USING VIRTUAL REALITY IN DESIGNING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OF A CAR
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Dong, A.
Author: Becker, Ilse; Toivonen, Ville; Leino, Simo-Pekka
Series: ICED
Section: Design Methods and Tools Part 1
Page(s): 91-100
Abstract
This paper presents a study of a company that is testing virtual reality (VR) tools in designing the assembly process of a new car model. This is the first time in the company’s 40-year history that virtual reality is used in the designing process. The company designed its production processes simultaneously with the product development which was done by a newly founded company located on another continent. A benchmark research was made in the case company to find out, which virtual tool features are needed when designing an assembly process. Collaboration usage of the virtual reality tool was tested with the product development (PD) over internet. A review of the existing literature showed that the focus of the research in VR has been mainly in product development or in single subassemblies. Different kinds of systems were found with various features. Regarding the assembly, some system features were essential for virtual prototyping. No literature about similar cases was found where the target was to design the whole assembly process sequence of a brand new vehicle designed by a brand new company collaborating for the first time in a tight schedule.
Keywords: