Ford's Industry-First Technology Speeds Interior Design
April 1, 2006 | Senay TOPCUOGLU
Ford Motor Company has developed a system for flexible vehicle packaging that saves money and shortens the time it takes to bring interior designs to market.
Called hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), it reduces the need for physical prototypes which are expensive and time-consuming to build.
"We have directly connected a physical Programmable Vehicle Model, or PVM, to a computer-generated virtual PVM, enabling true bi-directional communication -- a first in the industry," said Charles Wu, director, Manufacturing and Vehicle Design, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering.
The unique Ford system allows users to move large surfaces around in either PVM, such as the instrument panel, roof and door panels.
The changes then can be transferred instantly between the PVMs.
"This technology allows senior management and program teams to quickly assess design impact on packaging and vice versa, compare our vehicle packages against those of competitors, and make real-time design changes and program decisions all in one integrated environment," said Gary Strumolo, manager, Vehicle Design, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
Already used or in use on more than eight North American vehicle programs, Ford's new HIL system has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars per program by eliminating two seating bucks
more: autospectator.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid (262)
208 impressions - 58,446 clicks
