A manufacturing method of a vehicle and a method to dimension a vehicle

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a manufacturing method of a vehicle (100) configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, the vehicle (100) comprising a skateboard chassis (110) and a load unit (130), the skateboard chassis (110) comprising a first load carrying structure (111) and the load unit (130) comprising a second load carrying structure (131), the method comprising: obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile, comparing the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile to first load carrying characteristics of the first load carrying structure, determining second load carrying characteristics of the second load carrying structure (131) using results of the preceding step of comparing, obtaining the skateboard chassis (110) with the first load carrying characteristics, obtaining the load unit (130) with the determined load carrying characteristics, manufacturing the vehicle (100) by mechanically coupling the skateboard chassis (110) to the load unit (130) using a predefined interface (120).

Description

The present invention relates to manufacturing of vehicles comprising a skateboard chassis. The invention further relates to a method and a vehicle.BACKGROUNDRoad vehicles, in particular load carrying vehicles such as trucks or busses, may generally be seen as comprising a chassis and a load unit. The chassis typically comprises various electrical, mechanical and structural systems, components that allows the vehicle to operate. The load unit is typically configured to hold a target load.This classification of main parts of a vehicle as comprising a chassis and a load unit is even more true for electric vehicles with reduced footprint of the drive train components and where the chassis comprises nearly all the necessary operational components of the vehicle, sometimes referred to as a skateboard chassis.In such conventional vehicles, the skateboard chassis and the load unit are typically individually designed and are provided in discrete steps. When designing a vehicle, a particular pre-designed chassis is typically matched with another pre-designed load unit.This has the drawback that a number of manufacturing and design inefficiencies are created. For electric vehicles, this particularly relates to weight.Thus, there is a need for a method to manufacture vehicles that reduces manufacturing and design inefficiencies.OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONAn objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a solution which mitigates or solves the drawbacks described above.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above and further objectives are achieved by the subject matter described herein. Further advantageous implementation forms of the invention are described herein. The invention is set out in the appended claims. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference.According to a first aspect of the invention, the above mentioned objective is achieved by a manufacturing method of a vehicle configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, the vehicle comprising a skateboard chassis and a load unit, the skateboard chassis comprising a first load carrying structure and the load unit comprising a second load carrying structure, the method comprising obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile, comparing the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile to first load carrying characteristics of the first load carrying structure, determining second load carrying characteristics of the second load carrying structure using results of the preceding step of comparing, obtaining the skateboard chassis with the first load carrying characteristics, obtaining the load unit with the determined load carrying characteristics, manufacturing the vehicle by mechanically coupling the skateboard chassis to the load unit using a predefined interface.In one embodiment according to the first aspect, the step of comparing the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile further comprises deriving target load carrying characteristics from the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile, determining residual load carrying characteristics as a difference between the target load carrying characteristics and the first load carrying characteristics, and, wherein the step of determining second load carrying characteristics further comprises: dimensioning the second load carrying structure for a use case where the first load carrying structure and the second load carrying structure are mechanically coupled via the predefined interface to meet but not to exceed the residual load carrying characteristics, deriving second load carrying characteristics from the dimensioned second load carrying structure.In one embodiment according to the first aspect, the target load carrying characteristics is at least indicative of deformation characteristics and vibration characteristics of the vehicle when subjected to use according to the vehicle usage profile and subjected to load according to the load distribution profile.In one embodiment according to the first aspect, the step of determining second load carrying characteristics further comprises simultaneously includes a selection of any of minimizing material usage, minimizing assembly time, minimizing cost, minimizing C02 impact and minimizing weight.In one embodiment according to the first aspect, the load distribution profile is indicative of weight of a target load and distribution of the target load within a volume defined by an outline of the load unit.In one embodiment according to the first aspect, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of transport application of the vehicle and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle is used.According to a second aspect of the invention, the above mentioned objective is achieved by a computer-implemented