Flattened Wiring Harness Views for 3D Route Split and Merge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design process for wiring harnesses is complex, cumbersome, inefficient, and prone to errors, particularly when splitting or merging route segments in a three-dimensional model, as changes made in a three-dimensional environment do not always translate accurately to the corresponding flattened two-dimensional representation.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method and system that generates a flattened, two-dimensional visual representation of a three-dimensional wiring harness model, allowing for modifications such as splitting or merging route segments while preserving the visual layout of the two-dimensional representation, ensuring consistency across iterations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the three-dimensional model is modified by splitting or merging route segments, then the design flexibility and adaptability are improved, but the consistency and accuracy of the flattened two-dimensional representation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects modifications to the three-dimensional model (splitting or merging of route segments) and triggers an update process that propagates these changes to the flattened two-dimensional representation. This feedback mechanism ensures that the two-dimensional view remains consistent with the three-dimensional model without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining representation accuracy while allowing design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and maintains a synchronized copy of the three-dimensional model in the flattened two-dimensional representation. When modifications are made to the three-dimensional model, the system updates the corresponding two-dimensional copy to reflect these changes accurately. This copying approach ensures that both representations remain consistent while allowing independent manipulation of the three-dimensional model for enhanced design flexibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the flattened representation is updated to reflect three-dimensional model modifications, then the data consistency is improved, but the workflow complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes the correspondence relationships between three-dimensional route segments and their two-dimensional representations during the initial model creation phase. This preliminary action includes setting up data structures that map three-dimensional coordinates and segment identifiers to their two-dimensional flattened equivalents. When modifications occur, the system can quickly locate and update the relevant two-dimensional elements using these pre-established mappings, thereby maintaining data consistency while minimizing update time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual updating processes with an automated computational mechanism. Instead of requiring users to manually update the flattened representation when modifying the three-dimensional model, the system uses algorithms to automatically detect changes, calculate the corresponding updates, and apply them to the two-dimensional view. This substitution of manual mechanical updating with automated computational processes significantly reduces update time while ensuring data consistency.
3Ease of operation
If manual updates are performed on the flattened representation, then the layout control is improved, but the error rate and rework increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the flattened two-dimensional representation to update itself automatically in response to modifications in the three-dimensional model. The automated update mechanism preserves the existing visual layout and formatting of the two-dimensional representation while seamlessly integrating the structural changes from the three-dimensional model. This self-service approach eliminates manual updating errors while maintaining layout integrity, as the system carefully manages the transformation process to preserve non-structural elements of the layout.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-based method includes generating, in a virtual two-dimensional viewing environment, a flattened, two-dimensional visual representation of an initial three-dimensional model of a wiring harness. The flattened representation has an initial visual layout in the virtual two-dimensional viewing environment. The method includes subsequently modifying the initial three-dimensional model in a virtual three-dimensional modeling environment to generate a modified three-dimensional model. The modifications include splitting a route segment or merging two route segments. The method includes generating, in the virtual two-dimensional viewing environment, a flattened, two-dimensional visual representation of the modified three-dimensional model, that visually represents either the split or the merge, and otherwise has the same visual layout as the flattened, two-dimensional representation of the initial three-dimensional model.