UKSE have completed a pilot study assessing the suitability of various path planning CAE tools for serviceability assessments. This study will form a basis for UKSE support across a range of current and future clients.

Path planning CAE tools are used to plot a route of an object through a three-dimensional digital environment without clashes, or within parameters of constrained clashes. As such, they have an obvious application in digital serviceability analysis, albeit with limitations.

UKSE have engaged in more than one assessment of available path planning tools, this most recent exercise conducted with support from more than one of UKSE’s prestigious automotive clients.

Current available tools were considered, with the key criteria for assessment being ease of use, speed to find a solved-path, the accuracy and repeatability of the result, and clarity in communicating to the user the status of the assessment. On this basis recommendations can be made to current and future clients with regard to the best solution for their particular business needs.