Today, due to rapidly changing customer preferences, every aspect of organizational operations is intertwined with some form of technology. Most of the major industries including the automotive industry are implementing modern technologies to deliver tremendous machines primarily focused on driving experience, exceptional design and comfort for the customers.
augmented reality, or AR in this regard, is at the forefront of making this change and bringing human imagination to life. It has already demonstrated its exceptional use cases across various industries and as a result, the market size has also grown significantly. According to a research report released by Grand View Research, the worldwide AR market size was estimated to be US$ 38.56 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 39.8% from 2023 to 2030.
Apart from playing a vital role in customer engagement and enhancing customer experience in terms of virtual showrooms and vehicle configurators, it can be leveraged by automobile manufacturers in their operational processes like product design, production, prototyping and more. AR can enable automakers to rapidly deploy ideas, visualize complex assemblies, and efficiently manage design iterations.
rapid thought deployment
Concepts for products and user experiences are often conceived and developed in the early stages of development through drawings and CAD (computer aided design) modelling. However, there are often delays in getting their ideas written down or displayed on a computer screen because they are detached from the scale and geographic context of the real world. as the engineers progress Design-related delays are frequent for projects, at every stage of the design process and development. The ability to rapidly test concepts with a certain level of accuracy in the real world is arguably the biggest advantage AR offers designers. Before building anything correctly, the aim is to make sure automakers are making the right products. Therefore, AR gives engineers an even easier way to pre-type (prior to prototyping) as most CAD models can be exported directly into AR software, where virtual models can be used in place of physical models.
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Visualizing Designs Efficiently
Design is a never ending process, and changes are inevitable. With so many ideas in the pipeline, it’s clear that errors will be part of the process. In addition, working with multiple variations and large vehicle assemblies can be complex due to the number of parts and the many departments involved. In this regard augmented reality can streamline design development, especially when combined with other prototyping methods. AR technology enables designers to view digital models and virtual prototypes in a real-world setting, providing an immersive experience that enhances the design process. By overlaying digital information onto physical objects, designers can visualize and simulate how new components or design elements will look and interact with existing vehicle structure. This exemplary design accelerates the design process, reducing the time and cost associated with physical prototyping.
Management of design iterations
From a product development perspective, AR aids in initial design optimization and refinement. Most 3D CAD files can currently be easily imported into AR applications, allowing designers to quickly transfer their car assemblies and parts into natural environments from their desktop screens. As a result, concepts and options can be rapidly reviewed, revised and adjusted. Furthermore, with the integration of AR, processes such as FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) can be enhanced and digital models can be interactively evaluated, studied. The end result is rapid iterative design cycles and, ultimately, great vehicles. Additionally, AR enables animated simulations so that engineers and designers can visualize how vehicles will be used in the long run. This is critical for iterating designs and making quick adjustments to factors such as ergonomics, style, component size and more, which not only increases productivity but also reduces the chance of errors and lowers the cost of producing physical models.
going beyond the screen
Augmented reality addresses a significant challenge in design and prototyping, which is the need to create physical models. This allows automakers to use existing physical objects, covering them with new elements. As a result, automakers are able to rapidly deploy ideas, efficiently visualize complex designs, and effectively manage design iterations. In addition, with the help of AR, automakers can easily arrange for the collaboration of designers on projects of any complexity. As a result, changes can be made directly during the discussion.
While AR systems take designers and engineers beyond the screen, the cost and duration of new design development is also reduced. As a result, top automakers have already begun to incorporate augmented reality technologies into their design and prototyping processes, and adoption is expected to increase. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the AR market size in the automotive industry is expected to reach US$ 14.44 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 18.1%. This increased growth can be attributed to its myriad use cases and rising demand among leading vehicle manufacturers.
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