method to dimension a vehicle configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, the vehicle comprising a skateboard chassis and a load unit mechanically coupled via a predefined interface, the skateboard chassis comprising a first load carrying structure and the load unit comprising a second load carrying structure, the method comprising: obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile, deriving target load carrying characteristics from the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile, determining residual load carrying characteristics as a difference between the target load carrying characteristics and first load carrying characteristics of the skateboard chassis, dimensioning the vehicle by dimensioning the second load carrying structure for a use case where the first load carrying structure and the second load carrying structure are mechanically coupled via the predefined interface to meet but not to exceed the residual load carrying characteristics.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the target load carrying characteristics is at least indicative of deformation characteristics and vibration characteristics of the vehicle 100 when subjected to use according to the vehicle usage profile and subjected to load according to the load distribution profile.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the method further comprises a selection of any of minimizing material usage, minimizing assembly time, minimizing cost, minimizing C02 impact and minimizing weight.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the load distribution profile is indicative of weight of a target load and distribution of the target load within a volume defined by an outline of the load unit.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of transport application of the vehicle and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle is used.According to a third aspect of the invention, the above mentioned objective is achieved by a vehicle configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, the vehicle comprising: a skateboard chassis at least comprising a first load carrying structure, a load unit comprising a second load carrying structure configured to hold load, wherein the load unit is stacked vertically on top of the skateboard chassis and further mechanically coupled to the skateboard chassis via a predefined interface, wherein the first load carrying structure of the skateboard chassis and the second load carrying structure of the load unit, when being mechanically coupled via the predefined interface, support the usage profile and the load distribution profile of the vehicle.According to a third aspect of the invention, the predefined interface comprises a plurality of fastening units arranged in a predefined pattern matching corresponding mounting points of the skateboard chassis and the load unit respectively.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the fastening units comprise fixed connections.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the fastening units comprise releasable connections.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the load distribution profile is indicative of weight of a target load and distribution of the target load within a volume defined by an outline of the load unit.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of transport application of the vehicle and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle is used.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the transport application is selected from any one of passenger transport, cargo transport, cargo container transport, volume cargo transport, mobile store transport, mobile workstation transport, mobile health clinic transport, mobile library transport.In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the skateboard chassis further comprises a selection of any of a drivetrain, wheels, energy storage, steering, crash protection, braking systems, and suspension systems.Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFig. 1 shows a vehicle configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 2 shows further details of the vehicle according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 3 shows an example of a first load carrying structure according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 4 shows an example of a second load carrying structure according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 5 shows an example of a vehicle configured to carry passengers according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 6 shows an example of a vehicle configured to carry volume cargo according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 7 shows an example of a vehicle configured to transport cargo containers according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of a method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of a method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.Fig. 10 shows a computer according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAn “or” in this description and the corresponding claims is to be understood as a mathematical OR which covers ”and” and “or”, and is not to be understand as an XOR (exclusive OR). The indefinite article “a” in this disclosure and claims is not limited to “one” and can also be understood as “one or more”, i.e., plural.In the present disclosure, the expression “computer” and / or “control arrangement” and / or “device” and / or “system” denotes a unit comprising processor, and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor, wherein said unit is configured to perform any of the methods described herein. The control arrangement is typically capable of receiving input data that is comprised in control signals, and to control other units by sending commands comprised in control signals. In one example, the control arrangement is a general-purpose computer or an Electric Control Unit, ECU.In the present disclosure, the expression vehicle usage profile denotes characteristics of the use of a vehicle. This may comprise application data, e.g., passenger transport, high volume transport or cargo / freight container, pop up store, mobile workstation, mobile dentist / Clinique or mobile library. The vehicle usage profile may essentially indicate any mobile service application. The vehicle usage profile may further be indicative of road characteristics indicating e.g., a specific road condition classification / terrain condition profile or roughness of roads where the load will be carried by the vehicle.In the present disclosure, the expression vehicle load profile denotes characteristics of the load carried on the road characteristics indicated by the usage profile. This may e.g., include maximum load of the cargo carried and the spatial distribution of that cargo.Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 100 configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The vehicle comprises a skateboard chassis 110 and a load unit 130.The skateboard chassis 110 comprises all or at least a majority of components needed for the vehicle 100 to operate. The skateboard chassis essentially comprises substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components required to operate the vehicle. Examples include of such functional systems may include energy storage / conversion, propulsion modules, suspension modules and wheels / tracks, steering modules, crash protection modules, and braking system modules.The load unit 130 is stacked vertically on top of the skateboard chassis 110. In the context of the application stacked vertically relates to positioning the load unit 130 in mechanical contact with the skateboard chassis 110 and / or centered along an axis substantially parallel to earth’s gravity. In other words, the skateboard chassis 110 is typically provided with wheels, on a lower side, in contact with a surface, such as a road. The load unit 130 is positioned on / resting an opposite / upper side of the skateboard chassis 110, such that the skateboard chassis 110 is positioned between the (road) surface and the load unit 130.Fig. 2 shows further details of the vehicle 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.In fig. 2 it is shown that the skateboard chassis 110 comprises a first load carrying structure 111. It is understood that the skateboard chassis 110 may comprise multiple load carrying structures, optionally interconnected, without departing from the present disclosure.In fig. 2 it is further shown that the load unit 130 comprises a second load carrying structure 131 and is further configured to hold load. It is understood that the load unit 130 may comprise multiple load carrying structures, optionally interconnected, without departing from the present disclosure.The load unit 130 is stacked vertically on top of the skateboard chassis 110 and is further mechanically coupled to the skateboard chassis 110 via a predefined interface 120. 14. The predefined interface 120 may comprise mounting points in a predefined pattern of the skateboard chassis 110 and / or a plurality of fastening units 121-123 and / or and mounting points of the load unit 130 arranged in the predefined pattern matching corresponding mounting points of the skateboard chassis 110.In one non-limiting example, the mounting points are through holes and the fastening units are bolts and nuts.The fastening units 121-123 may comprise fixed connections such as bolts, clamps or other suitable fixed connection elements.Additionally, or alternatively, the fastening units 121-123 may comprise releasable connections, such as actuated hooks, twist lock (typically used as cargo / freight container connection device or other suitable releasable connection elements.The first load carrying structure 111 of the skateboard chassis 110 and the second load carrying structure 131 of the load unit 130, when being mechanically coupled via the predefined interface 120, are in the present disclosure designed to support the usage profile and the load distribution profile of the vehicle 100.In one example, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of transport application of the vehicle 100 and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle 100 is used, e.g., an E-road in Sweden. In one example, roads in various countries may be classified according to quality and / or roughness subjecting a vehicle to vibrations.In one further example, the load distribution profile is indicative of weight of a target load and distribution of the target load within a volume defined by an outline of the load unit 130.In one example, the transport application is passenger transport / bus operating in Sweden, and having a nominal number of passengers and their estimated position within the load unit or cabin is provided by the load distribution profile. This is further described in relation to Fig. 5.In a further example, the transport application is volume cargo, such as a box truck, operating in Sweden, and having total weight, load height and width are provided by the load distribution profile. This is further described in relation to Fig. 6.In a further example, the transport application is cargo container transport using standardized containers and operating in Sweden, and having total weight, load height and width is provided by the load distribution profile. This is further described in relation to Fig. 7.Fig. 3 shows an example of a first load carrying structure 111 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.The first load carrying structure 111 is typically comprised in the skateboard chassis 110 and provides structural support for components of the skateboard chassis 110 and / or optionally additional load.In one example, the first load carrying structure 111 is dimensioned to support operation of the skateboard chassis 110 on its own without additional load, e.g., originating from carrying cargo.Fig. 4 shows an example