parametric studies, fulfills one ofthe basic needs of a project engineering team. Itsmodularity permits releases at various levels ofcapability.

c. The Query Processor, which is an interactive COBOLprogram that enables the user to control andmanipulate the contents and structure of his datasubbases, is considered to be an indispensable elementof the first release capability. It represents perhapsthe most widely (to be) used IPAD general-purposeutility.

d. The general graphics plotter (GGP), which addressesthe need of producing the geometrical, graphical, andpictorial displays required by interactive users in anydesign process, is a basic element of the new IPADdesign environment. It is highly modular, andconsiderable design and implementation are presentlyunderway in industry at large.

e. The general design module (GDM), which augmentsthe design function through interactive-design/automated-drafting software and equipment, is thecornerstone of board design activities in the newIPAD environment. It is destined to be the largest,most system-demanding, and second most frequentlyused IPAD utility (after the Query Processor). It isperhaps the most modular utility and involves thedevelopment of large amounts of new code. Due tothe criticality of response time for the designfunction, this module is to be supported mainly by aminicomputer with proper interfaces to the hostoperating system. The basic elements of this moduleare a comprehensive information storage and retrievalsystem, 2-D and 3-D geometrical building blocks, anddesign and analysis program libraries. The approachrecommended is to implement progressive levels ofrelease to provide an initial capability for IPADsubsystem checkout, and then culminate with anadequate number of modules and library contents topermit a project-oriented demonstration of IPAD atfirst release capability.

The special-purpose utilities, to assist IPAD users ininterfacing their computer programs with the data basemanagement system for which a great deal ofinformation is required. Without the support of theutilities this interfacing would entail a prohibitiveamount of time and labor. These utilities are consideredindispensable for all release capabilities of IPAD. Theyare:a. The data manipulation language insertion preproces-

sor, which is a batch utility to replace conventionalFORTRAN input/output coding with logicallyequivalent data manipulation language statements.

April 1975

b. The SUBSCHEMA Assembler, which is an interactiveutility to extract data descriptors from theconventional input/output of a program and generatedata description language statements to interface withthe data base.

c. The SCHEMA Assembler, which is an interactiveutility to integrate several computer programs intoone execution sequence and resolve conflicts withcommon and duplicated data items, data, basestructure, and required transformations.

Nonexecutable code, to define the extensive data baseorganization related to the selected aerospace-vehicleproject activity, and to specify project-oriented taskcontrol sequences to be used in the performance ofmanagement, engineering, and design tasks. This codeprovides a task integration capability and permits theconstruction of a task-oriented user-file appendage tothe data base, and the construction of a data basemanagement system interface to share data among theoperational modules.

Operating System Software

Features of the operating system software consideredimportant to IPAD include: random access files, which aredeemed to be required by current and projected massstorage hardware for fast access/retrieval times; indexsequential files, which combine both random and sequentialfeatures; permanent files, required for continuous availa-bility of information contained in IPAD's data banks;UPDATE utility, to selectively update while retaining priordata; interactive communication subsystem, including time

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Figure 4. IPAD in Relation to Host Operating System

and memory sharing features t"o provide fast response times;and an interactive graphics subsystem, to provide capabilityfor making graphs, drawings, pictures, etc. In relation' to thelatter feature, it is important to point out a pressing needwithin IPAD for a standard graphics language. IPAD isdesigned to fully exploit the host compute's operatingsystem software. In particular, the operating system mustbe upgraded to contain a capable time-sharing subsystemand a comprehensive data- base -management systempatterned after the language specifications of CODASYL'sData Base Task Group's recommendations. Two newlanguages must be developed: (1) a data descriptionlanguage, to describe the data in the data base, and (2) adata manipulation language, to cause the transfer of databetween programs and the data base. The functions of the'data base management system are to: (1) control theinput/output functions of the operating system to satisfydata-manipulation language requests issued by programs inexecution, (2) perform transformations to correlateSCHEMA and SUBSCHEMA data descriptions, and (3)provide means of enforcing and maintaining the dataintegrity and logical structure detailed by the data baseadministrator. The'proposed implementation plan providessupport to a FORTRAN data base management system viaCOBOL and subroutine CALLs.

