Physical Limits to Modularity
Architecture, specifically the definition of modules and their interconnections, is a central concern of engineering systems theory. The freedom to choose modules is often taken for granted as an essential design decision. However, physical phenomena intervene in many cases, with the result that 1)...
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | en_US |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
2016
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102731 |
| _version_ | 1826208063136202752 |
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| author | Whitney, Daniel E. |
| author_facet | Whitney, Daniel E. |
| author_sort | Whitney, Daniel E. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Architecture, specifically the definition of modules and their interconnections, is a central concern of engineering systems theory. The freedom to choose modules is often taken for granted as an essential design decision. However, physical phenomena intervene in many cases, with the result that 1) designers do not have freedom to choose the modules, or 2) that they will prefer not to subdivide their system into as small units as is possible.
A distinction that separates systems with module freedom from those without seems to be the absolute level of power needed to operate the system. VLSI electronics exemplify the former while mechanical items like jet engines are examples of the latter. It has even been argued that the modularity of VLSI should be extended to mechanical systems. This paper argues that there are fundamental reasons, that is, reasons based on natural phenomena, that keep mechanical systems from approaching the ideal modularity of VLSI. The argument is accompanied by examples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T14:00:11Z |
| format | Working Paper |
| id | mit-1721.1/102731 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T14:00:11Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1027312019-04-11T07:18:21Z Physical Limits to Modularity Whitney, Daniel E. Architecture, specifically the definition of modules and their interconnections, is a central concern of engineering systems theory. The freedom to choose modules is often taken for granted as an essential design decision. However, physical phenomena intervene in many cases, with the result that 1) designers do not have freedom to choose the modules, or 2) that they will prefer not to subdivide their system into as small units as is possible. A distinction that separates systems with module freedom from those without seems to be the absolute level of power needed to operate the system. VLSI electronics exemplify the former while mechanical items like jet engines are examples of the latter. It has even been argued that the modularity of VLSI should be extended to mechanical systems. This paper argues that there are fundamental reasons, that is, reasons based on natural phenomena, that keep mechanical systems from approaching the ideal modularity of VLSI. The argument is accompanied by examples. 2016-05-31T18:57:31Z 2016-05-31T18:57:31Z 2002-05 Working Paper http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102731 en_US ESD Working Papers;ESD-WP-2003-01.03-ESD Internal Symposium application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division |
| spellingShingle | Whitney, Daniel E. Physical Limits to Modularity |
| title | Physical Limits to Modularity |
| title_full | Physical Limits to Modularity |
| title_fullStr | Physical Limits to Modularity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Limits to Modularity |
| title_short | Physical Limits to Modularity |
| title_sort | physical limits to modularity |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102731 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT whitneydaniele physicallimitstomodularity |