Optimal routing design of wires and pipes in a commercial vehicle using genetic algorithm

Abstract

Recently, due to development of electric vehicle and autonomous driving system, a lot of electrical components are added to vehicles. As number of electrical components increases, wires needed to operate the components increases and occupies considerable portion of vehicle weight. Therefore, weight reduction of wires and pipes is necessary work for weight reduction of vehicle. However, due to limited design space and complexity of wires and pipes, it is hard to accomplished by intuition of engineers. In this research, optimal routing design of commercial vehicle which minimizes length of wires and pipes is determined though modified genetic algorithm. Branch-pipe-routing method1) utilizes maze algorithm and genetic algorithm is employed to derive optimal routing of wires and pipes. Design space of routing represented by cell is achieved by wrapping CAD model of commercial vehicle chassis. Optimal routing of brake tube, heater hose, air conditioner hose and wires is derived considering length, obstacles and overlapping. Validity of the routing design is assessed though Hyundai Motor Company’s commercial vehicle example.