This CAREER project emphasizes the use of multibody dynamic modeling as a tool for designing complex dynamic systems via low-order dynamic simulation algorithms, parallel computing, and an efficient combination of heuristic genetic and optimization algorithms. The methodology developed through this research would automatically generate equations of motion and associated simulation code for a specified complex multibody system, and determine from these equations the system design parameters that are considered optimal with respect to some user prescribed design objective. The education plan includes computer-aided mathematical modeling and analysis oriented course developed, and their application in undergraduate design projects such as SAE sponsored electric car race and mini Baja competition. In addition, graduate courses are planned with multibody dynamics software used as a dynamic analysis and design tool. Outreach activities include establishing a formal student exchange program with Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany; and strengthening pre-college level programs in engineering and technology currently in existence at RPI.
