Michael G. Parsons

Test site 2/People/Michael G. Parsons

parsonsArthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus

E-mail: parsons@umich.edu

B.S.E. University of Michigan, 1963 Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Certificate Westinghouse Reactor Engineering School, 1965
M.M.E. The Catholic University of America, 1969; Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. Stanford University, 1972; Applied Mechanics

  • Research Interests
  • Sponsored Research
  • Selected Publications
  • Student Dissertations
  • Scholars & Students
  • Courses Taught

Current research interests include the use of techniques from artificial intelligence and soft computing in ship design and shipbuilding market forecasting; the development and evaluation of techniques to minimize the introduction of nonindigenous species through ships’ ballast water; and the development of methods, software, and techniques for concurrent marine design.

Methods for Ship Design. Research has investigated the use of a set-based design approach with a hybrid agent metaphor to organize human designers and software agents to support the design communication and negotiation [1, 2, 8]. Current work involves multicriterion optimization design applications [7].

Environmental marine engineering. Full-scale testing has evaluated the effectiveness of various types of ballast water filtration to reduce the probability of the introduction of nonindigenous species through ballast water [5, 6]. Work underway is investigating a new ship concept to eliminate the use of water ballast in the traditional sense. CFD studies of ballast exchange effectiveness are also underway.

Shipbuilding market forecasting. Studies have involved the use of neural networks, fuzzy logic, and genetic algorithms [3] to improve the effectiveness of shipbuilding market forecasting.

Automatic control. Past research has included the development of fuzzy and adaptive autopilots for ship and AUV path control, the application of multivariable integral control to ship bridge control, and the use of sensor failure detection filters and supervisory algorithms to improve dynamic positioning of offshore platforms in deep water.

