Scott Ferguson

Dr. Ferguson and his team explore and advance how engineers design systems, arrive at actionable decisions, and frame problem objectives when faced with unresolvable uncertainties. Recognizing that engineering design is a decision-making process, their research products help engineers navigate the challenges of designing complex engineered systems, especially when there are uncertainties that are known but unquantifiable. The tools/methods that are developed as part of this work advance engineering design automation and design theory.

Engineering design requires the incorporation of interdisciplinary perspectives, creating solutions by synthesizing various components, dealing with uncertainty, and considering the unintended consequences of design decisions. Dr. Ferguson’s research is motivated by the fact that even the most basic engineering design decision requires a value analysis. Fundamental questions driving this work include:

1. What information do product engineers need for making value-driven design decisions in a market-systems context?
2. How we we maximize the user experience with a product/system?
3. What is the right mix of products that should be offered?
4. What is the relationship between system configuration/architecture and needs/preferences that change over time?
5. How do we effectively manage change after a product/system has been fielded?

Dr. Ferguson and his team draw upon research advances in design automation, multiobjective / multidisciplinary optimization, customer preference modeling techniques (such as conjoint analysis and discrete choice theory), data analytics (including AI/ML), product customization, requirements definition, system architecture modeling, and change propagation techniques. Currently, the lab pursues four primary research directions:

1. Preference/demand modeling, product platforming, and product customization/personalization
2. Designing complex engineered systems capable of reconfigurability, evolvability and resilience
3. Inverse engineering design using machine learning and AI
4. Advancing engineering design education

To learn more about this work, please visit his lab website: Systems, Decisions, and Objectives Lab.

Dr. Ferguson arrived at NC State in the Fall of 2008 and has taught undergraduate courses in Dynamics (MAE 208), Introduction to Aerospace Engineering (MAE 250), Aerospace Vehicle Performance (MAE 251), ME Capstone Design (MAE 416), Fundamentals of Product Design (MAE 426), and Introduction to Space Flight (MAE 467). He also teaches graduate sections of Fundamentals of Product Design (MAE 526) and created Engineering Design Optimization (MAE 531).