Abstract: Collaborative optimization (CO) is the most widely used MDO method, which has good effect in application, however some serious computational difficulties are found in its application. Reasons that cause computational difficulties in collaborative optimization are analyzed and a new improved collaborative optimization method (ICO) is presented. Improved subsystem consistency constraint, system-level penalty function, and a quick-start strategy are used in ICO. These measures overcome the computational difficulties of CO better. Experimental results show that the robustness, reliability and computing efficiency of ICO are higher than CO.

Key words: Computer aided design, Collaborative optimization, Improvement, Multidisciplinary design optimization, Optimization