IPAD in Relation to Host Operating System Severaloptions were evaluated on how to incorporate IPAD intothe host computer complex. System and subsystem levelsof dependency were compared, resulting in the recommen-dation of a subsystem level approach as shown in Figure 4.This figure presents an overview of the host operatingsystem, with IPAD designed subordinate to its subsystems;i.e., an IPAD job is executed like a standard job operatingwithin the framework of the host computing system. Thisapproach requires that the host operating system be highlycapable, since IPAD has divested itself of all host systemfunctions. Subordinating IPAD to the interactive communi-cations subsystem means that there will be variations inIPAD system operation between installations of differentcomputer manufacturers.

Figure 4 further illustrates a dedicated minicomputer forusers of the general design module and refreshed CRTterminals. The principal advantage accrues directly to thoseusers operating through the minicomputer; viz., fasterresponse time since many interactive functions will be localto the dedicated minicomputer (perhaps shared by several

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interactive terminals) and hence accomplished withoutresorting to the host computer. Since these functions willno longer require the host computer, the host operatingsystem will be able to service the other users moreefficiently. Further, the IPAD system software can be splitbetween that residing on the host system and that residingon the minicomputer. This will result in the least impact onthe host operating system, since it is only the IPADsoftware on the minicomputer that requires the interactivecommunications subsystem with very high data transferrates (e.g., 40,800 baud). This split will provide a welldefined interface between the host and minicomputer IPADsystem software. The disadvantages are that it requiresadditional hardware to use the highly capable refreshedCRT terminals and additional software development toprovide the IPAD systems for the dedicated minicomputer.The problems of addressing several target minicomputingsystems, although not as severe, parallel those for hostcomputing systems.

Not every institution intending to use IPAD may bewilling to provide the dedicated minicomputers with theirattendant identifiable costs. An alternative approach is toprovide an IPAD system that optionally uses minicom-puters for the refreshed CRTs; this necessitates that theIPAD system on the host be able to (optionally) service therefreshed CRTs, thus effectively eliminating some of theadvantages discussed above, which would now accrue onlyto those users employing the optional minicomputers.

The main user and computing system features that led tothe adoption of the design approach shown in Figure 4 are:

1. Least competition for resources, since IPAD lookslike a standard job to either the batch or theinteractive-communications subsystems.

2. Minimal software" development, since existing systemsoftware is being fully exploited.

3. Least hardware/software dependency, since the bulkof IPAD is interfaced (buffered) through the hostoperating system.

4. Least impact on operating system-IPAD looks like astandard job.

5. Potentially longest life, since, being a "standard" job,IPAD will continue to be supported far into thefuture, possibly until standard host operating systemsthemselves offer all the advantages accrued throughIPAD.

COMPUTER

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

* Main Frame HardwareMajor Memory CycleTypical Binary Floating AddCentral Memory Size*Job Rollin/Rollout or Swapin/Swapout

* Peripheral HardwareMass Storage CapacityMass Storage Transfer RateMagnetic Tape UnitsCard Reader/PunchHigh-speed PrintersMicrofilm RecorderTerminals (with Hardcopiers)Paper Tape Reader/Punch, Flat-bed Plotters

CANDIDATES (All are Large-Scale Scientific Computers)

< 1.0Ps< 1.5,s> 100,000 Single Precision "Words""Paging" High-speed Transfer to External (Low-speed) Core

> 150M Single Precision "Words"> 1 M Characters Per Sec>3111 (can be remote)26 DVST & 10 Refreshed CRTsAs Required

IBM370/145370/155, 158370/165, 168

CDCCyber 70 SeriesExcept Model 76(Viz, CDC 6000 Series)

UNIVAC11081110

HONEYWELL6000/6030/60406000/6050/60606000/6070/6080

BURROUGHSB6500B6700B7700

*IPAD will increase central memory residency

Figure 5. Host Computer Hardware for IPAD, Single Project

6. Continuous upgrading of IPAD through obtaining(practically) gratis the host system's latest features,including those of all of its subsystems.

