Customer Usage Profile based Luggage Compartment Development at Concept Phase

The SAE J1100 based standard cargo volume index methods and predefined luggage objects are very specific to United States population. The European luggage volume calculation and standard luggage calculations are primarily based on DIN and ISO standards. Luggage volume declaration by manufacturers are based on any of these methods. The calculations are complicated and there is a possibility of declaring different values for similar luggage compartments. The major purchase decision of vehicle is based on its luggage capacity and current methods are very limited to make an intelligent decision by a customer. Market specific customer usage patterns for luggage requirements and protecting them in vehicle architecture upfront in concept stage is important to retain the market position and buying preference of customers. The usage patterns is collected from customer clinics and marketing inputs. These patterns are used to build virtual luggage models representing the actual luggage at different scenarios like Travel to airport, Casual drive etc. These blocks are stacked up in the proposed luggage area to identify the packaging and Ergonomics issues and suitable design corrective action is taken to ensure the actual luggage accommodation is protected inside the vehicle at concept phase. During concept stage, the initial luggage volume is decided based on the vehicle segment. Then the different user scenario is built and virtual luggage models representing the actual condition are evaluated in the initial luggage volume area. The modification is done as per the evaluation results and the luggage compartment dimensions are finalized in vehicle architecture. This paper describes the virtual ergonomic methodology developed based on actual luggage space requirements depending on the target population usage pattern and protecting the design space for luggage area in the concept phase of the vehicle design.