Visualising Lighting Simulations for Automotive Design Evaluations using Emerging Technologies by Fernando Murguía Meca Document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2019 Acknowledgments The author would like to thank all the people involved in one way or another in this research, for their contribution or support along the way. First, thank you Caro for your unconditional love and motivation to keep pushing. I would probably have never done it without you. Thanks to my supervisor Alex for his guidance and advice throughout these 4 years, I truly appreciate it. To Matt, Mike, Nadia and Guillaume for always being available and willing to help. To all my colleagues at WMG for the good laughs, coffee and for keeping good company, you made it easier to carry on. Thanks to the Optical Computer Assisted Engineering and Virtual Visualisation Development teams at Gaydon for their willingness and support, specially to Claire for her good advice. And finally, to my family for always being there and encourage me to always be better. ii Abstract Automotive design visualisation is at a turning point with the commercial development of immersive technologies such as virtual reality, among other displays and visual interfaces. A fundamental objective of this research is to assess how seamlessly the integration of emerging visualisation technologies can be implemented into the new product development methodologies, with the use of lighting simulation, design review applications and the use of immersive hardware and software. Optical automotive considerations such as display legibility, veiling glare, and perceived quality among other current processes of Systemic Optical Failure (SOF) modes are analysed, to determine how the application of new immersive visualisation technologies could improve the efficiency of new product development, in particular reducing time and cost in early stages while improving decision making and quality. Different hardware and software combinations were investigated in terms of their ability to realistically represent design intent. Following on from this investigation, a user study was carried out with subjects from various automotive engineering disciplines, to evaluate a range of potential solutions. Recommendations are then made as to how these solutions could be deployed within the automotive new product development process to deliver maximum value. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments ......................................................................................... ii Abstract ....................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ......................................................................................... iv List of Figures .............................................................................................. vii List of Tables ................................................................................................. x List of Acronyms .......................................................................................... xii Mathematical and light units ..................................................................... xiv Declaration ................................................................................................. xv 1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 2 Defining the challenge. Automotive Visualisation Considerations .......... 4 2.1 Lighting Simulation and Visualisation Packages........................................................ 4 2.2 Perceived Quality in New Product Development ..................................................... 6 2.3 In-vehicle Visualisation Interfaces and Displays ....................................................... 8 2.4 Automotive Interior Optical Evaluations ................................................................ 10 2.5 Visualisation Hardware and Software ..................................................................... 11 2.5.1 Augmented and Virtual Reality ........................................................................ 14 2.5.2 Artificial Intelligence ........................................................................................ 16 2.6 Visualisation & Simulation in New Product Development, Product Lifecycle Management and Decision Making ................................................................................... 17 2.7 Optical Principles Lighting, Photometry, and C.I.E. ................................................. 20 2.7.1 Colorimetry ...................................................................................................... 24 2.7.2 Light & Materials Interaction ........................................................................... 28 2.7.3 Contrast ............................................................................................................ 30 2.7.4 Glare ................................................................................................................. 30 2.7.5 Veiling Glare ..................................................................................................... 31 2.8 Defining Realism and Measuring Perceptual Quality ............................................. 33 3 Visual Simulation Prioritisation ............................................................. 34 3.1 Visualisation Context ............................................................................................... 34 3.1.1 Systemic Optical Failure (SOF) Modes ............................................................. 36 3.1.2 Project Prioritisation ........................................................................................ 40 iv 3.1.3 Process Mapping .............................................................................................. 44 3.2 Discussion and Issues Identification ........................................................................ 46 4 The Research Question and Objectives .................................................. 48 4.1 Modelling and Communicating Light in New Product Development ..................... 48 4.2 Knowledge Gaps ...................................................................................................... 50 4.3 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 51 4.4 Objectives ................................................................................................................ 52 5 Methodology ......................................................................................... 53 6 Optical Simulation Study and Visualisation Comparison ........................ 57 6.1 Data Preparation Workflow .................................................................................... 57 6.1.1 Geometry setting and classification ................................................................ 58 6.1.2 Material Characterisation and Application ...................................................... 60 6.1.3 Ambient Sources and Viewpoints .................................................................... 63 6.2 Reflection Study, Veiling Glare and PJND ............................................................... 66 6.2.1 Reflections from Components and Surfaces in Windscreen, Glossy Components in DLO and Direct Glare. ........................................................................... 67 6.2.2 Reflection of Illuminated Components in Sideview Mirror Zone .................... 69 6.2.3 Reflections of Glossy Components in DLO ....................................................... 70 6.2.4 Direct Glare ...................................................................................................... 71 6.2.5 Veiling Glare ..................................................................................................... 73 6.2.6 HLDF Performance and PJND Legibility ........................................................... 75 6.3 Imaging Comparison ............................................................................................... 77 7 Real Environment vs Simulation Verification ......................................... 79 7.1.1 Study Limitations ............................................................................................. 79 7.1.2 Method and Setup ........................................................................................... 79 7.1.3 Environment..................................................................................................... 80 7.1.4 Visualisations and Results ................................................................................ 85 8 Visual Outputs and Technology Adoption .............................................. 91 8.1 Pilot WMG Visualisation Trial. Shaping JLR’s Trial. ................................................. 92 8.2 Visualisation Trial .................................................................................................... 94 8.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 94 8.2.2 Objectives......................................................................................................... 94 8.2.3 Design Methodology ........................................................................................ 95 v 8.3 Initial Results and Data Analysis ...........................................................................