MUNICH—Computer tomography (CT) has traditionally been used in the healthcare field. But, engineers at BMW recently started to use the technology to improve quality. They use it for prototype development, production and analysis—a first in the automotive industry.
The quality of BMW’s full range of vehicles, from Mini to Rolls-Royce, can now be controlled, even in the early stages of development. Scans are performed by four robots that move around the outside of a prototype vehicle to produce several thousand cross-sectional images. The scans are used for detailed analysis of innovations, new materials and assembly processes.