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

• US 6,096,086 A
• Filed: 12/04/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Moon, Joseph J., Henault, Mark Russell, Weber, William Francis, Walraven, Michael Joseph, Bach, Daniel Cornelius, Karam, Frederick Abraham, Tang, Scott Ming-Hua, Sevrence, Sean James
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US08/984,754
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500.01, 395/500.37, 395/500.29, 345/333, 345/348, 345/353, 345/356, 345/419, 345/473, 345/339, 345/355, 364/148.01, 364/149, 364/150, 364/151, 364/152, 364/468.01, 364/468.02, 364/468.03, 364/468.04, 364/468.09, 364/468.1, 364/468.12, 180/271, 180/286, 180/287, 280/1, 434/29, 434/257, 434/267, 434/365, 434/370, 434/373, 382/104
• US Class Current: 703/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A computer aided method for designing an interior portion of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set of generic parameters for describing an occupant position in the interior portion of the vehicle and occupant interaction with respect to at least one device within the vehicle;

(b) selecting a value for each of the set of generic parameters;

(c) generating a spatial relationship between the occupant position and the at least one occupant device; and

(d) determining a parameter change for at least one of the set of generic parameters so that the spatial relationship meets a predetermined criteria.

2. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 1 and further including the steps of generating and displaying at least one occupant-to-vehicle interaction surface based upon the spatial relationship so as to divide the passenger compartment into a plurality of occupant interaction zones.

3. A computer aided method for designing a portion of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing in the memory of a computer system a first set of data representing an occupant position within the vehicle;

(b) storing in the memory a second set of data representing a position for at least one occupant interactive vehicle system within the passenger compartment;

(c) generating a third set of data representing an interaction distance between the first set of data and the second set of data;

(d) comparing the third set of data to a fourth set of data representing a predetermined occupant-to-vehicle interaction criteria; and

(e) varying the second set of data until the third set of data meets the predetermined occupant-to-vehicle interaction criteria.

4. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the first set of data includes data representing at least one of the following:

occupant hip point data;

data representing a distance between an accelerator heel point and the occupant hip point; and

occupant back angle data.

5. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the second set of data includes data from an electronically stored parts library.

6. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the fourth set of data comprises human factors data.

7. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the human factors data comprises data from at least one of a set of steering wheel hand clearance data, a set of arm rest data, a set of lea clearance data, a set of steering wheel finger interaction data, a set of hand brake path and clearance data, a set of hand clearance around a seat data, a set of manual shifter data, a set of multifunction stalk data, a set of pelvic positioning data, a set of door trim speaker location data, and a set of knee bolster data.

8. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the second set of data is varied in step (e) based upon a predefined set of rules.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the predefined rules comprise a set of locational relationships between the first and second sets of data.

10. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 3 including the step of generating a fifth set of data representing at least one occupant-to-vehicle interaction surface based upon the third set of data representing the occupant-to-vehicle interaction distance.

11. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the fifth set of data includes at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance surface, an arm rest surface, a leg clearance surface, a steering wheel finger interaction surface, a hand brake path and clearance surface, a hand clearance around a seat surface, a manual shifter surface, a multifunction stalk surface, a pelvic positioning surface, a door trim speaker location surface, and a knee bolster surface.

12. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 10 including the step of displaying the fifth set of data relative to the first and second sets of data.

13. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the fifth set of data is displayed so as to divide the passenger compartment into at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance zone, an arm rest zone, a leg clearance zone, a steering wheel finger interaction zone, a hand brake path and clearance zone, a seat hand clearance zone, a manual shifter zone, a multifunction stalk zone, a pelvic positioning zone, a door trim speaker location zone, and a knee bolster zone.

