Evaluation of the PVM Methodology to Evaluate Vehicle Interior Packages 2004-01-0370

Programmable vehicle models (PVMs) are intended to save time and costs in building bucks to evaluate vehicle interior packages. This paper presents results from a series of three studies conducted to determine the applicability and limitations of the methodology of using a PVM. The PVM used for the study was built by Prefix Corporation and has forty-two axes of adjustments. The first study verified the PVM's ability to reproduce dimensions. It showed that the PVM was acceptably accurate, with most dimension measurement ranges less than 2-3 mm. The second study was conducted to determine if subject responses are reliable indicators of package differences. Aside from some special causes, most were found to be. The third study was conducted to determine how well the PVM replicated 3 actual vehicles. Despite some dimensional discrepancies, there was evidence of correlation between subject responses from the PVM and actual vehicles.