of a second load carrying structure 131 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The second load carrying structure 131 forms a part of the load unit 130.The main function of the second load carrying structure 131 of the load unit 130 is to support the load carried by the vehicle 100, together with first load carrying structure 111 of the skateboard chassis 110. In other words, the second load carrying structure 131 forms an integrated load support, when being mechanically coupled to the first load carrying structure 111 via the predefined interface 120.Fig. 5 shows an example of a vehicle configured to carry passengers according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.In the example shown in Fig. 5, the vehicle 100 is configured as an autonomous people carrier or bus. In other words, the load unit 130 is configured for passenger transport.The vehicle 100 is configured support a particular usage profile and the load distribution profile.In one example, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of a passenger transport application on roads in Sweden. The roads in various countries may be classified according to quality and / or roughness subjecting a vehicle to vibrations. The load distribution profile indicates a nominal number of seated passengers and standing passengers. In Fig. 5. it can be seen that seated passengers are located at the ends of the vehicle, and standing passengers are located at the center of the vehicle.Fig. 6 shows an example of a vehicle 100 configured to carry volume cargo according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.In the example shown in Fig. 6, the vehicle 100 is configured as a box van. In other words, the load unit 130 is configured for transport of volume cargo / boxes. This is a typical application for couriers or delivery services.The vehicle 100 is configured support a particular usage profile and the load distribution profile.In one example, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of a volume cargo application on roads in Sweden. The roads in various countries are be classified according to quality and / or roughness subjecting a vehicle to vibrations. The load distribution profile indicates a uniformly distributed load within the cargo area. In Fig. 6. it can be seen that the cargo area is essentially a cuboid where boxes may be stowed.Fig. 7 shows an example of a vehicle 100 configured to carry passengers according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.In the example shown in Fig. 7, the vehicle 100 is configured for transport of cargo / freight containers. This is a typical application in a harbor or a freight terminal.The vehicle 100 is configured support a particular usage profile and the load distribution profile.In one example, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of cargo / freight containers on roads in Sweden. The roads in various countries are be classified according to quality and / or roughness subjecting a vehicle to vibrations. The load distribution profile indicates a maximum load and a uniform load distribution.Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of a method 800 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The method is a manufacturing method of a vehicle 100 configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile. The vehicle 100 comprises a skateboard chassis 110 and a load unit 130. The skateboard chassis (110) comprises a first load carrying structure 111 and the load unit 130 comprises a second load carrying structure 131. the method comprises:Step 810: obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile.In one example, the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile are retrieved from a database stored in a cloud server.In one embodiment, the load distribution profile is indicative of weight of a target load and distribution of the target load within a volume defined by an outline of the load unit 130.In one embodiment, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of transport application of the vehicle 100 and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle 100 is used.Step 820: comparing the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile to first load carrying characteristics of the first load carrying structure.In one embodiment, the step of comparing the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile further comprises:deriving target load carrying characteristics from the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile, and determining residual load carrying characteristics as a difference between the target load carrying characteristics and the first load carrying characteristics. In one example, the target load carrying characteristics is indicative of a static target load mainly originating from the load (maximum load) and a dynamic target load manly originating from vibrations caused by the road surface. A vehicle may e.g., be tasked to operate as a carrier for volume cargo of 3 tons, where the load is uniformly distributed over the floor of the cargo area and operating on roads with a particular roughness factor causing vibrations in the vehicle. A maximum target load may then be determined as part of the target load carrying characteristics as a sum of the 3 tons of cargo and the weight of the load unit 130 scaled using the roughness factor. The uniform load distribution may be assumed as target load distribution further as part of the target load carrying characteristics.Step 830: determining second load carrying characteristics of the second load carrying structure 131 using results of the preceding step of comparing.In one embodiment, the step of determining second load carrying characteristics further comprises:dimensioning the second load carrying structure 131 for a use case where the first load carrying structure 111 and the second load carrying structure 131 are mechanically coupled via the predefined interface 120 to meet but not to exceed the residual load