Parametric Modeling Method for Conceptual Vehicle Design

Abstract

Early conceptual design is one of the most important stages in vehicle product development. At this stage, various iterations of design, analysis, validation, and confirmation need to be carried out with limited and constantly changing vehicle design information. To overcome this difficulty, computer aided design tools are widely used. Various parametric concept models are created and employed to increase the number of design iterations and reduce the design cycle time. However, two of the most common challenges still exist: 1) how to build a parametric model that is flexible and robust while maintaining adequate accuracy, and 2) how to easily manipulate the model based on limited dimensional and geometrical input available at early design stages. In this paper, a parametric modeling and controlling method is presented. It has been developed to generate and manipulate a parametric vehicle concept model for vehicle design at early design stages. This method greatly improves the flexibility and robustness of the parametric concept model, and allows easy modifications of the model based on the limited available input.