Windsor home to virtual model of Project Arrow concept vehicle

A pair of projects that aim to transform howCanada competes globally in the automobility industry have collided in the birthplace of the country's auto industry:Windsor.

There is now a digital twin of the Project Arrow vehicle, a zero-emission Canadian made concept vehicle spearheaded by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association(APMA).

The virtualmodel of thefully rendered Arrow vehicle will exist inside ofthe WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation's (WEEDC)virtual reality CAVE.

"We're challenging people's perception of manufacturing," said Flavio Volpe, president of the APMA, who believes there could be close to a third of the Arrow vehicle's parts made in Windsor-Essex.

The digital twin will allow the project team to manipulate a virtual model of the vehicle in a fully immersive 3D experience throughthe VR CAVE at the Border Logistics and Security (IBLS) building in Windsor.

Recently updated technology allows people to access the model through virtual reality systems that are connected through 5G.

Digital prototypes a cost saving measure

Engineers and product designers will be able to test and adjust parts for the vehicle digitally, cutting costs and saving time while a physical concept isbuilt at theOntario Tech University in Oshawa.

"Building prototypes is expensive," said WEEDC president Stephen MacKenzie, who described the VR CAVEtechnology as something straight out of a science fiction story.

"Depending on the complexity you need the tooling and things for let's call it a one-off project that's incredibly expensive and couldbe a barrier for some of our smaller companies."

WATCH:MacKenzie and Volpedescribe how these two projects are linked

Project Arrow launches digital build in Windsor

3 years ago

Duration 1:44

WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation CEO Stephan MacKenzie and Automotive Parts Manufacturers'' Association President explain why both the VR CAVE and Project Arrow initiative compliment each other.

The completion of the digital twin, which took 350 hours to build, comes as the APMA sifts through more than 300 Canadian companies interested in partnering up with Project Arrow's concept and vision.

Project Arrow will update the virtual model in Windsor as more progress is made in the design and engineering process.

The virtual build will also be tested under real world conditions, simulated inside of the VR CAVE.

WATCH: What's possible at the VR CAVE in Windsor

Here's what the VR CAVE in Windsor can do

3 years ago

Duration 2:08

Enginerring Analyst Akash Charuvila explains how the VR CAVE can be used for digital prototypes.

"The reality is that we're not dealing with dot matrix printers, we're not dealing with sketches and clay models anymore we're dealing with digital twins," said Volpe, describing the shifting landscape of manufacturing.

"You can do crash testing, aerodynamics testing, computer modelling on performance and dynamics in the digital world."

Volpe said this project goes beyond the end results, an all-Canadian vehicle that meets vehicle production standards that are increasingly heightening zero-emission standards.

He sees Project Arrow as a research and development inspiration similar to the Canadian-made Avro Arrow, a world leading Canadian aircraft thatwas designed, tested andeventually scrappedin the 1950s.

WATCH: Here's how the original Avro Arrow was built

How the Avro Arrow was built

66 years ago

Duration 8:00

CBC's Newsmagazine takes viewers behind the scenes at the Malton airport hangar where the Avro Arrow was tested and built.

MacKenzie and the WEEDC see Project Arrow as an example of how Windsor is harnessing a century of automotive experienceto create opportunities in the increasingly digital world of manufacturing.

"Buzzword city but industry 4.0, one of the main criteria is using technology to improve manufacturing process," said MacKenzie.

WEEDC is working with more than a dozen companies through the VR CAVE, including additional digital twinning projects that will allow companies to design efficient floorlayouts of factories, test different tools in real world conditions and run products through full sized test tracksvirtually.

Ed Dawson, senior manager of automobility and innovation at WEEDC,works with local companies to develop their projects for use in the VR CAVE.

"Without spending any money or doing anything physically, let's take it to the next level before you can go and build it," Dawson said.

Project identifies gaps inEV supply chain

The VR CAVEis available for use byOntario based companies with less than 500 employees that are building connected and autonomous products through an application process.

"It's been really a blessing. It's allowed usto pursue our own regional transition from automotive, to automaton to automobility. It's just a phenomenal tool," MacKenzie said.

WATCH: How Project Arrow may findgaps in the Canadian supply chain

Zero-emission Canadian concept vehicle will test supply chain: CVMA

3 years ago

Duration 2:10

Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association President Brian Kingston explains how Project Arrow can help fill gaps.

The head of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA) has applaudedProject Arrow for its innovation around creating an electric vehicle supply chain.

"They're trying to figure out through the supply chain where Canada has the capacity to be part of the shift to electric vehicles and this is really important,"said Brian Kingston,president of CVMA.

General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobilesand Ford have all made billion dollar investmentsin converting production in Ontario plants toward electric vehicles.

Volpe plans to show the completed Arrow to as many manufactures as possible, putting Canadian made parts products on display to producers.

Kingston sees this as a good move for all Canadian suppliers who might find new opportunities in the shift to electric vehicles.

"They're going to be shifting their supply chain and their sourcingpatterns because these vehicles will require different inputs," Volpe said.