carrying characteristics, and deriving second load carrying characteristics from the dimensioned second load carrying structure 131.This way, second load carrying structure 131 is substantially optimally adapted to the use case. In other words, if the vehicle is reconfigured from a configuration for transporting a relatively heavy cargo / freight container, as shown in relation to Fig. 7 to transporting relatively light volume cargo, as shown in relation to Fig. 6.In one embodiment, the target load carrying characteristics is at least indicative of deformation characteristics and vibration characteristics of the vehicle 100 when subjected to use according to the vehicle usage profile and subjected to load according to the load distribution profile.In one embodiment, the step of determining second load carrying characteristics further comprises simultaneously includes a selection of any of minimizing material usage, minimizing assembly time, minimizing cost, minimizing CO2 impact and minimizing weight.Step 840: obtaining the skateboard chassis 110 with the first load carrying characteristics. The skateboard chassis 110 may e.g. be obtained by manufacturing or by retrieving the skateboard chassis 110 from a warehouse.Step 850: obtaining the load unit 130 with the determined load carrying characteristics.The skateboard chassis 110 may e.g. be obtained by manufacturing the skateboard chassis 110 to the determined load carrying characteristics or by retrieving the skateboard chassis 1 10 having the determined load carrying characteristics from a warehouse.Step 860: manufacturing the vehicle 100 by mechanically coupling the skateboard chassis 110 to the load unit 130 using a predefined interface 120.Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of a method 900 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The method is a computer-implemented method to dimension a vehicle 100 that is configured to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, the vehicle 100 comprising a skateboard chassis 110 and a load unit 130 mechanically coupled via a predefined interface 120, the skateboard chassis 110 comprising a first load carrying structure 111 and the load unit 130 comprising a second load carrying structure 131 , the method comprising:Step 910: obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile.In one example, the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile are retrieved from a database stored in a cloud server.In one embodiment, the load distribution profile is indicative of weight of a target load and distribution of the target load within a volume defined by an outline of the load unit 130.In one embodiment, the vehicle usage profile is indicative of transport application of the vehicle 100 and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle 100 is used.Step 920: deriving target load carrying characteristics from the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile.In one example, the target load carrying characteristics is indicative of a static target load mainly originating from the load (maximum load) and a dynamic target load manly originating from vibrations caused by the road surface. A vehicle may e.g., be tasked to operate as a carrier for volume cargo of 3 tons, where the load is uniformly distributed over the floor of the cargo area and operating on roads with a particular roughness factor causing vibrations in the vehicle. A maximum target load may then be determined as part of the target load carrying characteristics as a sum of the 3 tons of cargo and the weight of the load unit 130 scaled using the roughness factor. The uniform load distribution may be assumed as target load distribution further as part of the target load carrying characteristics.In one embodiment, the target load carrying characteristics is at least indicative of deformation characteristics and vibration characteristics of the vehicle 100 when subjected to use according to the vehicle usage profile and subjected to load according to the load distribution profile.Step 930: determining residual load carrying characteristics as a difference between the target load carrying characteristics and first load carrying characteristics of the skateboard chassis 110.In one example, the first load carrying characteristics of the skateboard chassis 110 are known or predefined, and may be retrieved from memory or from an external node, such as a cloud storage.Step 940: dimensioning the vehicle 100 by dimensioning the second load carrying structure 131 to meet but not to exceed the residual load carrying characteristics, for a use case where the first load carrying structure 111 and the second load carrying structure 131 are mechanically coupled via the predefined interface 120.In one embodiment, the step 940 of dimensioning the vehicle 100 further comprises a selection of any of minimizing material usage, minimizing assembly time, minimizing cost, minimizing CO2 impact and minimizing weight.Fig. 10 shows a computer 1000 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer may e.g., be in the form of or comprised by an Electronic Control Unit, a server, an on-board computer, a control arrangement, a vehicle mounted computer system or a navigation device.The computer may e.g., be in the form of any hardware or hardware / firmware device implemented using processing circuity such as, but not limited to, a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit, or any other device capable of electronically performing operations in a defined manner.The computer may comprise a processor or processing means 1012 communicatively coupled to a transceiver 1004 configured for wired or wireless communication. Further, the computer may further comprise at least one optional antenna (not shown in figure). The antenna may be coupled to the transceiver 1004 and is configured to transmit and / or emit and / or receive wireless signals in a wireless communication system, e.g., wireless signals comprising data. In one