14. A computer aided method for designing a portion of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing in the memory of a computer system a first set of data representing an occupant position within the vehicle;

(b) storing in the memory a second set of data representing a position for at least one occupant interactive vehicle system within the passenger compartment;

(c) generating a third set of data representing a spatial relationship between the first set of data and the second set of data;

(d) comparing the third set of data to a fourth set of data stored in the memory representing a predetermined occupant-vehicle interaction criteria; and

(e) varying the second set of data until the third set of data meets the predetermined occupant-vehicle interaction criteria.

15. A system for designing a portion of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

(a) first code means for representing an occupant position within a passenger compartment in the vehicle;

(b) second code means for representing a position for at least one occupant interactive vehicle system within the passenger compartment;

(c) third code means for generating a spatial relationship between the occupant position and the at least one occupant interactive vehicle system;

(d) fourth code means for comparing the spatial relationship to a predetermined occupant-vehicle interaction criteria; and

(e) fifth code means for varying the position of the at least one occupant interactive system to meet the predetermined occupant-vehicle interaction criteria.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the first code means includes at least one of the following:

code means for representing an occupant hip point;

code means for representing a distance between an accelerator heel point and the occupant hip point; and

code means for representing an occupant back angle.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein the second code means includes code means for representing a parts library.

18. A system according to claim 15 wherein the predetermined occupant-vehicle interaction criteria comprises a set of human factors interaction data.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the human interaction factors data comprises data from at least one of a set of steering wheel hand clearance data, a set of arm rest data, a set of leg clearance data, a set of steering wheel finger interaction data, a set of hand brake path and clearance data, a set of hand clearance around a seat data, a set of manual shifter data, a set of multifunction stalk data, a set of pelvic positioning data, a set of door trim speaker location data, and a set of knee bolster data.

20. A system according to claim 15 wherein the fifth code means includes a set of locational rules between the first and second code means.

21. A system according to claim 15 including sixth code means for displaying the spatial relationship between the occupant position and the at least one occupant interactive vehicle system.

22. A system according to claim 21 wherein the sixth code means causes the spatial relationship between the occupant position and the at least one occupant interactive vehicle system to be displayed so as to divide the passenger compartment into at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance zone, an arm rest zone, a leg clearance zone, a steering wheel finger interaction zone, a hand brake path and clearance zone, a seat hand clearance zone, a manual shifter zone, a multifunction stalk zone, a pelvic positioning zone, a door trim speaker location zone, and a knee bolster zone.

23. A computer aided vehicle design system for designing a portion of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

(a) parameter selection code means for selecting a value for at least one occupant position parameter;

(b) spatial code means for determining an interaction distance between the at least one occupant position parameter and at least one vehicle device;

(c) comparison code means for comparing the interaction distance to a predetermined criteria; and

(d) adjustment code means for determining a locational change for the at least one vehicle device so that the interaction distance meets the predetermined criteria.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein the adjustment code means includes code means for varying a device location of the at least one vehicle device with respect to the at least one occupant position parameter based upon a set of predefined rules.

25. A system according to claim 24 wherein the predefined rules are defined by locational code means comprising a set of locational relationships between each of the at least one vehicle devices.

26. A system according to claim 25 wherein the locational code means comprises a standard parts library electronicaly stored in a computer memory.

27. A system according to claim 23 wherein the predetermined criteria are embodied in a human factors code means.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the human factors code means includes at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance criteria code means, an arm rest criteria code means, a leg clearance criteria code means, a steering wheel finger interaction criteria code means, a hand brake path and clearance criteria code means, a seat hand clearance criteria code means, a manual shifter criteria code means, a multifunction stalk criteria code means, a pelvic positioning criteria code means, a door trim speaker location criteria code means, and a knee bolster criteria code means.

29. A system according to claim 23 including display means for displaying a geometric representation of the interaction distance between the occupant representation and the at least one vehicle device.

30. A system according to claim 29 wherein the geometric representation is a surface which divides the passenger compartment into at least two zones.