7. Fast response time for users of the general designmodule.

8. Cleanest interface between IPAD software elementsfor host and minicomputer systems.

Computer Complex Hardware,Host Computer Hardware

Figure 5 summarizes the minimum hardware require-ments for a single project within IPAD and majorcomputing system candidates that have suitable operationalequipment. These minimum requirements were derivedthrough an evaluation of the computing requirementsnecessary to support typical pre-sent day computing,including interactive computing. In addition to thesederived requirements, a minimal complement of magnetictape units, card reader/punches, line printers, and recordershas been presumed. It is noted that in an IPADenvironment, most data is envisioned to originate andremain within the system on mass storage devices. Dataviewing, job submittal, etc. are to be accomplished viainteractive devices so that the requirements for conven-

tional job entry and I/O are minimal.

Interactive Terminals The most challenging aspect of theIPAD system design is to provide a system that is highlyeffective for the user and yet reasonably efficient for thecomputer. An incredible amount of simplicity can beachieved by a symbiotic coupling of man with machine,providing adequate response time and detailed data flow

April 1975

management. This presumes an interactive environmentincluding low-speed teletypewriter-like devices, intermedi-ate speed terminals, and sophisticated large buffer-refreshedgraphics terminals. An excellent response time is requiredto drive this equipment in a manner reasonably acceptableto the users. This in turn presumes a large-scale computer aswell as sophisticated support software. In addition,peripheral equipment such as multispindle disk and fastaccess remote core storage is required for fast job swaps.

Figure 6 summarizes the characteristics of typicaldirect-view storage tube (DVST) and refreshed cathode raytube (CRT) terminals suitable for IPAD. These terminalsare of the most capable type presently available in themarket.

Other Equipment A computer installation with IPADprovisions will also make use of other equipment such ashardcopiers, drum and flat-bed plotters, tape punches,drafting machines, etc. In addition, large-screen interactivedisplay systems, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, areavailable and should be a part of the equipment used forthe future IPAD design environment. Furthermore, theselarge-screen interactive display units are consideredprecursors to the "electronic design board" identified as adesirable tool for the interactive general design module.

Language Development

The IPAD design approach generated in this studyemphasizes exploitation of software provided by computersystem manufacturers. The supporting software is general inthat it is not developed specifically for IPAD, and languagesexist with each supporting subsystem to provide thecapabilities of the subsystem to the users.

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MANUFACTURER CDC CDC IBMVECTORGENERAL IMLAC TEKTRONIX

Model

Type of CRTScreen Size (in.)

ShapeRaster x Raster

274

Refreshed20Circular4,096 x 4,096

Interactive ToolsA/N Keyboard X

Light Pen x

Joy Stick, Mouse, etc.Analog TabletFunction Keyboard X

Minicomputer

GPGT 2250 3D2Refreshed Refreshed Refreshed20Circular4,096 x 4,096

x

x

X

12x 12Square1,024 x 1,024

x

x

X

CDC 1700 CDCSC1700 None

13 x 14Rect.4,096 x 4,096

x

x

x

x

x

PDP-1 1,Varian 620, etc.

