Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Michael Joseph Walraven

William Francis Weber

Daniel Cornelius Bach

Mark Russell Henault

Frederick Abraham Karam

Sean James Sevrence

Scott Ming-Hua Tang

Joseph J Moon

Nicholas D McGuire

Jared Clark

A method of parametric design of an instrument panel support structure for an instrument panel on a vehicle includes the step of determining an input parameter, such that the input parameter is a three dimensional coordinate defining the instrument panel support structure relative to the vehicle. The method also includes the step of generating a design of the instrument panel support structure using the input parameter and determining if the design of the instrument panel support structure meets a predetermined criteria. The method further includes the step of modifying the input parameter if the design of the instrument panel support structure does not meet the predetermined criteria.

Method of parametic design of an instrument panel support structure

A computer based system and method orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors reach study is electronically performed to determine occupant reach with respect to the at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the vehicle, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or any combination thereof, so that the design meets the reach criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the reach criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant reach relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular reach criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant reach may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors reach studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant reach zones

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle based on occupant vision orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors vision study is electronically performed to determine occupant vision with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined vision criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the vision criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from all electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant vision relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular vision criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant vision may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors vision studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant vision zones

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant interaction relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the interaction may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Occupant based design method for an automotive vehicle

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors occupant-to-vehicle interaction study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined interaction criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the interaction criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant-to-vehicle interaction relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular interaction criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant-to-vehicle interaction may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors occupant-to-vehicle studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant-to-vehicle

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors reflection study is electronically performed to determine occupant reflection reception with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined reflection criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the reflection criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from an electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of vehicle system-to-occupant reflection may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular reflection criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant reflection reception may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors reflection studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

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Ypsilanti, MI, United States of America

Michael Joseph Walraven