Blender at Volkswagen Group — Blender Conference 2025

Introduction to Blender's Journey in Automotive Design

Overview of the Group and Brands

• The speaker introduces a group representing 12 brands, including Scout and Rivian, all utilizing Blender for their design processes.

Purpose of the Presentation

• The aim is to showcase their journey with Blender, highlighting achievements and future plans.

Blender's Role in Automotive Design

Initial Use of Blender

• A show car was modeled using Blender at the beginning of its design process, demonstrating its utility in creating initial geometry before transferring to other software for refinement.

Team Introductions

• Alina from Volkswagen AI discusses her role in modeling digital car interiors and exteriors using ISM surface software while integrating Blender into daily workflows.

• Ali Faul from group IT explains his responsibility for standardizing modeling tools across brands, including Blender, to facilitate data exchange and innovation.

Milestones in Adopting Blender

Community Engagement

• The speaker reflects on attending an event in 2019 that inspired them to support the global community developing code for Blender.

Patron Membership Achievement

• In 2022, they became the first OEM car maker to join as a patron member of Blender, recognizing its potential and committing to give back to the community.

Blender's Integration into Workflow

User Adoption and Customization

• Over 500 users across various areas (simulation, styling, concept modeling) have adopted Blender. Users can customize their workflows by developing solutions tailored to their needs.

Tool Landscape Overview

• Different brands utilize various tools based on specific processes; flexibility is emphasized while ensuring effective data exchange among teams.

Future Directions with Blender

Development Time Reduction Goals

• There is a focus on reducing development time across stages from concept through simulation by shifting simulation earlier in the workflow.

Commitment to Using Blender Long-term

• Assurance that Blender will remain integral to their operations for at least the next 20 years as part of ongoing digitization efforts.

Blender's Role in 3D Modeling and Industry Integration

Importance of Blender in Modeling

• Blender is highlighted as a crucial tool for modeling, particularly with its compatibility with other software like Surf and VED.

• The need for Blender to function both independently and collaboratively with other modeling tools is emphasized, allowing for seamless import/export of geometry.

Challenges with Software Integration

• There are restrictions on purchasing add-ons from the Blender market, necessitating precise functionality within Blender itself to assess geometry quality.

• The speaker discusses the strategic importance of Blender, advocating for major software vendors like Autodesk to support native Blender files despite their reluctance.

Attracting New Talent through Blender

• Emphasizing that many students cannot afford expensive 3D tools, the speaker argues that learning Blender can serve as an entry point into the industry.

• By integrating young talents who are familiar with Blender into their workforce, companies can easily onboard new employees.

Data Security and Compliance Issues

• The complexity of data security across different countries poses challenges when introducing new software like Blender into various markets.

• A sandbox testing approach is employed before any new release of Blender is introduced to ensure compliance and prevent automatic updates that could lead to version discrepancies.

Legal Considerations in Software Usage

• Strict regulations prevent automatic crash report submissions due to potential leaks of sensitive project information.

• Each add-on must be commercially viable; non-commercial add-ons are not permitted within the organization’s framework.

Navigating Vendor Relationships

• The speaker outlines how each OEM has unique conditions regarding software usage, complicating vendor relationships due to varying terms and conditions.

• Cooperation with strategic partners involves navigating GDPR regulations and ensuring all agreements align with company policies.

Development Initiatives

• In response to identified challenges, there is a push towards developing proprietary add-ons for analysis purposes, starting with a diagnostic shading add-on.

Tool for Elevating Surface Smoothness

Introduction to the Tool

• This tool is designed to enhance surface smoothness, continuity, and transitions, primarily used in exterior digital modeling.

• The current status of the tool is demonstrated using an example from the ID Everyone project.

Open Source Development

• The add-on will be provided as open-source software for free worldwide, contributing both financially and through expertise.

• Emphasis on community support and accessibility for users, particularly those using Blender.

Comparison with Other Tools

• Three examples are shown: two from CIS tools (Alias and Surf) and one from Blender, all based on the same model.

• The team has access to expensive software packages like Alias but aims to match their quality with Blender tools.

Analysis of Differences

• Notable differences arise due to properties set within each tool; for instance, line width cannot be adjusted in some tools leading to varied results.

• Highlight lines' directions are consistent across tools despite visual discrepancies in other aspects.

User Interface Overview

UI Structure

• The user interface (UI) consists of four main parts: light vector definition, highlight analysis types, projection variants, and property settings based on selected types.

• Light vector definition is crucial for determining how light interacts with surfaces during analysis.

Highlight Analysis Options

• Users can select various highlight analysis modes including black-and-white shaders or colorful options with different projection methods (light beam or cylinder).

• Properties vary depending on the chosen type of highlight analysis which enhances customization options for users.

Demo Presentation

Activating the Tool

• Demonstration shows how to activate the tool via an icon or key mapping function integrated into Blender's UI layout.

• Users can manipulate light sources directly in the viewport or utilize preset configurations for ease of use.

