Byron Short Seminar Series

Abstract

Sustained innovation in engineering design requires rigorous theoretical and computational foundations, particularly in the early stages of product development where system behavior, performance trajectories, and functional interactions are not yet fully characterized. As global competition accelerates development cycles while increasing performance expectations, formal methods that structure and support early-stage design activity are essential.

Dr. McAdams’s research advances foundational frameworks for engineering design theory and computational modeling. This talk presents three interconnected research thrusts. First, formal representations and methods for biologically inspired design are described, including structured functional modeling approaches, abstraction mechanisms for cross-domain analogical transfer, and systematic concept synthesis techniques. These methods provide a principled basis for mapping biological phenomena to engineered systems.

Second, quantitative models of technology evolution are introduced, integrating longitudinal performance data with statistical and mechanistic modeling to characterize improvement trajectories, substitution dynamics, and patterns of technological disruption. These approaches enable more accurate estimation of performance trends and clearer identification of the mechanisms contributing to performance gains over time.

Third, emerging modeling frameworks for innovative design are discussed, including probabilistic and data-informed approaches that integrate heterogeneous data sources and physics-based structure within unified representations. These models support the analysis of competing concepts, evolving system states, and multi-dimensional performance spaces common in contemporary product innovation.

Collectively, this research establishes a coherent program that links formal design theory, empirical modeling of technological change, and advanced computational methods to strengthen the scientific foundations of engineering design.

About the Speaker

Dr. McAdams is the Robert H. Fletcher Professor in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on design theory and methodology, with particular emphasis on functional modeling, innovation in concept synthesis, biologically inspired design methods, inclusive design, human–computer collaboration in early-stage design, and technology evolution as applied to product design. He has edited a book on biologically inspired design.

Dr. McAdams’s research spans both foundational and translational domains. His fundamental work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, while his applied efforts have been funded by industry and the Department of Defense. His translational research includes the development of field-deployable breath analysis systems for toxin detection, demonstrating the application of design theory principles to high-impact health and defense challenges.

His research has been supported by federal, state, and private organizations, and he previously served as a CMMI Program Director at the National Science Foundation. His contributions have been recognized through mentoring and student engagement awards, as well as national recognition including an ASME Design Theory and Methodology Committee Award.

He teaches undergraduate courses in design methods, biologically inspired design, and machine element design, and graduate courses in product design and dynamics.