PDS-1Refreshed/DVST*7.5 x 8.5Rect.1,024 x 1,024

xxxxxBuilt In

*DVST = Direct View Storage Tube

Figure 6. Interactive Terminals Suitable for IPAD

The development required in support of WPAD is adevelopment of languages (and functional support to theselanguages) to exploit capabilities of manufacturer suppliedsoftware. The objectives of this language development are:

1. To provide, all through a precise lexicon, the fullrange of capabilities of the operating system, thetimesharing subsystem, the data base managementsubsystem, and the interactive graphics subsystem.The language development tasks with respect to thesefour items include:a. IPAD control language to interface between the

user and the operating system/timesharing subsys-tem.

b. Data description languages to define data struc-tures and relationships that exist in the data baseand those required by operational modules andutilities.

c. Data manipulation language, which provides theprocedural interface between specific operationalmodules/utilities and the data base via the database management system.

d. Query processor language, which provides theinteractive procedural interface between any IPADuser and the data base via the query processoroperating through the data base managementsystem.

e. General graphics library, which provides interfacebetween operational modules/utilities and theinteractive graphics subsystem.

2. To produce language standards (eventually to becomeindustry standards) for increased code portability.

IPAD First Release Capability

It is apparent that IPAD's capability for NASA and theaerospace industry should be tailored to the needs ofaerospace-vehicle projects. It is also clear that IPAD's goalsultimately call for all aspects of management and engineeringto be represented with comparable capability within it. A

30

logical approach to such an ambitious undertaking wouldbe a phased program whereby an initial capability is firstdefined and assembled, subsequently exercised in realapplication cases to improve on the initial concept anddesign, and finally used to expand the implementation toall areas of interest.

The first release capability is defined herein as thenucleus of an IPAD system that incorporates all the majorfeatures identified in this study and can be used both as apilot working tool and to define IPAD's furtherdevelopment and implementation phases. It was concludedthat all basic aspects of the management/engineering/designfunctions required in the design process must be includedto provide an "integrated system" and that they must havethe degree of representation -required to make IPAD's firstrelease capability a working tool.

In relation to the development of IPAD frameworksoftware and the upgrading of operating system softwarefor the first release capability, the following question arises:what priority should be assigned for concurrent and/orsequential implementation of this software relative to theupgrading of the engineering capability? The answer is thata compromise solution must be worked out to harmonizethe development of the new IPAD framework softwarewith the upgrading the the engineering user tools so he canfully exploit the IPAD system. This is so since bothcapabilities complement each other; that is, the new systemsoftware must exist to make it possible for an engineeringteam to work in the new design environment it creates, andon the other hand the tools that the team uses must beupgraded to exploit the new software system. Since awealth of engineering capability exists and provisions toaccept existing operational modules have been included inthe design of IPAD (the special-purposes utilities), it isapparent that the new IPAD framework and operatingsystem software should be given developmental priorities.

IPAD Future Design Environment

The basic underlying factor behind the implementationof an IPAD system is how to exploit the capabilities of asubordinate computing system to enhance the design

COMPUTER

4002ADVST

7.5 x 5.5Rect.1,024 x 760

x

xxxNone

IPAD IMPROVES PRODUCT QUALITY

Reduces Technical and Programmatic Risks* Provides for Increased Management Participation* Increases Communications and Data Dissemination* Enhances Detection of Errors/Misdirection

Enables Rapid and Frequent Trade Studies* Better Selection of Viable Design Alternates* Quicker Rejection of Dead-end Approaches

Stimulates User's Creativity* Provides Greater Visibility of Complex

Relationships* Maintains "Mental Momentum" (Through

Rapid Turnaround)* Features Complete User Control of His Task

Figure 7. Future IPAD Design Environment: Executive Room

Figure 8. IPAD's Future Design Environment: Working Room

April 1975

IPAD CONSERVES RESOURCES

Reduces Calendar Time* Up to 20:1 on Selective Tasks* Up to 3:1 on Predesign Studies* Up to 2:1 on Overall Design Process

Reduces Direct Labor Hours and Computer Run Costs* Up to 10:1 on Selective Tasks* Up to 4:1 on Typical Project

Mitigates Skill Problems on Projects* Provides Tutorial and Prompting Cues* Provides Automated Design Assistance

Focuses Development of Software (Nationally)* Integrated, General-Use Engineering Tools* More Efficient Computing Systems

