Advanced Modeling Technologies

A large percentage of all drawings in the U.S. are not computer processable.  Without technology to convert raster drawings to 3D product data models, this situation will likely persist.  This backlog of manual drawings is a serious impediment to improving aircraft engine design as most engineering projects involve incremental changes to, or reuse of, components in existing designs.  The conversion of engineering drawings reduces procurement and maintenance costs by enabling reverse engineering, re-engineering, competitive reprocurement, the redesign of manufacturing processes, and 3D virtual simulation of operational and maintenance scenarios.  The absence of technology for converting drawingns to 3D product data models seriously limits the effective use of modern technologies (e.g., simulation-based design and virtual reality-based training) for cost saving, cycle-time reduction, and inventory reduction.

KBSI’s Navy-funded Logistics Information Delivery System (LIDS) initiative developed technology for converting blueprints to 3D.  The technology accepts a part blueprint on paper, as a digital raster image, or in 2D-vector format and outputs 3D data.  What distinguishes the LIDS conversion from direct digitization is that it recovers the 3D product specification data for parts.

The philosophy underlying the LIDS Blueprint-to-3D strategy is “create once, use many times.”  If solid models of the component parts of assembly structures are created in a CAD system, then the engineering drawings can be created automatically from the solid model and assembly drawings can be generated automatically by combining the solid models into assemblies.  In order to do this, the LIDS system downloads the product structure from the Navy record management system to prioritize conversion of drawings around part revisions, part assemblies, and part similarities.

KBSI also utilizes the integration of 3D visualization tools in its user interface design--a critical component in any virtual environment application. KBSI also applies 3D visualization tools in the generation of 3D models for simulation, manufacturing, training, and analysis.

Software Tool for Efficient Airspace Management (STEAM™) KBSI is developing a software system that applies robust decision support tools, data mining, and statiscal methods to the intelligent management of special use airspace (SUA). More... Licensing

Logistics Information Delivery System (LIDS) KBSI developed a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) CALS solution that enables single-source access to logistic data maintained in varying formats, media, and storage locations; efficient logistics data management; and graceful migration toward a digital logistic information environment. The LIDS technology provides shipboard maintenance personnel with the means for effectively accessing, manipulating, and managing distributed logistics data sources in support of shipboard systems maintenance activities. More... Licensing

Raster to Parametric CAD (R2P CAD) KBSI investigated and demonstrated the conversion of CALS Type I raster mechanical drawings to parametric vector format, and to parametric 3D solid models, improving electronic commerce, competitive reprocurement, and maintenance for related systems. More... Licensing

	Pathfinder KBSI designed and developed a comprehensive suite of technologies for life-cycle cost justification, cost/benefit analysis, integrated performance prediction, quantified trade-off analysis, and management decision-making for individual project selection, monitoring, and control. Pathfinder addressed the need for life cycle costing in depot environments, where the operational benefits of acquiring and maintaining weapons systems must be continually balanced.  More... Licensing