Predicting Product Aesthetic Quality Using Virtual Environments

This paper describes a previously unreported application of virtual environments – the prediction of product aesthetic quality. Successful prediction of aesthetic quality without the production of a physical prototype requires the integration of a number of ‘software’ models: an assembly model representing the manner in which the product is put together; an environment model providing a real world graphical context for the product; a behavior model representing how the product moves and deforms under use conditions; and a tolerance model representing the allowable variation in the product due to manufacturing variation. This paper presents the results of applying these models within an automotive design and manufacturing process during the development of a new automobile. Introduction Many companies, particularly in the automotive and aerospace sectors have begun to use virtual prototypes (also known as digital mockups or electronic builds) to remove the need for some or all of the physical prototypes traditionally constructed during the product development process. There are many reports of significant business benefits obtained through the use of virtual prototypes within the design and manufacturing process. Many aspects of this process have been considered from initial clay modeling and concept design through to detailed assembly and manufacturing planning [1-6]. An area yet to be reported is that of predicting the aesthetic quality of a product. Aesthetic quality has no precise definition. It is a customer perceived product attribute. It may be loosely defined as