Study On The Vitrual Evaluation Methods Of Automotive Instrument Panel Based On RTT

With the rapid development of computer technology, stereo display technology,interactive technology and other related technologies, VR (virtual reality) technology hasbeen formed gradually as an emerging technology. Automotive industry, as one of the firstusers to apply VR technology, has been able to simulate realistically the various key stagesin design and manufacture that not only can save1/3of the cost, but also reduce greatly thetime spent in this process. VR can be applied to simulate, check or modify the functionsinteractively for model evaluation and structure analysis in the automotive styling. Thefurther researches for VR applications are now carrying out in many automotive companies.The IP (instrument panel) is the most complex part of automotive interior, as well asthe most important part. The quality of the IP design has effect directly on the driver’smanipulation comfort and driving safety. Therefore, the ergonomics should be taken fullyinto account in the process of the IP design and layout. It will not only affect the IP styling,but also the vehicle selling. Therefore, the major companies have put forward more andmore requirements for the IP design, and do the more evaluations accordingly. Thetraditional evaluations need the clay model, tape drawing and CNC model. It increased theevaluation time, and also spent more human and material resources. The solid models arenot needed when applying the virtual evaluation technology. The environment of evaluationis very close to the real one, that can show the whole process of evaluation intuitively, anddesigners have the immersive feeling. At the same time, designers can compare schemesinteractively and modify data in real time. The virtual evaluation decreased the time ofproduct modification.Based on the requirements and objectives in the process of the modern automotiveproduct development, the digital model of an automotive IP has been processed at first inthis article, and then the virtual evaluation methods of IP styling in RTT, a VR system, has been proposed, mainly including the IP styling evaluation and vehicle styling evaluation.The ultimate goal of the research is to reduce the number of automotive clay model and tomodify the models conveniently.Because of the importance of ergonomic layout in the IP design and the variousregulatory requirements, this research has further investigated how to use RTT to evaluateIP in aspect of ergonomics. Taking advantage of ergonomic evaluation technology caneliminate a variety of unreasonable layouts and interference problems in the process ofautomotive design as early as possible, and it is important in reducing security risks ofdriving.In order to make the model data change easier in the styling and ergonomics evaluation,this article has proposed a parametric modification method for the important designinformation in the virtual evaluation. The parametric setting for some data has been realizedwith a parametric user interface. This method has been proved to be useful through anexample. The reconstructed data can be evaluated and analyzed in other aspects，that canspeed up the product evaluation greatly, and shortens the evaluation time.This research aims to propose a more reasonable virtual evaluation method. Theevaluation process and results of IP from the aspects of styling and structure can be directlyachieved through the method combining with RTT system, and it makes the communicationand modification between designers more convenient.