Parameter-Level Data Flow Modeling Oriented to Product Design Process

In this paper, a method of data flow modeling for a product design process oriented to data parameter is proposed. The data parameters are defined, which are classified as the basic data parameters and complex data parameters. The mechanism of the mapping relationship between different forms of documents and some basic data parameters, and a data transmission based on parameters, are constructed. Aiming at the characteristics of the iterative design process, the parameters version mechanism including node modification and iteration information is proposed. The data parameters transmission relationships are represented by a parameters network model (PNM) based on a directed graph. Finally, through the table of data parameters mapping onto the workflow node and PNM, the data ports and data links in the data flow model are generated automatically by the program. Validation in the 15-meter-diameter S/Ka frequency band antenna design process of the “Reflector, Back frame and Center part design” data flow model shows that the method can effectively shorten the time of data flow modeling and improve the data transmission efficiency.