Modular Vehicle Body Platform With Standardized Structural Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern automobiles face limited variant diversity due to the need for significant redesigns and increased costs when accommodating different propulsion systems, HVAC systems, and electronic systems, leading to higher production costs and shorter service lives.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body platform with modular body modules, including passenger, front, rear, and extension modules, featuring standardized structural interfaces for easy interconnection and customization, allowing for diverse vehicle architectures and powertrain configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional vehicle designs use integrated body structures to ensure structural integrity and safety, then passenger safety and structural stability are improved, but vehicle complexity increases and adaptability to different propulsion systems decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger safetyVSAvoidadaptability to different propulsion systems
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle body is divided into modular body modules (front body module, passenger body module, rear body module) that can be independently designed, manufactured, and assembled. Each module has standardized structural interfaces that enable flexible reconfiguration for different propulsion systems while maintaining overall structural integrity and passenger safety through controlled load transfer paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized structural interfaces are designed to be universal across different body module configurations and propulsion system types. The same interface design accommodates various engine positions (front, mid, rear), drivetrain layouts, and vehicle architectures, enabling a single platform to serve multiple vehicle variants without compromising safety or structural performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If conventional vehicle designs integrate multiple systems (HVAC, electronic systems, propulsion systems) into the body structure, then system integration and structural stability are improved, but production costs increase and service life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle body is segmented into standardized modular body modules with defined interfaces, allowing each module to be manufactured independently using optimized processes. This segmentation enables parallel production, reduced tooling costs, and simplified assembly, thereby lowering overall production costs while maintaining structural stability through controlled load transfer paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized structural interfaces are designed with optimized geometric parameters and material specifications that enable consistent manufacturing across different modules. These parameter standards allow for economies of scale in production while ensuring structural integrity and stability throughout the vehicle body assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional vehicle designs use standardized body structures to reduce production costs, then manufacturing efficiency and cost are improved, but vehicle complexity increases and adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle body is divided into a limited number of standardized body modules (front, passenger, rear) with clearly defined functions and interfaces. This segmentation reduces overall vehicle complexity by breaking down the complex integrated structure into manageable, standardized components that are easier to manufacture, assemble, and maintain, while still allowing for diverse vehicle configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3713816B1Vehicle body platform for an automobile and automobile comprising such a vehicle body platform
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 PIECH DESIGN & ENG AG
  • EP3713816B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3713816B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3713816B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention is directed to a vehicle body platform (1) for an automobile, comprising a passenger body module (100) having a front structural interface (110) and a rear structural interface (120). The vehicle body platform further comprises a front body module (200) having a rear structural interface (220) and a rear body module (300) comprising a front structural interface (310). The rear structural interface (220) of the front body module (200) and the front structural interface (110) of the passenger body module (100) are corresponding structural interfaces configured to mechanically interconnect the passenger body module (100) with the front body module (200) and the front structural interface (310) of the rear body module (300) and the rear structural interface (120) of the passenger body module (100) are corresponding structural interfaces configured to mechanically interconnect the passenger body module (100) with the rear body module (300).