  • 1. Tools for Multi-Hull Design Optimization, Office of Naval Research
  • 2. Development of a Design Optimization System for Early-Stage Ship Arrangements, Office of Naval Research
  • 3. Optimal Vessel Maneuvering in Evolving Nonlinear Wave Fields, Office of Naval Research MURI
  • 4. Seaway-Sized Bulk Carrier Model for Hydrodynamic Optimization of Ballast-Free Ship Design, Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute
  • 5. Development of a Methodology for Optimal Platform Decisions in Naval Fleet Design, Office of Naval Research
  • 6. LEAPS Transition of Optimal Arrangements and Multi-hull Optimization Software, NSWC Carderock
  • Singer, D. J., and Parsons, M. G., “Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Fuzzy Logic Software Agent to aid Design Team Negotiation and Communication,” Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Computer Applications and Information Technology in the Marine Industries (COMPIT’2003), Hamburg, April 2003.
  • Parsons, M. G., and Scott, R. L., “Formulation of Multicriterion Design Optimization Problems for Solution with Scalar Numerical Optimization Methods,” accepted by Journal of Ship Research, February 2003.
  • Parsons, M.G., “Systems Considerations in the Design of the Primary Treatment for Ballast Systems,” Marine Technology, Vol. 40, No. 1, 2003.
  • Parsons, M. G., and Harkins, R. H., “Full Scale Particle Removal Performance of Three Types of Mechanical Separation Devices for the Primary Treatment of Ballast Water,” Marine Technology, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2002.
  • Stevens, S. C. and Parsons, M. G., “The Effects of Motion at Sea on Crew Performance: A Survey,” Marine Technology, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2002 (SNAME Vice Admiral E. L. Cochrane Award, 2002)
  • Li, J., and Parsons, M. G., “Complete Design of Fuzzy Systems using a Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm with Imbedded Constraints,” Journal of Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2001.
  • Parsons, M. G., and Singer, D. J., “A Fuzzy Logic Agent for Design Team Communication and Negotiation,” Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Computer Applications and Information Technology in the Marine Industries (COMPIT’2000), Potsdam, March 30-April 4, 2000.
  • Parsons, M. G., Singer, D. J., and Sauter, J. A., “A Hybrid Agent Approach for Set-Based Conceptual Ship Design,” Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding, Cambridge, MA, June 1999.
  • “Design of the Great Lakes Ballast Technology Demonstration Project,” (with A. Cangelosi, R. Harkins, T. Mackey, and D. Munro), Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Vol. 105, 1997.
  • “Improved Methods for Processing Position Information for Dynamic Positioning,” (with S.H. Suh), Proceedings of the Texas Section of SNAME Annual Meeting on Station Keeping, February 1992; accepted for Journal of Ship Research.
  • “An Assessment of Fuzzy Logic Vessel Path Control,” (with A. Chubb and Y. Cao), IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, Vol. 20, No. 4, October 1995.
  • “Forecasting Tanker Freight Rate Using Neural Networks,” (with J. Li), Journal of Maritime Policy and Management, January 1997.
  • “The Use of Fuzzy Logic in Shipping and Shipbuilding Market Modeling, Analysis, and Forecasting,” (with J. Li), Journal of Ship Production, May, 1996.
  • “Complete Design of Fuzzy Systems Using a Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm with Imbedded Constraints,” (with J. Li), accepted for publication in the Journal of Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems.
  • “Time-Varying Lateral Motion of a Marine Shafting System Due to Propeller Excitation, (with Z. Karni), Proceedings of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineerings National Spring Meeting, Philadelphia, May 1987.
  • “Structural Reliability of Marine Diesel Engine Shafting Systems,” (with E. Nikolaidis and A.N. Perakis), Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Vol. 93, 1985.
  • Frederick C. Munchmeyer, Mathematical Ship Lines and Surfaces , 1978.
  • Hua Tu Cuong, Investigation of Methods for Adaptive Path Control of Surface Ships , 1982.
  • Zissimos P. Mourelatos, Finite Element Analysis of Elastohydrodynamic Stern Tube Bearings , 1985.
  • Efstratios G. Nikolaidis, Structural Reliability of a Marine Diesel Engine Propulsion Shafting System , co-chair, 1985.
  • Zvi Karni, Time-Varying Lateral Response of a Marine Shafting System within a Stern Bearing , 1986.
  • James Yin-Chin Wu, Application of Stochastic, Multivariable Integral Control to Marine Diesel/Controllable Pitch Propeller Propulsion Systems , 1989.
  • Dimitrios Lyridis, Extensions to Structural Reliability Analysis of Marine Diesel Engine Shafting Systems , co-chair, 1990.
  • Sang Hyun Suh, Improved Methods for Processing Position Information for Dynamic Positioning , 1991.
  • Wen-Tsung Chuang (Mechanical Engineering), Analysis of the Crankshaft/Main-Bearings System of a Multi-Cylinder Engine, co-chair, 1991.
  • Jun Li, Oil Tanker Markets Modeling, Analysis and Forecasting using Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic and Genetic Algorithms , 1997.
  • A. Scott Howe (Architecture), A New Paradigm for Life-Cycle Management of Kit-of-Parts Building Systems, co-chair, 1998.
  • David J. Singer, A Hybrid Agent Approach for Set-Based Conceptual Ship Design through the use of a Fuzzy Logic Agent to Facilitate Communications and Negotiation, 2003.
  • Miltiadis Kotinis, Development and Investigation of a Ballast-Free Ship Concept , 2004.
  • Elenor Nick
  • Anthony Daniels
  • Russell Truemner
  • Steven F. Zalek
  • LCDR Michael Corl, USCG

Courses Taught at the University of Michigan:

  • NA330 Ship Power Systems I
  • NA 331 Marine Engineering I
  • NA 340 Ship Dynamics I
  • NA 420 Ship Resistance and Propulsion II
  • NA 430 Ship Power Systems II
  • NA 431 Marine Engineering II
  • NA 463/NE 463 Nuclear Propulsion of Ships
  • NA 470 Foundations of Ship Design
  • NA 475 Ship Design Project
  • NA 530 Automatic Control in NAME
  • NA 531 Marine Propulsion Plant Vibration
  • NA 570 Advanced Marine Design
  • NA 571 Ship Design Project
  • NA 574 Computer-Aided Ship Design
  • NA 575 Computer-Aided Marine Design Project
  • NA 578 Concurrent Marine Design Seminar
  • NA 579 Concurrent Marine Design Team Project
  • NA 522 Experimental Marine Hydrodynamics