Embedded Sensor Vehicle Body Panels for Modular Feature Upgrades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle owners lack the option to upgrade to advanced electronic features like pre-collision avoidance and lane departure alerts after purchasing a vehicle, as these features are only available with specific trim levels and packages, due to customized wiring and body panels.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body panel system with embedded electronic devices that can communicate with the vehicle's control system, allowing for the addition or upgrade of advanced features regardless of the vehicle's original trim level or package, through interchangeable panels that include or exclude specific devices to support various functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic devices are customized for specific trim levels with dedicated wiring and body panels, then the reliability of the electronic features is improved, but the adaptability of the vehicle to different trim levels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The body panel is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate electronic devices for multiple trim levels. The panel includes standardized mounting features and wiring interfaces that support different sensor packages (e.g., pre-collision avoidance, lane departure alerts) without requiring custom panels for each trim level, enabling a single panel design to serve multiple functions across different vehicle configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device integration is segmented into modular components where sensors and their associated wiring are separated into discrete, interchangeable units. This allows the body panel to maintain a consistent structure while enabling customers to select and install different sensor packages based on their desired trim level features, rather than requiring fully customized panels for each configuration
2Manufacturing precision
If body panels are customized for different trim levels, then the manufacturing precision for each specific configuration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal body panel design replaces multiple customized panel variants. The panel incorporates standardized mounting structures, wiring harness interfaces, and sensor receptacles that can accommodate different electronic device configurations, thereby reducing the number of unique panel designs needed while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized production processes
Solution Approach 2:
The body panel system transitions from a static, trim-specific design to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. Sensors and electronic devices can be selectively installed or removed from the universal panel based on the desired trim level, allowing the system to adapt its configuration without requiring different physical panels for each trim level
3Reliability
If sensors are integrated into customized body panels for specific trim levels, then the reliability of sensor functionality is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor integration system is divided into modular components: a universal body panel structure, standardized mounting mechanisms, and interchangeable sensor packages. This segmentation allows manufacturers to produce the universal panel in high volume and then assemble different sensor configurations as needed, improving ease of manufacture compared to producing fully customized panels for each trim level while maintaining sensor reliability through standardized installation procedures
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle body panels and systems are described. A vehicle body panel may include at least one layer of material defining the vehicle body panel and one or more than one electronic device, where a portion of each electronic device is embedded within one or more than one of the at least one layer of material. Each electronic device may communicate with a control system or a vehicle control unit of the vehicle to support an advanced-feature functionality of the vehicle. At least one electronic device may include a first portion embedded within the one or more than one of the at least one layer of material. The first portion may be couplable to a second portion, not embedded within the material, where the first portion upon being coupled to the second portion communicates with the control system or the vehicle control unit of the vehicle to support the advanced-feature functionality.