31

activities of a project engineering team. The new IPADdesign environment must facilitate the tasks for all teammembers, and it can be justified only on a cost-savings/better-product basis. The potential cost savings are not thesame for all the management/engineering functions withinthe design process. The potentials are greater for thosefunctions involved with noncreative, repetitive tasks. Thesetasks can and should be delegated to the computer, and to alarge extent this is the trend in many companies today.Similarly, and more so, the evaluations of designs bytechnical groups have been and are presently performedwith the invaluable assistance of computers. Theseevaluations, though, have been characterized heretofore asbeing an aggregate of individual participations, without a''systems group" approach; and many times theseevaluations have needed more team participation and acommon repository of project data.

What is needed is a new design environment that makespossible a symbiotic exploitation of the user's creativity/control and computer/equipment capability in benefit ofthe total design process. It is firmly believed that ajudicious planning and development of IPAD will providethat future design environment.

The major outside appearance of this new environmentis illustrated by the artist conceptions in Figures 7 and 8, inwhich the type and number of terminals are tailored to thesize of the project.- Figure 7 depicts what could be anexecutive room for management/engineering reviews, withthe number of terminals to be chosen according to theneeds; the minimum configuration will include a singleterminal. The wall display systems are controlled from oneof the interactive consoles, and the displayed data isaccessed directly from the project data bank. The reviewteam is assisted by the data base administrator and support

personnel to access the data in their own areas ofresponsibility and to participate in its review. Peripheralequipment, consisting of smaller interactive terminals,printers, etc., will also be available as required. Review teamassistants will record minutes of the meeting, identifyaction items for various tasks, and create temporary files toudpate the project action and task status files via the database administrator. The major benefits to be accrued bysuch a new design environment are summarized at thebottom of Figure 7.

Figure 8, on the other hand, illustrates what could becalled a typical IPAD working room. Interactive terminals,interactive large-screen display systems, minicomputers,printers, and other peripheral equipment are part of thisinstallation, where creative tasks are being performed.Individual team members access their own disciplinarycapabilities in the form of operational modules, as well asdata libraries, user files, common data banks, general- andspecial-purpose utilities, etc., as required to perform theirindividual tasks or in an integrated evaluation involvingseveral users in sequence or parallel. The large-screen walldisplay system shown is a precursor to "electronic board"equipment, which must feature better picture resolutionand adaptability to practical design functions. This board isenvisioned as a flat-bed, interactive device supported bycomprehensive design capability software having access toextensive data bases/libraries and user files. These databases, libraries and files, and the design software will permitthe designer to create his designs on the interactive boardwith complete subordination of computer and equipment.A portion of this board would be used as a "scratch pad" todisplay accessed data from his files (e.g., standard parts,previous designs, yesterday's thoughts, etc.) and then"pick" the complete part drawing, sketch, etc. as a unit andmove it to the location where it fits the design. Automaticdimensioning, bill of materials, specifications, etc., will beavailable from the comprehensive design software and thedesigner's data bases/libraries.

Conclusions

The major conclusions derived from this IPAD studyare:

1. The implementation of an IPAD system in one majorcomputing system is feasible within four years fromgo-ahead. With sufficient planning and effort thedevelopment of IPAD to two other computingsystems can be effected at subsequent six-monthintervals.

2. The conceived IPAD design is an interactive systemhaving unlimited flexibility to accommodate small orlarge project teams.

3. IPAD is a user-oriented, modular system usingadvanced data base management concepts that caterto the total design process.

4. The IPAD system provides a computing environmentusable in many other nonaerospace fields.

5. IPDA use can easily be absorbed within a company,but upper management commitment is required for itsuse.

6. To implement a viable IPAD, languages must bedeveloped and implemented to provide IPAD

COMPUTER32

interface with a data base management system andinteractive graphics support software.