example, the processor 1012 may be any of a selection of processing circuitry and / or a central processing unit and / or processor modules and / or multiple processors configured to cooperate with each-other. Further, the computer may further comprise a memory 1015. The memory 1015 may contain instructions executable by the processor to perform any of the methods described herein. The memory and / or computer-readable storage medium referred to herein may comprise of essentially any memory, such as a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable PROM), a Flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), or a hard disk drive.In a further embodiment, the computer may further comprise and / or be coupled to one or more sensors configured to e.g., receive and / or obtain and / or measure physical properties pertaining to the system 100 or vehicle 100 and send one or more sensor signals indicative of the physical properties to the processing means 1012.In one or more embodiments the computer may further comprise an input device 1017, configured to receive input or indications from a user and send a user-input signal indicative of the user input or indications to the processor or processing means 1012.In one or more embodiments the computer may further comprise a display 1018 configured to receive a display signal indicative of rendered objects, such as text or graphical user input objects, from the processor or processing means 1012 and to display the received signal as objects, such as text or graphical user input objects.In one embodiment the display 1018 is integrated with the user input device 1017 and is configured to receive a display signal indicative of rendered objects, such as text or graphical user input objects, from the processing means 1012 and to display the received signal as objects, such as text or graphical user input objects, and / or configured to receive input or indications from a user and send a user-input signal indicative of the user input or indications to the processing means 1012.In embodiments, the processing means 1012 is communicatively coupled to a selection of any of the memory 1015 and / or the communications interface and / or transceiver and / or the input device 1017 and / or the display 1018 and / or the one or more sensors. In embodiments, the transceiver 1004 communicates using wired and / or wireless communication techniques. The wired or wireless communication techniques may comprise any of a CAN bus, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GSM, UMTS, LTE or LTE advanced communications network or any other wired or wireless communication network known in the art.The control arrangement, CA, described herein may comprise al or a selection of the features described in relation to Fig. 10. The computer 1000 may be comprised in the control arrangement, CA.In one embodiment, a control arrangement is provided, the control arrangement comprising:a processor, and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor, whereby said control arrangement is operative to perform any of the methods described herein.In one embodiment, a computer program / program product is provided and comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the methods described herein.In one embodiment, a computer-readable medium is provided and comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the methods described herein.In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory computerreadable medium, such as a tangible electronic, magnetic, optical, infrared, electromagnetic, and / or semiconductor system, apparatus, and / or device.The computer may be any hardware or hardware / firmware device implemented using processing circuity such as, but not limited to, a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit, or any other device capable of electronically performing operations in a defined manner.In embodiments, the communications network communicate using wired or wireless communication techniques that may include at least one of a Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Global System for Mobile Network (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, Long term evolution, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, Wi-Fi, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), LTE Advanced, IEEE802.16m, Wireless MAN-Advanced, Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) (formerly Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Rev. C), Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Flash-OFDM), High Capacity Spatial Division Multiple Access (iBurst®) and Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) (IEEE 802.20) systems, High Performance Radio Metropolitan Area Network (HIPERMAN), Beam-Division Multiple Access (BDMA), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-MAX) and ultrasonic communication, etc., but is not limited thereto.Moreover, it is realized by the skilled person that the system and / or devices described herein may comprise the necessary communication capabilities in the form of e.g., functions, means, units, elements, etc., for performing the present solution. Examples of other such means, units, elements and functions are: processors, memory, buffers, control logic, encoders, decoders, rate matchers, de-rate matchers, mapping units, multipliers, decision units, selecting units, switches, interleavers, de-interleavers, modulators, demodulators, inputs, outputs, antennas, amplifiers, receiver units, transmitter units, DSPs, MSDs, encoder, decoder, power supply units, power feeders, communication interfaces, communication protocols, etc. which are suitably arranged together for performing the present solution.Especially, the processor and / or processing means of the present disclosure may comprise one or more instances of processing circuitry, processor modules and multiple processors configured to cooperate with each-other, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a processing unit, a processing circuit, a processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. The expression “processor” and / or “processing means” may thus represent a processing circuitry comprising a plurality of processing circuits, such as, e.g., any, some or all of the ones mentioned above. The processing means may further perform data processing functions for inputting, outputting, and processing of data comprising data buffering and device control functions, such as call processing control, user interface control, or the like.Finally, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope of the appended independent claims.