Hybrid reverse engineering

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Hybrid reverse engineering

Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a human made device, object or system through analysis of its structure, function and operation. It often involves taking something (e.g., a mechanical device, electronic component, or software program) apart and analyzing its workings in detail to be used in maintenance, or to try to make a new device or program that does the same thing without using or simply duplicating (without understanding) any part of the original.

Hybrid Solutions-Blending Technology
Complicating the selection process is the practical concept of hybrid solutions. Many companies employ multiple technologies, both in terms of hardware and software. Those that use reverse engineering have discovered that one device and one software application are not likely to address all of the needs. Reverse engineering operations around the globe commonly have multiple hardware technologies and even multiple software applications at their disposal. They have found that a hybrid approach is necessary.
Companies may combine a CMM and laser scanner on the same project, or they may use both laser and white light scanners. What is equally interesting is that they may have two or three different reverse engineering software applications. The demand for a hybrid approach is best evidenced by the laser scanning heads for articulated arms. It is now common for the laser head to have an integrated touch probe. The laser captures the bulk of the object's geometry, and the touch probe is used to capture deep, narrow channels or shadowed features.



Uses of hybrid reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is also used by businesses to bring existing physical geometry into digital product development environments, to make a digital 3D record of their own products or to assess competitors' products. It is used to analyse, for instance, how a product works, what it does, and what components it consists of, estimate costs, and identify potential patent infringement, etc.

Hybrid methods

hybrid Methods in Engineering is a journal that publishes full-length refereed contributions describing significant developments in hybrid numerical-analytical methods, and their application to the solution of practical engineering problems. The main purpose of the journal is to offer a specialized forum for developments in novel hybrid methods for engineering problems. Such approaches have experienced a revival over the last few years, connected with the need for increasingly robust and economical computational tools, that implement reliable error control schemes.