An eigenvector-based approach for improved parameter variation for multibody mechanical systems

Optimal design of complex multibody mechanical systems involving numerous design parameters and constraints is a challenging problem. System parameters are typically determined through a recursive process which leads to a set of nominal values. While these nominal values satisfy design constraints they generally result in suboptimal performance. In practice, nominal design values can undergo a final adjustment step to improve performance while ensuring that design constraints are not violated. In this article, we present a framework for design parameter variation to optimize the performance of a multibody system. As an example, we apply the proposed method to an exploration rover and show that the proposed approach provides superior results compared to the standard sensitivity derivative approach.