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented manufacturing method for a vehicle (100) designed to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, the vehicle (100) comprising a skateboard chassis (110) and a load unit (130), the skateboard chassis (110) comprising a first load-bearing structure (111) and the load unit (130) comprising a second load-bearing structure (131), the method comprising:obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile,comparison of the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile with the initial load-bearing properties of the initial load-bearing structure,determining other load-bearing properties of the second load-bearing structure (131) using results from the previous comparison step,obtaining the skateboard chassis (110) with the first load-bearing properties, obtaining the load unit (130) with the determined second load-bearing properties, manufacturing the vehicle (100) by mechanically coupling the skateboard chassis (110) to the load unit (130) using a predefined interface (120),wherein the step of comparing the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile further comprises:derivation of load-bearing target characteristics from the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile,determination of the remaining load-bearing properties as a difference between the target load-bearing properties and the initial load-bearing properties, and characterized bythe step of determining other load-bearing properties further includes:dimensioning the second load-bearing structure (131) for a use case where the first load-bearing structure (111) and the second load-bearing structure (131) are mechanically coupled via the predefined interface (120) to meet but not exceed the remaining load-bearing properties,derivation of other load-bearing properties from the dimensioned other load-bearing structure (131).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target load-bearing properties at least indicate deformation properties and vibration properties of the vehicle (100) when subjected to use according to the vehicle use profile and subjected to loading according to the load distribution profile.

3. Method according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the step of determining other load-bearing properties simultaneously comprises a selection of any of the following: minimization of material use, minimization of assembly time, minimization of cost, minimization of CO2 impact and minimization of weight.

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the load distribution profile indicates the weight of a target load and the distribution of the target load within a volume defined by a contour of the load unit (130).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the vehicle usage profile indicates the transport application of the vehicle (100) and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle (100) is used.

6. A computer-implemented method for dimensioning a vehicle (100) designed to support a vehicle usage profile and a load distribution profile, wherein the vehicle (100) comprises a skateboard chassis (110) and a load unit (130) mechanically coupled via a predefined interface (120), wherein the skateboard chassis (110) comprises a first load-bearing structure (111) and the load unit (130) comprises a second load-bearing structure (131), wherein the method is characterized by:obtaining the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile,derivation of load-bearing target characteristics from the vehicle usage profile and the load distribution profile,determining the remaining load-bearing properties as a difference between the target load-bearing properties and the initial load-bearing properties of the skateboard chassis (110),dimensioning the vehicle (100) by dimensioning the second load-bearing structure (131) for a use case where the first load-bearing structure (111) and the second load-bearing structure (131) are mechanically coupled via the predefined interface (120) to meet but not exceed the remaining load-bearing characteristics.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the target load-bearing properties at least indicate deformation properties and vibration properties of the vehicle (100) when subjected to use according to the vehicle use profile and subjected to loading according to the load distribution profile.

8. Method according to any one of claims 6-7, wherein the method further comprises a selection of any of the following: minimization of material use, minimization of assembly time, minimization of cost, minimization of CO2 impact and minimization of weight.

9. The method of any one of claims 6-8, wherein the load distribution profile indicates the weight of a target load and the distribution of the target load within a volume defined by a contour of the load unit (130).

10. Method according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the vehicle usage profile indicates the transport application of the vehicle (100) and / or vibrations from roads on which the vehicle (100) is used.

11. Control device, wherein the control device comprises: a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions that can be executed by said processor, whereby said control device can perform any of the methods according to claims 1-5 or 6-10.