7. Participation in developing IPAD should be given tovarious aerospace companies, government agencies,and universities to ensure that the best knowhow willbear on its design and implementation.,

8. Priority should be given to the development ofcritical IPAD framework software, while refurbishingexisting engineering operational modules as requiredfor checkout and demonstration of IPAD.

9. By the late 70s, a substantial reduction in projectdesign time and design task drudgery will be possiblewith IPAD as well as an attendant sharp rise inindividual user creativity. For the first time sincetheir inception, man may be able to fully exploit thepresent generation of large-scale computers.

Carlos A. Garrocq has been with the ConvairDivision of General Dynamics since 1957. Inaddition to managing the recent IPAD study, hehas performed various duties including analysisof aircraft, missile, and aircraft structures,development of computerized structural opti-mization and synthesis procedures, and manage-E ment of R&D studies.

Garrocq has a long standing interest incomputer-aided design and is the author of

several papers on analysis, optimization, and synthesis of structuralsystems. He has been a guest lecturer at Purdue University and theUniversity of Tennessee at Nashville. Before coming to the U.S. in1957, he spent six years as a structural analyst for the ArgentinianAir Force aircraft factory.

Garrocq received the MS in aeronautical engineering from theUniversity of Cordoba, Argentina, and the MS in aerospaceengineering from San Diego State University. He is a member of theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Michael J. Hurley, Jr., has 19 years ofexperience in the application of computertechniques to flight dynamics analyses ofaerospace vehicles. At the Convair Division ofGeneral Dynamics, he is currently responsiblefor simulation development in support of theTug component of the U.S. Space Transporta-tion System and is working on a visualsirnulation of a remote, manned rendezvous anddocking of an upper stage with an orbiting

spacecraft. Hurley has long been a proponent of diital facilitationof detailed technical analyses, stressing the engineer's role in thedesign/analysis process and ensuring proper system interface andsolution feedback. He has been extensively involved in diital,analog, and hybrid computer applications and in simulator design.His main interests are in the area of flight mechanics, principalyconcerned with "solution management."

Hurley received the BS degree in mathematics/physics from theUniversity of Arizona and MS degrees in mathematics, SanmDiegoState University, and management science, U.S. InternationalUniversity. He is a member of the Mathematical Association ofAmerica and the American Institute of Aeronautics andAstronautics.

2na EuropeanElectro-OpticsConference ProceedingsMeeting held April 2-5, 1974, Montreux, Switzerland350 pages - Price $51.00 (U.S. & Canada only)Published by Mack-Brooks Exhibitions Ltd., England, in co-operation with the Society of Photo-Optical InstrumentationEngineers, USA.

Cosponsored by The Institute of Applied Physics of the SwissFederal Institute of Technology; European Physical Society;The Smithsonian Institution.The aim was to provide an expertly digested review of devel-opments in Electro-Optics Technology and at the same timeprovide an informal forum for the free exchange of ideas andopinions. The papers reflected those developments andchanges of emphasis that have occurred within the industrysince the first Geneva conference in 1972. In particular, ura-nium enrichment using tunable lasers was covered for thefirst time, as was laser-triggered nuclear fusion. Over 80 paperswere presented giving topical information on the followingareas: Lasers, Present & Future; Radiation Detection & Spec-troscopy; Laser-induced Chemical Effects; Integrated Optics,Waveguides, Fibres; Environmental Protection; Electro-Opti-cal Crystals & Materials; Electro-Optical Storage, Memories,& Holography; Testing, Measuring, & Materials Processing;Opto-Electronics Sensing & Display Components; Low LightLevel Technology & Systems; Electro-Optical Recording &Processing; Progress in Laser Nuclear Fusion Technology; Op-tical Communications; Electro-Optics in Biology & Medicine.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PREPAID.Price includes shipping and handling.

Within California add 6% sales tax.

Make checks payable to:UL^!II SOCIETY OF PHOTO-OPTICAL INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERS.

1MflI5J P.O. Box 1146, Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274.Telephone: (213) 378-1216.

Reader Service Number 425 j

April 1975