Elevate your design and manufacturing processes with Autodesk Fusion

Get a 30-Day Free Trial See Plans and Pricing

More Legroom? Yes Please! See how Toyota uses generative design in Fusion 360 to free up extra space in vehicles.

Whether you’re on a plane or in a car, it’s one of the most common complaints. Why isn’t there more legroom? Toyota Motor Corporation recently tried generative design in Autodesk Fusion 360 to find ways to free up more room via seat frame design.  

Shinsuke Omori is a project manager in the Interior Design Department, Vision Design Division at Toyota. “When I realized that generative design was being used in race-car suspensions, I thought it was interesting,” he says in a recent Redshift article. “It could come up with shapes that human designers would never have thought of, yet the requirements are met, so the cars are light and strong.” 

Safety first

When prioritizing the parameters for a seat frame, safety is always at the top of the list. Weight reduction, comfort, strength, and sustainability are also required for a successful design. With generative design in Fusion 360, new options and patterns began to emerge. Collaborating with in-house engineers, Toyota is using generative design to evolve the design even further. 

The team is also keeping potential installation and production methods in mind. Right now, it requires 3D printing, while current seat frames are produced with established manufacturing processes.  

“As we have gained a lot of knowledge from this project, I think there are possibilities to make it happen,” Omori says. 

Learn more about Toyota’s journey with generative design in Fusion 360 in the Redshift article here.