INTERIOR DESIGNING OF AUTOMOBILES NOW COMPUTERIZED

TOKYO―Toyota Motor Company has announced the creation of a unique "Verification, Modification" Method to computerize vehicle interior design procedures. The new method enhances the quality of design work, gives engineers and technicians many more options, and substantially reduces the amount of time that must be spent on designing.

The development is regarded as a significant advance toward the company's goal of computerizing every possible aspect of vehicle design. Some of the innovative aspects of the method may eventually be adopted internationally.

Thus far, Toyota has successfully computerized the measurement and graphic representation of clay models and calculations related to the details of exterior body contours.

In the new computerized method for vehicle interiors, most of the mechanical work involved in the planning and designing stage can now be handled by computer. This condenses or telescopes the "lead time" necessary and allows Toyota designs to quickly reflect changing public tastes.

All useful graphic-related information is stored in a computer. Information needed in the design work can be instantly taken out of the computer and displayed on a graphic display unit. Previously, much time was used in evaluating all technical and design factors to get the best combination of both.

Designers can now verify and modify through simulation the graphic details of an interior design from any angle. Prior to this, verification and modification of interiors had to be done manually, using many types of measuring devices and actual scale models.

For example, the verification of a design for reflection-free glass which formerly took between one and two days can now be completed in less than a half hour. Similarly, the layout and design of an instrument panel or related individual devices can now be accomplished within minutes; the procedure formerly involved many time-consuming steps, including production of actual mockups.