Virtual reality-new methods for improving and accelerating the development process in vehicle styling and design

The article describes the use of virtual reality techniques during the car development process at Volkswagen. A brief definition of virtual reality is given and it is pointed out that virtual reality has to be understood as a method and not only as a tool. There is a short introduction of the research topics that are investigated by the VR-Lab. Some of them are presented in more detail. It is shown which steps have to be taken to get a virtual reality design review model. The problems are pointed out and possible solutions are described. An interface to the 3D human model, RAMSIS, has been implemented. RAMSIS is the result of a joint venture of German car companies and two seat manufacturers. The goal of implementing RAMSIS was to generate a realistic simulation of human beings in car interiors and work places. The integration of the CAD geometry kernel, ACIS, enhances the analytical possibilities of the virtual reality system by adding the same parametric surfaces used by the original CAD system and providing a wide variety of CAD functionality (e.g. cutting planes, distance measuring, Boolean operations). A 3D interaction model for modifying colors and surface structures of car interiors provides an easy and intuitive access to the geometric models concerned. Arbitrary components can be selected freely within the virtual environment and they can be manipulated "by a wave" of the hand.