1. © University of Strathclyde Assessing Aesthetic Quality Martin Fitchie University of Strathclyde

2. © University of Strathclyde Funded by Partners Data Supplied by Rover/BMW for the Rover 75 Jaguar for the X200

3. © University of Strathclyde Research Goal Within a realistic model of the physical environment To enable multi-disciplinary design teams To visualise the aesthetic quality of an automobile and conduct quality audits Early in Design Process

4. © University of Strathclyde Example GoodBad

5. © University of Strathclyde Aesthetic Quality No agreed definition “Look” of the product Gaps and flushness Can dramatically affect customer perception

6. © University of Strathclyde VITAL Tools System Architecture Behaviour Model Assembly Model Deformation Model Environment Model Tolerance Model Third Party Tools User Interaction Interface Visualization Results Feedback to the user PQP Collision Detection & MathEngine ® Dynamics ClearCoat ® Rendering OpenGL ® Optimizer VSA ® Tolerance Analysis

7. © University of Strathclyde Industrial Example Jaguar X200 Instrument Panel

8. © University of Strathclyde Assembly Full assembly consists of more than 80 individual components Focus on the glove box assembly and its mounting within the Instrument Panel Simulate both the assembly process and kinematics behaviour of the glove box

9. © University of Strathclyde Step 1: Set Quality Target Part of the initial specification sent out to potential suppliers Stage 1: Visually explore the acceptable gap and flush conditions Stage 2: Quantify gap and flush aesthetic quality targets

10. © University of Strathclyde Step 1: Set Quality Target AcceptableRejected Stage 1 Stage 2

11. © University of Strathclyde Step 2: Meeting Quality Targets Can the detailed design meet the quality targets? How does the variation in mounting positions effect the gaps on the glove box? Combination of tolerances and frame deformation

12. © University of Strathclyde Step 2: Meeting Quality Targets 1.Predict the range of variation at fixing points 2.Calculate effect on part deformation 3.Propagate deformation through assembly 4.Assess the percentage of the run that is visually acceptable?

13. © University of Strathclyde Tolerance Visualisation

14. © University of Strathclyde Further Work Evaluation of VITAL –With engineers - concurrent with live products –Is the simulation close enough to reality? Higher levels of integration between the various elements of the system Extending and developing more sophisticated techniques of presenting the tolerance analyses data.

15. © University of Strathclyde

16. Problems Integration of varied software components Changing design processes to make best use of software Availability of good CAD data early in the process Evaluating a novel method within the Automotive industry

17. © University of Strathclyde Physical vs Virtual Prototype

18. © University of Strathclyde System Context Data Exchange Proprietary CAD model Virtual Environment Integration of Models within a Virtual Environment Add geometry, material properties and tolerances

19. © University of Strathclyde Industrial Example VITAL used to: –Set aesthetic quality targets –Ensure the realised design meets the quality targets Thus VITAL provides –New insights into the aesthetic impact of tolerance allocation

20. © University of Strathclyde Benefits of VITAL Approach Improved aesthetic quality assessment within a styling driven design process Reduced product cost Reduced number of physical prototypes Time to market Mistakes can be found and fixed earlier in the design process Reduce build complexity Improved product quality Optimized design results Minimized variation

21. © University of Strathclyde Potential Applications Where gaps and flushes case problems Where there is a need to ‘visualise’ tolerances –Their spread –Their impact

22. © University of Strathclyde Tolerance model CAD systems display nominal geometry VITAL is interfacing commercial tolerance packages with high quality visualisation

23. © University of Strathclyde Deformation Model

24. © University of Strathclyde Next Stage/Problems Evaluation of VITAL –With engineers - concurrent with live products –Is the simulation close enough to reality? Integration of varied software components Changing design processes to make best use of software Availability of good CAD data early in the process