A method to assist designers in optimizing the exterior styling of vehicles based on key features

Aiming to assist the design and management personnel of automotive products to make correct judgments and give optimization solutions for the design of exterior styling, and to solve the defects of the traditional method which relies too much on experience and personal ability, a neural network-based key feature analysis and optimization method of styling is proposed. Firstly, the user attributes are analyzed and quantified, and the weighted optimization of user evaluation data is completed based on the multidimensional Gaussian distribution function to construct a more objective car styling evaluation dataset. Secondly, a particle swarm algorithm is proposed to optimize the prediction model of radial basis function neural network (PSO-RBFNN) which deeply analyzes the mapping relationship between different car perspectives and users’ perceptual preferences. The identification of styling components is completed with the annotation of feature points, and a parametric expression method of styling feature data with multi-viewpoint weight optimization is proposed. Third, the model interpretation is based on the embedded feature selection method to discover the key feature points affecting user perception, and the key common features of styling are obtained through the coupling relationship analysis of feature points. Finally, the optimal distribution range of key features is given based on statistical analysis, and the application process is shown by an example of optimization to verify the feasibility of the theory. Compared with the traditional methods, PSO-RBFNN has better prediction accuracy. Meanwhile, the modeling optimization method based on key features has the great advantages of objective accuracy and high efficiency compared with the traditional theory.