Thesis Work - Quantification metrics to evaluate visual vibrations based on user perception analysis i Göteborg

Thesis Worker at Volvo Cars

Welcome to explore the world of Volvo Cars by writing your thesis with us! As a thesis worker in our organization you are supported by a supervisor who follows you during your project. All thesis projects are arranged in business critical areas and therefore you will be able to contribute to our company purpose – providing freedom to move in a safe, sustainable and personal way – from day one! 

Background

At Volvo Car’s Research & Development, you will be a contributor to the next generation of outstanding premium cars from Volvo, together with other engineers around the world by creating innovative human-centric car technology that makes life less complicated and more enjoyable for people. 
 

Solidity, as an important attribute within Personal Driving Experience Centre, is responsible for avoiding Squeak & Rattle sounds (S&R) and securing the solid feeling in the car. The scope of our activities is to secure our attribute throughout the whole development and production process. It stretches from early development activities, such as concept studies and requirement setting to virtual and physical product verification and even after production launch quality improvements. Today, one of our major challenges is to improve our competence in using robust design concepts in early phases to meet shorter lead time by avoiding the late design changes throughout the development phases and reducing the need for physical complete vehicle prototypes. 

Scope    
Nowadays, in the automotive industry, digitalisation is sweeping out the traditional infotainment systems in passenger cars. The mirrors, gauges, simple displays and switches are gradually being replaced by digital solutions embedded in high-resolution screens. Most of these infotainment systems and user interfaces will be used during driving events and while driving the car. Hence, it is essential to evaluate their display quality when excited by relevant dynamic loads and under different operational conditions. In this work, it will be tried to develop methods to enable the quantified evaluation and verification of the visual vibration of the side rearview mirror of a car. This work aims at studying the sensitivity of humans to different vibration levels and types in the outer rearview mirrors, and then, setting objective requirement levels concerning the outcomes of the study. After determining the quality levels for the objective metrics, it will be tried to analyse the required fidelity level of the corresponding CAE models to enable a robust estimation of the mirror dynamic response. 

Method
The project comprises two major activities 
1)    Running a clinic (a user survey) to capture users' perceptions by using available equipment in a test rig. If required hardware and software modifications and updates should be done to improve the clinic quality. The results of the clinic will be used to identify the important response parameters and their levels by doing data analysis.
2)    Finite element models of the side door will be used to calculate the dynamic response at the mirror location. A model parameter study is required to identify the essential modelling components to support a robust prediction of the mirror response. For this purpose, a model validation with reference to the physical behaviour of the mirror system might be required.
      

Objectives    
The main objectives of the work are:
•    To identify parameters from the dynamic response of the mirror system that correlate the best with the perceived quality of the mirror by the car users
•    To define thresholds for the identified parameters that correspond to the perceived quality levels by the users. 
•    To determine the required modelling details for the adequacy of the virtual simulation results to robustly capture the identified quality parameters, by investigating the finite element modelling parameters through virtual analysis.

Project Outline
The exact outline of tasks in the project will be decided together with the master's students upon the beginning of the thesis work. 
•    A Literature review of previous studies on visual vibration quantification with a focus on the automotive industries but also in other applications.
•    Plan the clinic (user survey) and required activities, pre and post event
•    Prepare the hardware and software for conducting the clinic
•    Conducting the clinic and collecting different data according to the plan
•    Data analyses to identify the most important response parameters and their levels 
•    Prepare representative finite element models of the mirror and door system based on the reference models provided by Volvo Car Corporation
•    Study the sensitivity of the mirror response to modelling parameters in virtual finite element simulations 
•    Write the final report
•    Present the results at Volvo Car Corporation

Your contribution is our future
•    Passionate for cars, especially noise and vibration or strength and endurance
•    Eager to take on responsibility for planning and conducting both physical testing and virtual analysis
•    Understanding linear finite element, modal analysis and structural dynamics
•    Interested in working with user survey data and data analysis
•    Previous experience in using FE pre-processors such as Ansa is meritorious

Means
Office, workshop, computer, test equipment, software and main models will be arranged by Volvo Cars or the university.

Duration
•    The project is suited for two students (it amounts to 30 ECTS credits for each student). 
•    The work is planned for about 20 full-time working weeks for each student 
•    Estimated start date: January 2023 according to the agreement

Be part of the change – apply today!
If you are interested, please apply, by sending the following documents within your application: 
•    CV and a Cover letter highlighting your skills and knowledge required to perform this task
•    Grades, especially for related courses at university

Please note that due to GDPR, applications via email will not be accepted.

Apply by 2022-11-15.

For questions about the thesis work, please contact Mohsen Bayani, mohsen.bayani@volvocars.com or Anneli Rosell, anneli.rosell@volvocars.com.

We are Volvo Cars 
Volvo Cars is a company on a mission to bring traditional car manufacturing into a connected, sustainable and smart future. Since 1927, we've been known for our commitment to safety and for creating innovative cars that make life less complicated. In 2010, we decided to radically redefine our business, resulting in a totally new generation of cars and technology, as well as steady growth and record sales - and we're only getting started. By 2025, we aim to have yearly sales of 1.2 million cars, 50% of which will be electric vehicles and sold directly to customers through digital channels. We also intend to strengthen our position as a modern, progressive employer committed to diversity and gender and racial equality. We believe in the power of people. Join us and be part of Volvo Cars' transformation.