Integration of structure and control using an evolutionary approach: an application to the optimal concurrent design of a CVT

In this paper, a concurrent design methodology to formulate the mechatronic design problem is presented. The methodology proposes to state the mechatronic design problem as a dynamic optimization problem. In order to explain the methodology, the concurrent design of pinion–rack continuously variable transmission (CVT) is carried out. Two optimization techniques, one based on a mathematical programming method and the other based on a novel evolutionary approach, are used to solve it. The behaviour of both approaches is compared, based on quality and the computational time required by each of them in a common platform. Copyright q 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.