In order to help designers to acquire and apply knowledge, a kind of knowledge push technologies based on quality function knowledge deployment was proposed. During the whole lifecycle of product design, the knowledge requirement house of quality model could link up the required knowledge with design activities to help designers to track the required knowledge for realizing product innovation design. The hierarchical relationship between design tasks, designers, design activities, and required knowledge was analyzed, and the knowledge management system structure for product innovation design based on designers was put forward. Furthermore, knowledge acquisition method was analyzed. In view of the different requirements for knowledge in the different design stages, this paper proposed the mapping model between the process of product innovation design and required knowledge. Then the knowledge push model for product innovation design based on quality function knowledge deployment was established. Finally, a prototype system of computer-aided innovation design platform was developed to implement this knowledge push model, and through its application on the design case of space robot gripper, the practicability and validity of the prototype system were demonstrated.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology is an emerging technology with promising applications, with the nozzle playing a crucial role in extrusion, heating, and material ejection. However, most current extrusion-based 3D printers handle only single-material printing, making the integration of multiple materials through a single nozzle challenging due to compromised quality and clogging risks. This paper introduces a method to design multi-material 3D printing nozzles using the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and knowledge graph (KG). By optimizing design and leveraging TRIZ’s contradiction resolution principle, this study addressed bottlenecks and complexities in multi-material nozzle design, providing insightful recommendations. A patent knowledge graph focused on spray nozzles was created, storing material properties, design elements, and constraints for enhanced knowledge sharing. Building on identified challenges and recommendations, the study utilized keyword searches and associative paths in the knowledge graph to guide designers in generating innovative solutions. Validation was achieved through two distinct nozzle design models resulting from guided innovations. The TRIZ-KG methodology presented in this paper provides designers with a systematic cognitive framework to empower designers in overcoming technical obstacles and proposing precise solutions.

The iterative design process of mechanical products has evolved towards a more sustainable direction driven by the concept of sustainable development. Modular design emphasizes the realization of user requirements under the condition of high efficiency and low cost, which is conducive to the diversification of product design. The sustainable innovative design methods are considered in modular design processes, which can improve the design capabilities of enterprises and enhance competitiveness. However, although the existing methods used in the iterative design of a product scheme contributes to satisfy the user requirements and generate the innovative scheme of the product, the sustainable design concepts such as the impact on the utilization of resources and environment during the iteration of the conceptual scheme and sustainability evaluation of product schemes have not been given sufficient attention. To resolve this, in this work, an iterative conceptual design process is proposed for modular products based on the sustainable analysis and creative template method. In this process, firstly, the KANO model is used to analyze the sustainable requirements of users. Secondly, a function behavior structure (FBS) model and creative template method are used to form sustainable innovative modular products conceptual design scheme. Finally, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is used to evaluate the product scheme. The iterative conceptual design process proposed in this paper can be abbreviated as S-KFCF. The prototype conceptual scheme design of a novel low-temperature plasma deposition device is conducted. The results suggest that the proposed process could effectively reduce the total cost, shorten design cycles, increase product part recovery rates, and improve the environmental friendliness of the design schemes produced via sustainable analysis.

Gelatin is an important natural biological resource with a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical, industrial and food industries. We investigated the single-chain behaviors of gelatin by atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), and found that gelatin exists as long chains by fitting with the M-FJC model. By comparing the single-chain elasticity in a nonpolar organic solvent (nonane) and DI water, it was surprising to find that there was almost no difference in the single-chain elasticity of gelatin in nonane and DI water. Considering the specificity of gelatin solubility and the solvent size effect of nonane molecules, when a single gelatin chain is pulled into loose nonane, dehydration does not occur due to strong binding water interactions. Gelatin chains can only interact with water molecules at high temperatures; therefore, no further interaction of single gelatin chains with water molecules occurred at the experimental temperature. This eventually led to almost no difference in the single-chain F–E curves under the two conditions. It is expected that our study will enable the deep exploration of the interaction between water molecules and gelatin and provide a theoretical basis and experimental foundation for the design of gelatin-based materials with more functionalities.