System and method for use of function-based mechatronic objects

1. A method for creation of a mechatronics object, comprising:

receiving a selection of a function-based mechatronic object in a data processing system, the function-based mechatronic object including a plurality of linked requirements and functional information;

instantiating the function-based mechatronic object as a product-specific mechatronic object by the data processing system;

evaluating a plurality of linked requirements and functional information for the product-specific mechatronic object by the data processing system;

assigning product-specific specifications to the functional information of the product-specific mechatronic object by the data processing system; and

storing the product-specific mechatronics object, including the linked requirements and functions, in the data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product-specific specifications include physics specifications, including at least one of a mechanical interface, an electrical interface, and a pneumatic interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product-specific specifications include electrical specifications, including actuator and sensor information.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product-specific specifications include automation specifications.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising simulating the structure and operation of the product-specific mechatronics object, including sub assemblies, kinematics, and dynamics.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning product-specific specifications to the functional information of the product-specific mechatronic object is performed via an interaction with at least one user.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the product-specific mechatronic object as a reusable product definition in a product lifecycle management system.

8. A data processing system comprising a processor and accessible memory, the data processing system particularly configured to perform the steps of:

receiving a selection of a function-based mechatronic object, the function-based mechatronic object including a plurality of linked requirements and functional information;

instantiating the function-based mechatronic object as a product-specific mechatronic object;

evaluating a plurality of linked requirements and functional information for the product-specific mechatronic object;

assigning product-specific specifications to the functional information of the product-specific mechatronic object; and

storing the product-specific mechatronics object, including the linked requirements and functions.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the product-specific specifications include physics specifications.

10. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the product-specific specifications include electrical specifications.

11. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the product-specific specifications include automation specifications.

12. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the data processing system is also configured to perform the step of simulating the structure and operation of the product-specific mechatronics object.

13. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein assigning product-specific specifications to the functional information of the product-specific mechatronic object is performed via an interaction with at least one user.

14. The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the data processing system is also configured to perform the step of using the product-specific mechatronic object as a reusable product definition in a product lifecycle management system.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a data processing system to perform the steps of:

receiving a selection of a function-based mechatronic object, the function-based mechatronic object including a plurality of linked requirements and functional information;

instantiating the function-based mechatronic object as a product-specific mechatronic object;

evaluating a plurality of linked requirements and functional information for the product-specific mechatronic object;

assigning product-specific specifications to the functional information of the product-specific mechatronic object; and

storing the product-specific mechatronics object, including the linked requirements and functions.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the product-specific specifications include physics specifications.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the product-specific specifications include electrical specifications.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the product-specific specifications include automation specifications.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause the data processing system to perform the step of simulating the structure and operation of the product-specific mechatronics object.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein assigning product-specific specifications to the functional information of the product-specific mechatronic object is performed via an interaction with at least one user.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause the data processing system to perform the step of using the product-specific mechatronic object as a reusable product definition in a product lifecycle management system.