logo
Faculty of Engineering
   
   
  
 

Image of Niels Lohse

Niels Lohse

Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering

Contact

Expertise Summary

Through my work I have obtained broad skills in the area of manufacturing system technology, modelling, and design decision-making with a primary focus on modular and evolvable assembly systems. My more specific skills are in the following areas:

  • Reconfiguration of modular assembly systems
  • Application of Ontology and Knowledge Engineering principles and techniques in the area of assembly system design and adaptation
  • Knowledge-based reasoning using Expert Systems
  • Modular Assembly System modelling and simulation
  • Decision making techniques for the design and adaptation of Evolvable Assembly Systems
  • Requirements Engineering techniques for assembly system design
  • Assembly Process modelling and decomposition methods
  • Development of agent architectures and agent-based decision making
  • Web-enabled, distributed Design of Assembly Systems
  • Flexible Automated Manufacturing


Research Summary

The focus of my current research is on computer-aided decision-support systems for the design and adaptation of evolvable assembly system solutions. As part of my research I am developing an ontology… read more

Recent Publications

  • MAURO ONORI, NIELS LOHSE, JOSE BARATA and CHRISTOPH HANISCH, 2012. The IDEAS Project: Plug & Produce at Shop-Floor Level Assembly Automation. 32(2), 124-134
  • LIAM EVANS, NIELS LOHSE and MARK SUMMERS, 2012. Intelligent Experience based Support Tools for Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Selection In: IEEE Aerospace Conference 2012, Big Sky, Montana, USA on March 03-10, 2012.
  • PEDRO FERREIRA and NIELS LOHSE, 2012. Configuration Model for Evolvable Assembly Systems In: 4th CIRP Conference on Assembly Technology and Systems - CATS 2012, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA on May 21-23, 2012. (In Press.)
  • MOHAMED S. SAYED and NIELS LOHSE, 2012. Distributed Bayesian Diagnosis for Modular Assembly Systems – A Case Study In: 4th CIRP Conference on Assembly Technology and Systems - CATS 2012, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA on May 21-23, 2012. (In Press.)

Current Research

The focus of my current research is on computer-aided decision-support systems for the design and adaptation of evolvable assembly system solutions. As part of my research I am developing an ontology which captures the shared concepts and relationships during the design of modular assembly systems. Ontologies are trying to capture the shared conceptualisation of all stakeholders involved in a specific domain. The motivation is to enhance communication efficiency and effectiveness in ever more diverse global decision making environments. My specific research interest is focused on utilising ontology definitions to improve the design of modular and rapid-configurable assembly system solutions.My ontology work is based on extensive knowledge elicitation and modelling activities which I am carrying out as part of several major European research projects. I am also investigating the utilisation of ontology and knowledge models to support effective decision making during the design and adaptation of evolvable assembly system solutions. My specific research activities in this area include:

  • Ontology Engineering for Evolvable Assembly System Solutions
  • Modularisation and representation of assembly equipment capabilities
  • Requirements Engineering for Evolvable Assembly Systems
  • Computer-aided assembly process planning
  • Assembly process decomposition
  • Micro assembly system configuration and reconfiguration
  • Capability driven equipment selection and integration
  • Assembly capability synthesis

I am also conducting research in the area of automotive mass-customisation were I am investigating the application of design history systems and shared conceptualisations for the customisation of automotive cars and trucks. My specific research activities in this area include:

  • Conceptual modelling of the automotive design process
  • Conceptual modelling of automotive design objects during their different life-cycle stages
  • Ontology Engineering for mass-customisation in the automotive industry

Future Research

My future research activities will extend upon my current activities to further explore the domain of rapid manufacturing system configuration and reconfiguration. This area of research is currently receiving a lot of interest from both industry and academia. It is promising to provide new and exciting solutions which might change the way manufacturing systems are design, operated, and reengineered today.The specific challenges that I will be investigating in the near and medium future include:

