On March 1, 1994, Silicon Graphics, Inc. announced that Ford Motor Company is re-engineering automotive design using Silicon Graphics systems as one of its key computing and graphics platforms. In its move toward a new design process, Ford's Global Studio has purchased more than 50 Onyx(tm) RealityEngine2(tm) graphics supercomputers as well as desktop systems and servers, making it the largest installation of Onyx computers in the world.
Ford is using the Silicon Graphics systems as one of the key components of its new Global Studio, a networked computing environment that enables Ford engineers in Europe, America and Asia to share visual information and work concurrently on 3D models and designs, expediting new car design. Silicon Graphics systems are used throughout the automotive design process for such tasks as styling, design verification, ergonomic studies, air flow analysis, crash simulation, digital mockup, and general engineering and group engineering reviews.
"Ford has taken the lead among automotive companies by re-inventing itself for the next century," said Joe DiNucci, vice president of manufacturing industries at Silicon Graphics. "Ford's use of visualization technology and its continuous process evolution demonstrate its vision, giving it a strong competitive advantage. Silicon Graphics systems enable Ford not only to build highly realistic and interactive computer models rather than costly prototypes, but also to test a car's aesthetic, ergonomic and safety features in the digital realm and make real-time modifications."
High-performance graphics and visual engineering capabilities were key to Ford's selection of computers for it new automotive design process. Ford needed computing systems that could run the leading-edge software packages required to design, engineer and evaluate next-generation automobiles. With this technology, Ford is constructing a design process that saves significant time and money while enabling Ford to bring new and more advanced vehicles to market.
In addition to the Global Studio installation, Ford has installed hundreds of Silicon Graphics computers in a variety of divisions. Included in the new deal are Onyx RealityEngine2 graphics supercomputers, Silicon Graphics' symmetric multiprocessing systems which deliver combined graphics and compute performance surpassing any other computer system. Ford is also using Indigo2(tm) Extreme(tm) and Indy(tm) systems -- Silicon Graphics' high-performance color desktop systems that integrate fast processors, graphics and digital media capabilities -- and Challenge(tm) symmetric multiprocessing servers.
Onyx graphics supercomputers are used throughout the automotive industry for applications that include virtual prototyping of vehicles, exterior styling, ergonomic studies and other advanced three-dimensional design applications. Other emerging applications include innovative marketing and interactive training and support. As the only system which can provide the interactive real-time capabilities required by this range of applications, Onyx systems are used in such diverse areas as simulation and training, pharmaceutics, scientific engineering, aerospace and film and video.
