Visualising Lighting Simulations for Automotive Design Evaluations
Using Emerging Visualisation Technologies
Funding Details: Fees and maintenance at RCUK Level
Length of Award: 3 years (PhD)
Lead Supervisor: Professor Mark Williams
Project Overview:
Today’s automotive New Product Development processes utilise a variety of simulation techniques to
deliver the best possible products as efficiently as possible. Simulation enables informed decisions to
be made early in the design process, long before physical prototypes are available for testing, but this
is only possible if the results of the simulation can be interpreted by those responsible for the
product’s development. Whilst the outcomes of crash simulations and dimensional variation can be
visualised relatively easily, the effects of lighting on the various visual aspects of a vehicle interior
(display readability, reflections, colour reproduction, interior lighting effects etc.) can be difficult to
communicate.
As new in-vehicle technologies are created and developed into products, consideration must be given
to how the customer will interact with the technologies, and what influence ambient light will have
on the interaction process. Being able to simulate, predict, and as a result, understand the visual
interaction process, between the vehicle interior, the ambient light, and the customer, is critical to
optimising the design.
This project will utilise new and emerging technologies (both in terms of hardware and software) to
develop new methods for communicating effectively the outputs from visual simulations of vehicle
interiors under different lighting conditions. Key objectives will include the development of methods
for visualising and communicating the simulated effects of lighting on vehicle interior design and new
in-vehicle technologies, the selection of appropriate hardware and software tools to optimise the
communication of vehicle interior simulations, and the determination of where these tools can best
be utilised to deliver the most efficient technology/product development process possible. The
research will complement the ongoing developments of the JLR Virtual Innovation Centre at Gaydon,
the visualisation capabilities proposed for the forthcoming National Automotive Innovation Centre at
the University of Warwick, and a current Doctorate project investigating the effect of ambient light on
the readability of in-vehicle displays.
The successful candidate will be based in the Product Evaluation Technologies Group at WMG,
University of Warwick, and supported by Jaguar Land Rover.
Eligibility:
Due to funding restrictions, funding is available for well-qualified UK or EU students. Candidates
should hold a 1st or 2.1 degree in any science or engineering discipline with an interest in metrology
and 3D visualisation
Application Details:
This project is available to start on 1st October 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter. Please
complete our online enquiry form . Deadline for applications: 31st August 2015