Haptic Object Testing with Virtual Twin Quality Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing complexity in managing product development and production, particularly in the automotive industry, necessitates a method to effectively measure both objective and subjective quality criteria, including tactile features, to meet customer needs flexibly and efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid quality inspection method involving a fully virtualized test bench coupled with a physical test bench, utilizing a robot-based system to simulate and integrate objective and subjective data, enabling virtual quality testing and optimization of physical prototypes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If physical prototypes are used for quality testing, then tactile features and subjective quality criteria can be evaluated, but development time and costs increase due to the need for extensive physical prototypes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality criteria evaluationVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy (digital twin) of the physical prototype that replicates its geometric and haptic properties. This virtual model allows quality testing and tactile feature evaluation without requiring physical prototypes, thereby reducing development time while maintaining measurement precision for subjective quality criteria

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs quality testing and evaluation in the virtual environment before physical prototypes are manufactured. By conducting preliminary virtual tests, the system identifies and resolves quality issues early in the design phase, avoiding the need for multiple physical prototype iterations and reducing overall development time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If physical prototypes are used for quality testing, then comprehensive quality assessment is possible, but the number of physical prototypes and associated costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality assessment accuracyVSAvoidnumber of physical prototypes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical prototypes with a virtual digital twin that accurately replicates the physical object's properties. This virtual copy enables comprehensive quality assessment including tactile feature evaluation without consuming physical materials, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing the quantity of physical prototypes to zero or minimal levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If robot-based measurement methods are used, then objective quality criteria can be measured reproducibly, but subjective tactile features and perception quality are difficult to assess

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reproducibilityVSAvoidsubjective quality assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges objective robot-based measurement methods with subjective human perception evaluation in a unified virtual testing environment. The system combines reproducible robotic measurements of physical properties with simulated human tactile perception algorithms, enabling simultaneous assessment of both objective quality criteria and subjective tactile features with high reliability and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3623885B1Method for haptic testing of an object
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 BATTENBERG GUNTHER
  • EP3623885B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the haptic testing of a physical object by means of a physical testing device through interaction between the physical testing device and the physical object, comprising the method steps of: - analyzing the physical testing device and generating a virtual testing device from the physical testing device, - providing a virtual object that corresponds to the physical object, - providing first data that is determined during an interaction between the virtual testing device and the virtual object, - using the first data for the interaction between the physical testing device and the physical object.