2. • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• This article is about a design approach. For factory
built structures moved in modules, see modular
building.
• Modular design, or "modularity in design", is a design
approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts
called modules or skids, that can be independently
created and then used in different systems. A modular
system can be characterized by functional partitioning
into discrete scalable, reusable modules, rigorous use
of well-defined modular interfaces, and making use of
industry standards for interfaces.
3. • Besides reduction in cost (due to less customization, and
shorter learning time), and flexibility in design, modularity
offers other benefits such as augmentation (adding new
solution by merely plugging in a new module), and
exclusion. Examples of modular systems
are cars, computers, process systems, solar
panels and wind turbines, elevators and modular buildings.
Earlier examples include looms, railroad
signaling systems, telephone exchanges, pipe
organs and electric power distribution systems. Computers
use modularity to overcome changing customer demands
and to make the manufacturing process more adaptive to
change (see modular programming). Modular design is an
attempt to combine the advantages
of standardization (high volume normally equals low
manufacturing costs) with those of customization. A
downside to modularity (and this depends on the extent of
modularity) is that low quality modular systems are not
optimized for performance. This is usually due to the cost
of putting up interfaces between modules.
4. • 1 Proper inter-modular design
• 2 In vehicles
• 3 In machines
• 4 In computer hardware
• 5 In robotics
• 6 See also
• 7 References
• 8 Further reading
5. • Recognizing that excessive inter-module dependencies are
an indicator of poor software design, a system should be
intended to be loosely coupled to avoid unnecessary
dependencies. Thus, inter-modular design should be easy
to work with because modules can be easily understood in
isolation, and changes or extensions to functionality would
be easily localized.
6. • Aspects of modular design can be seen in cars or
other vehicles to the extent of there being certain parts to
the car that can be added or removed without altering the
rest of the car.
• A simple example of modular design in cars is the fact that,
while many cars come as a basic model, paying extra will
allow for "snap in" upgrades such as a more powerful
engine or seasonal tires; these do not require any change
to other units of the car such as the chassis, steering,
electric motor or battery systems.
7. • The Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) is a modular,
DIY, low-cost, high-performance platform that enables
fabrication of the 50 different Industrial Machines that it
takes to build a small, sustainable civilization with modern
comforts.
• Modular design can be seen in certain buildings. Modular
buildings (and also modular homes) generally consist of
universal parts (or modules) that are manufactured in
a factory and then shipped to a build site where they are
assembled into a variety of arrangements.
8. • Modular buildings can be added to or reduced in size by
adding or removing certain components. This can be done
without altering larger portions of the building. Modular
buildings can also undergo changes in functionality using
the same process of adding or removing modular
components
• For example, an office building can be built using modular
parts such as walls, frames, doors, ceilings, and windows.
The office interior can then be partitioned (or divided) with
more walls and furnished with desks, computers, and
whatever else is needed for a functioning workspace. If the
office needs to be expanded or redivided to accommodate
employees, modular components such as wall panels can
be added or relocated to make the necessary changes
without altering the whole building. Later on, this same
office can be broken down and rearranged to form
a retail space, conference hall or any other possible type of
building using the same modular components that
originally formed the office building. The new building can
then be refurnished with whatever items are needed to
carry out its desired functions.
9. • Other types of modular buildings that are offered from a
company like Allied Modular are a guardhouse, machine
enclosure, press box, conference room, two-story
building, clean room and much more applications.
• Many misconceptions are held
around modular buildings.
In reality modular construction
is a viable method of construction
for quick turnaround and fast
growing companies. Industries
that would benefit from include:
healthcare, commercial, retail, military, and multi-family/
student housing.
10. Modular design in computer hardware is the same as
modular design in other things (e.g. cars, fridges, even
furniture). The idea is to build computers with easily
replaceable parts that use standardized interfaces. This
technique allows an user to upgrade certain aspects of the
computer easily without having to buy another computer
altogether. This idea is also being implemented in Project
Ara which provides a platform for manufactures to create
modules for a smartphone which can then be customised
by the end user.
11. • A computer is actually one of the best examples of modular
design - typical modules are power supply
units, processors, mainboards, graphics cards, hard
drives, optical drives, etc. All
of these parts should be easily
interchangeable as long as the
user uses parts that support
the same standard interface as
the part that was replaced.
• Similar to the computer's modularity, other tools have been
developed to leverage modular design, such as littleBits
Electronics, which snap together with interoperable modules
to create circuits.
