Design and optimization of reconfigurable vehicle platforms

Continuous advancements in technology have resulted in customers expecting enhanced performance across a variety of diverse and changing operating conditions. When multiple system objectives exist, traditional design techniques incorporate tradeoffs to reach a final design. In this paper, the desire to meet a variety of system objectives is accomplished through the design of reconfigurable systems. Reconfigurable systems are capable of undergoing changes to their configuration to meet new objectives, function effectively in varying operating environments, and deliver value in dynamic market conditions. However, permitting such changes to a system increases complexity and cost, from both a monetary perspective and allocation of resources. If this increase is too large, only a subset of design variables can be made adaptable, making the need for incorporating product platforming apparent. The intelligent design of a core architecture to accommodate the changing number of adaptable design variables allows for broader applications when technical and economic constraints are present. To illustrate this approach, a case study involving the design and optimization of a reconfigurable race car is introduced. The performance of this vehicle is assessed on different racetracks, with the overall goal being the minimization of the time required to traverse each track section. The results from this case study demonstrate the effectiveness of combining reconfigurable system design with product platforming techniques to achieve individualized products that meet the many demands of the consumer.