Customizing Light Direction

• Users have flexibility in defining custom vectors by selecting vertices; this allows tailored lighting effects on surfaces being analyzed.

• A focus on Z projection is highlighted as it provides optimal results when examining highlight lines on surfaces.

Understanding Diagnostic Shading in 3D Modeling

Importance of Visual Feedback in 3D Modeling

• The appearance of lines changes based on camera rotation, highlighting defects similar to real-life observations.

• Adjusting vertices affects light stripes on the car's surface, making it easier to understand the impact of modeling changes.

• Options to modify width and blur enhance visibility of shaders beneath black and white stripes.

Dynamic Modeling and Real-Time Feedback

• Changes in vertex positions dynamically update the model, providing immediate visual feedback for quality assessment.

• The "what you see is what you get" principle emphasizes the importance of real-time updates during modeling.

Projection Techniques for Surface Analysis

• Two projection variants are discussed: light beam version and cylinder projection, which uses a light tunnel around the car.

• Light tunnels help identify defects by projecting highlight lines directly onto surfaces from above.

Colorful Variants for Enhanced Understanding

• A colorful variant projects rainbow colors onto surfaces, offering more visual cues than a single white stripe.

• This method aids in understanding highlight lines better and is implemented in ISurf as well.

Production Feasibility Analysis Tools

• The demode function assesses part feasibility for production rather than just surface analysis.

• It identifies feasible (green), non-feasible (red), and tolerable areas (yellow), crucial at early design stages.

Importance of Geometry in Manufacturing Processes

• Analyzing deep drawing direction helps determine manufacturability; undercuts are identified as problematic features.

• Ensuring geometry meets manufacturing requirements is vital at the beginning of styling processes.

Future Developments in Analysis Tools

• Ongoing development includes curvature analysis to prevent flat areas that can lead to defects during manufacturing.

• Collaboration with universities enhances research capabilities, particularly focusing on mathematical aspects relevant to design.

Discussion on Blender's Development and Industry Use

Collaboration with Developers

• The speaker discusses collaboration with developers who are proficient in Blender, emphasizing the importance of their expertise for research projects and add-on development.

• There is a concern about increased competition with other software like Alias and ISM as Blender becomes more complex, particularly regarding NURBS modeling.

Concerns About Complexity

• The speaker expresses caution about pursuing advanced NURBS modeling in Blender due to potential complications and political implications within the community.

• They highlight that while there is a daily need for these features, it may not be beneficial to push for them without considering the broader impact on the Blender Foundation.

Community Readiness and Financial Implications

• The discussion shifts to the financial challenges of hiring skilled developers necessary for enhancing Blender’s capabilities compared to expensive specialized tools like Alias and ISM.

• If community members are willing to invest time and resources into developing new features, support will be provided; however, financing remains a significant hurdle.

User Base Insights

• A question arises about how many people use Blender within their organization, revealing over 500 users involved in various capacities.

• The conversation touches on how different brands utilize Blender at various stages of design, indicating its versatility across phases from concept to simulation.

Applications in Automotive Industry

• Examples are shared where Blender is used for aerodynamics simulations and optimizing aluminum parts, showcasing its practical applications in engineering contexts.

• The speaker confirms that even high-end automotive companies like Mercedes have integrated Blender into their workflows, suggesting its growing acceptance in mainstream industry practices.

Data Formats and Future Considerations

• Discussion includes the need for native blend files across different software platforms. Various formats such as FBX, glTF, USD, and STEP are considered for future compatibility.

• Emphasis is placed on standardization issues with formats like USD versus STEP as they transition towards new IT infrastructures aimed at improving workflow efficiency.

Data Transfer and Certification Processes

Overview of Data Transfer Formats

• Discussion on various formats for transferring data from A to B to Z, covering the entire development chain from initial sketches to tooling and construction.

• Emphasis on the challenges and interesting aspects of using the green and red analysis tool.

Community Involvement in Add-ons

• The community is being requested to provide certified add-ons, highlighting a two-way certification process for both developers and users.

• Assurance that any usable add-on will be 100% certified, ensuring functionality and legal compliance.

Development Status Update

• Confirmation that development was completed last week, with ongoing communication with legal for approval before sharing.

• Mention of testing phases within the VW group, with a request for patience from external parties until the end of the year due to legal processes.

Future Availability and Maintenance Plans

• The add-on will be available at Blender version 4.5 or newer, ensuring compatibility.

• Plans to share code openly; maintenance responsibilities will be handled by a university collaborating on this project.

Certification Clarifications

• Discussion about what constitutes valid certification; emphasis on avoiding open-source components in developed add-ons.

• Assurance that all code is original and free from third-party risks when using the add-on.

Technical Implementation Details

• Explanation that implemented features include shaders which react based on light sources, enhancing visual representation.

• Description of shader functionality including object mapping; highlights challenges faced by non-developers in understanding technical details.