Title: Selection of automobile vehicle by evaluation through graph theoretical methodology

Authors: R. Venkatasamy, V.P. Agrawal

Addresses: Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi-16, India. ' Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi-16, India

Abstract: This paper provides a computationally simple and efficient methodology of evaluating the characteristics attributes of a vehicle and to select an optimum vehicle. This methodology based on graph theoretic, matrix and permanent models, which is used in the system and structural analysis of the vehicle, has been extended in this study to the evaluation, analysis and selection problem. First, the various conflicting attributes of the vehicle and their interactions/interdependencies are represented by the vehicle attribute graph. This reveals the attributes and their effects on each other visually. The vehicle attribute matrix, also called matrix model, is developed to have a computational method to evaluate the vehicles. This matrix is a combination of attribute rating matrix and attribute relative importance matrix. The permanent model yields the Suitability Index [S.I.] of the vehicle, which is the permanent value of the vehicle attribute matrix. The vehicles are ranked in accordance with the value of S.I. in descending order. The vehicle with rank No. 1 is best suitable for the customer|s/user|s desires on the particular application under consideration. An expert system is developed to carry out this methodology in user-friendly manner. The methodology is explained with an illustrative example to know about the various intermediate steps in the methodology.

Keywords: vehicle attributes; crisp scores; fuzzy logic; graph theory; matrix model; modelling; vehicle ranking; vehicle selection; expert systems; intelligent selection; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1996.061971

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1996 Vol.17 No.4, pp.449 - 470

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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