  • Change propagation during the reconfiguration of complex assembly systems
  • Design optimisation using agent-based negotiation techniques
  • Concurrent design iteration within the design of modular assembly systems
  • Effective representation and utilisation of Design History
  • Reusability analysis of existing configurations during subsequent reconfiguration steps
  • MAURO ONORI, NIELS LOHSE, JOSE BARATA and CHRISTOPH HANISCH, 2012. The IDEAS Project: Plug & Produce at Shop-Floor Level Assembly Automation. 32(2), 124-134
  • LIAM EVANS, NIELS LOHSE and MARK SUMMERS, 2012. Intelligent Experience based Support Tools for Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Selection In: IEEE Aerospace Conference 2012, Big Sky, Montana, USA on March 03-10, 2012.
  • PEDRO FERREIRA and NIELS LOHSE, 2012. Configuration Model for Evolvable Assembly Systems In: 4th CIRP Conference on Assembly Technology and Systems - CATS 2012, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA on May 21-23, 2012. (In Press.)
  • MOHAMED S. SAYED and NIELS LOHSE, 2012. Distributed Bayesian Diagnosis for Modular Assembly Systems – A Case Study In: 4th CIRP Conference on Assembly Technology and Systems - CATS 2012, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA on May 21-23, 2012. (In Press.)
  • STEFANOS DOLTSINIS and NIELS LOHSE, 2012. A Model-Free Reinforcement Learning Approach Using Monte Carlo Method for Production Ramp-Up Policy Improvement - a Copy Exactly Test Case In: 14th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing, INCOM 2012, Bucharest, Romania - May 23-25, 2012. (In Press.)
  • GOLIGHTLY, D., LOHSE, N., OPPERUD, A., KHALID, M. and PEACOCK, M., 2011. An ontology for relating affective needs to design parameters: development process and content Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science.
  • EVANS, L., LOHSE, N., TAN, K., WEBB, P. and SUMMERS, M., 2011. Justification for the selection of manufacturing technologies: a fuzzy decision tree based approach International Journal of Production Research.
  • EVANS, L. and LOHSE, N., 2011. Optimized Fuzzy Decision Tree Data Mining for Engineering Applications. In: PERNER, P., ed., Advances on Data Mining: Applications and Theoretical Aspects: ICDM 2011, New York, NY, USA, August 30 - September 3 Springer. 228-239
  • RICHARD FARR and NIELS LOHSE, 2011. Use of Enterprise Simulation to Assess the Impacts of Remanufacturing Operations In: International Conference on Remanufacturing, Glasgow, UK on July 27-29, 2011.
  • FERREIRA, P., LOHSE, N. and RATCHEV, S., 2010. Multi-agent Architecture for Reconfiguration of Precision Modular Assembly Systems. In: RATCHEV, S., ed., Precision Assembly Technologies and Systems: 5th IFIP WG 5.5 International Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2010, Chamonix, France, February 2010 Springer. 247-254
  • EVANS, L. and LOHSE, N., 2010. An intelligent technology selection algorithm for complex decision environments – a unique knowledge based approach In: The 7th International Conference on Knowledge Management ICKM.
  • EVANS, L., LOHSE, N., POAD, M. and WEBB, P., 2010. Evaluation and selection of manufacturing technologies using the analytic hierarchy process in wing assembly In: The 8th International Conference on Manufacturing Research ICMR.
  • EVANS, L., LOHSE, N. and WEBB, P., 2010. A self-learning case and rule-based reasoning algorithm for intelligent technology evaluation and selection In: The 30th SGAI International Conference on Innovative Techniques and Application of Artificial Intelligence.
  • FERREIRA, P., LOHSE, N. and RATCHEV, S., 2009. Repeatability Synthesis Methodology for Modular Ultra-Precision Assembly Systems In: Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE International Symposium on Assembly and Manufacturing, Sowon, Korea, 17-20 November 2009. 280-285
  • FERREIRA, P., LOHSE, N. and RATCHEV, S., 2009. Multi-Agent Architecture for Self-Configuring Modular Assembly Systems In: Proceedings of the 9th IFAC Symposium on Robot Control, Gifu, Japan, 9-12 September 2009. (In Press.)
  • HIRANI, H., RATCHEV, S., LOHSE, N. and VALTCHANOV, G., 2006. Methodology for knowledge enriched requirements specification for assembly system reconfiguration Assembly Automation. 24(4), 307-314
  • LOHSE, N., RATCHEV, S. and BARATA, J., 2006. Evolvable Assembly Systems - On the role of design frameworks and supporting ontologies In: Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics. 3375-3380
  • LOHSE, N., SCHÄFER, C. and RATCHEV, S., 2006. Towards an integrated assembly process decomposition and modular equipment configuration. In: RATCHEV, S., ed., Precision assembly technologies for mini and micro products: Proceedings of the IFIP TC5 WG5.5 Third International Precision Assembly Seminar (IPAS 2006) New York: Springer-Verlag. 215-226
  • LOHSE, N., HIRANI, H. and RATCHEV, S., 2005. Equipment ontology for modular reconfigurable assembly systems International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems. 17(4), 301-314
  • LOHSE, N, HIRANI, H, RATCHEV, S and TURITTO, M., 2005. An Ontology for the Definition and Validation of Assembly Processes for Evolvable Assembly Systems In: Proceeding of the IEEE International Symposium on Assembly and Task Planning. 242-247
  • LOHSE, N, HIRANI, H and RATCHEV, S., 2005. Equipment Ontology for Modular Reconfigurable Assembly Systems In: Proceedings of the CIRP 3rd International Conference on Reconfigurable Manufacturing.
  • LOHSE, N., RATCHEV, S. and VALTCHANOV, G., 2004. Towards web-enabled design of modular assembly systems Assembly Automation. 24(3), 270-279
  • RATCHEV, S. and LOHSE, N., 2004. Data modelling for web enabled design of modular precision assembly devices Assembly Automation. 24(1), 63-70
  • LOHSE, N., RATCHEV, S. and CHRISP, A., 2004. Function-Behaviour-Structure model for modular assembly equipment In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Precision Assembly Seminar. 167-174
  • RATCHEV, S., LOHSE, N. and HIRANI, H., 2004. Knowledge model for distributed conceptual design of modular assembly workstations In: Proceedings of the 35th International Symposium on Robotics.
  • HIRANI, H., RATCHEV, S., LOHSE, N. and VALTCHANOV, G., 2004. Web-based specification of reconfigurable precision assembly system - industrial scenarios and use cases In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Precision Assembly Seminar. 27-34
  • LOHSE, N., HIRANI, H. and RATCHEV, S., 2003. Task-Based Modelling and Configuration of Assembly Workstations IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ASSEMBLY AND TASK PLANNING. 2003, 301-306
  • RATCHEV, S. and LOHSE, N., 2003. Data modelling for web enabled design of modular precision assembly devices In: Proceedings of the 1st International Precision Assembly Seminar. 149-156
  • RATCHEV, S. and LOHSE, N., 2002. Linguistic based configuration of modular precision assembly devices In: Proceedings of the 33rd International Symposium on Robotics. 557-562

Faculty of Engineering

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD


telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 4163
email:engineering@nottingham.ac.uk