Application of an Improved Collaborative Optimization Method for Speed Reducer Optimization

Collaborative optimization (CO) is the most widely used multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) method for the design of complex engineering system. But some serious computational difficulties are found in its application. We have presented a new improved collaborative optimization method (ICO) to overcome its analytical and numerical weaknesses. The L1 norm was used to improve subsystem consistency constraint and to avoid discontinuities in subsystem object function derivatives. L1 norm penalty function was added to system-level object function to convert constrained optimization into unconstrained optimization. A quick-start strategy was used to make the best use of optimal solution of system-level optimization in subsystem-level optimization. We applied ICO method to speed reducer optimization for farther effectiveness verification of ICO. Results show that the robustness, reliability and computing efficiency of ICO are higher than CO.