Abstract
Keywords - Model-based System Interaction Specification, Prototyping, Virtual Reality, HMI Development Process, Automated Testing
Porsche has geared its process chain in the HMI areas of prototyping, specification and testing - with the aim of reducing the development time, confirming decisions at an early project stage and guaranteeing a high quality level. When creating HMI prototypes and HMI-specifications a paradigm change takes place. The currently used mere office documentation is more and more replaced by machine-readable model-based system specifications. The resulting models can be used to simulate both, graphical user interfaces and suppliers´ target specifications.
This presentation shows the HMI prototyping chain including everything from user-interface simulation through mock-up and driving-simulator integration up to 3D stereo HMI virtualreality environments. 3D HMI VR allows engineers to virtually integrate all aspects of design, behaviour, hardware exterior, and ergonomics which make up a top-quality man-machine interface provided that they are correctly combined.
By using 3D visualization tools, which are integrated directly into the car exterior and interior design, complete top-quality 3D models can be made available at a very early project stage already. There are various interfaces which make it possible to directly transfer arbitrary image generators - such as a HMI computer simulation, into the 3D visualization environment where they can be evaluated and also controlled. Interaction is guaranteed by a feedback channel which provides objects within the three-dimensional representation in order to trigger control operations. In combination with stereo projection and head-tracking, highly realistic presentations as well as interactive operations are possible.
The focus is on realizing a consistent development chain based on the synergetic combination of model-based HMI specification and HMI prototyping, and on utilizing those models in 3D visualization and HMI testing such as the Porsche Communication Management System PCM, for example.