31. A vehicle design system on a computer in which an occupant representation and at least one vehicle system have a common reference point, the system comprising:

occupant representation means for orienting an occupant representation with respect to the common reference point in the computer;

vehicle system representation means for representing in the computer at least one vehicle system with reference to the common reference point;

interaction study means for performing at least one human factors interaction study between the occupant representation and the at least one vehicle system; and

outcome communication means for reporting an outcome of the at least one human factors interaction study.

32. A vehicle design system on a computer having processor and a memory in which an occupant and at least one vehicle system are electronically represented with respect to a common reference point in a three-dimensional representation of a portion of a vehicle, the system comprising:

occupant representation code means for orienting an occupant representation with respect to the common reference point in the computer;

vehicle system representation code means for representing the at least one vehicle system with reference to the common reference point;

interaction study code means for causing the processor to perform at least one human factors interaction study between the occupant representation and the at least one vehicle system; and

outcome communication code means for reporting an outcome of the at least one human factors interaction study.

33. A method for designing an automotive vehicle in a computer system in which a portion of a vehicle, an occupant representation, and at least one occupant interactive vehicle surface are electronically represented, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) orienting the occupant representation within a passenger compartment in the vehicle;

(b) positioning the at least one occupant interactive vehicle surface within the passenger compartment;

(c) generating at least one occupant interaction surface based upon a predetermined occupant interaction criteria; and

(d) displaying said at least one surface so as to divide the passenger compartment into at least one occupant interaction zone.

34. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 33 wherein the occupant representation is oriented using a predefined set of occupant orientation parameters.

35. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 34 wherein the predefined set of occupant orientation parameters include at least one of the following:

an occupant hip point;

a distance between an accelerator heel point and the occupant hip point; and

an occupant back Angle.

36. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 33 wherein the at least one occupant interactive vehicle surface is defined in an electronically stored parts library.

37. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 33 wherein the predetermined occupant interaction criteria comprise a set of human interaction factors.

38. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 37 wherein the set of human interaction factors comprise at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance criteria, an arm rest criteria, a leg clearance criteria, a steering wheel finger interaction criteria, a hand brake path and clearance criteria, a seat hand clearance criteria, a manual shifter criteria, a multifunction stalk criteria, a pelvic positioning criteria, a door trim speaker location criteria, and a knee bolster criteria.

39. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 33 wherein the at least one occupant interaction surface comprises at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance surface, an arm rest surface, a leg clearance surface, a steering wheel finger interaction surface, a hand brake path and clearance surface, a hand clearance around a seat surface, a manual shifter surface, a multifunction stalk surface, a pelvic positioning surface, a door trim speaker location surface, and a knee bolster surface.

40. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 33 wherein the at least one occupant interaction zone comprises at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance zone, an arm rest zone, a leg clearance zone, a steering wheel finger interaction zone, a hand brake path and clearance zone, a seat hand clearance zone, a manual shifter zone, a multifunction stalk zone, a pelvic positioning zone, a door trim speaker location zone, and a knee bolster zone.

41. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 33 and further including the step of repositioning the at least one occupant interactive vehicle surface within the passenger compartment after step (d) based upon a predefined set of rules.

42. A method according to claim 41 wherein the predefined rules comprise a set of locational relationships between each of the at least one occupant interactive vehicle surfaces and adjacent occupant interactive vehicle surfaces and the portion of the vehicle electronically represented.

43. A computer aided method for designing a portion of an interior of an automotive vehicle in which an occupant position and at least one vehicle device are electronically represented, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a value for the at least one occupant position parameter;

(b) determining a spatial relationship between the at least one occupant position parameter and the at least one vehicle device;

(c) comparing the spatial relationship to a predetermined criteria; and

(d) determining a locational change for the at least one vehicle device so that the spatial relationship meets the predetermined criteria.

44. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 43 wherein the occupant parameters at least one of the following:

an occupant hip point;

a distance between an accelerator heel point and the occupant hip point; and

an occupant back Angle.

45. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 43 wherein the at least one vehicle device is defined in an electronically stored parts library.

46. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 43 wherein the predetermined criteria comprise a set of human interaction factors including at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance criteria, an arm rest criteria, a leg clearance criteria, a steering wheel finger interaction criteria, a hand brake path and clearance criteria, a seat hand clearance criteria, a manual shifter criteria, a multifunction stalk criteria, a pelvic positioning criteria, a door trim speaker location criteria, and a knee bolster criteria.

47. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 43 and further including the step of repositioning the at least one vehicle device within the interior based upon the locational change.

48. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 47 wherein the locational change is partially determined by a set of locational relationships between each of the at least one vehicle device, adjacent vehicle devices, and the interior portion of the vehicle.

49. A computer aided method for designing an interior portion of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set of generic parameters for describing an occupant position in the interior portion of the vehicle and occupant interaction with respect to at least one device within the vehicle;

(b) selecting a value for each of the set of generic parameters;

(c) generating a occupant-to-vehicle relationship between the occupant position and the at least one occupant device; and

(d) determining a parameter change for at least one of the set of generic parameters so that the visual relationship meets a predetermined criteria.

50. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 49 and further including the steps of generating and displaying at least one occupant-to-vehicle surface based upon the occupant-to-vehicle relationship so as to divide the passenger compartment into a plurality of occupant interaction zones.

51. A method for vehicle design on a computer having processor and a memory in which an occupant and at least one vehicle system are electronically represented with respect to a common reference point in a three-dimensional representation of a portion of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

orienting an occupant representation with respect to the common reference point in the computer;

representing the at least one vehicle system with reference to the common reference point;

determining at least one occupant-to-vehicle interaction between the occupant representation and the at least one vehicle system; and

reporting the at least one occupant-to-vehicle interaction.

52. A method according to claim 51 wherein the occupant-to-vehicle interaction is determined based on a set of human factors interaction criteria.

53. A method for designing an automotive vehicle according to claim 52 wherein the set of human factors interaction criteria comprise at least one of a steering wheel hand clearance criteria, an arm rest criteria, a leg clearance criteria, a steering wheel finger reach criteria, a hand brake path and clearance criteria, a seat hand clearance criteria, a manual shifter criteria, a multifunction stalk criteria, a pelvic positioning criteria, a door trim speaker location criteria, and a knee bolster criteria.

54. A method according to claim 51 wherein the occupant-to-vehicle interaction is reported by displaying a geometric interaction representation of the occupant-to-vehicle interaction between the occupant representation and the at least one vehicle device.

55. A method according to claim 54 wherein the geometric interaction representation is a surface which divides the passenger compartment into at least two interaction zones.

56. A method according to claim 51 including the step of rendering a three-dimensional surface for the occupant interaction representation, each of the at least one vehicle devices, and the portion of the vehicle.

57. A method according to claim 51 including the step of animating movement of the occupant interaction representation, at least one vehicle device, and the portion of the vehicle.

58. A method according to claim 52 including the step of determining a locational change for the at least one vehicle device, the occupant representation, or both, so that the occupant interaction meets the predetermined interaction criteria.

59. A method according to claim 58 including the step of varying a device location of the at least one vehicle device with respect to the common reference point so that the occupant interaction meets the predetermined interaction criteria.

60. A method according to claim 52 including the step of varying a device representation of the at least one vehicle device so that the occupant interaction meets the predetermined interaction criteria.

61. A method according to claim 60 wherein the device representation is selected from an electronically stored standard parts library.

62. A method according to claim 58 including the step of regenerating a vehicle design after making the locational change by changing at least one effected dimension of one of the at least one vehicle systems and the portion of the vehicle as required by the locational change.

63. A method according to claim 62 including the step of automatically selecting parts from an electronic parts library as a substitute for at least one vehicle system to meet a vehicle system change required by the locational change.