The design arm of the carmaker has introduced FelGAN, an artificial intelligence system dedicated to exploring wheel concepts. While the basic wheel silhouette remains round and true to tradition, the exploration process has become unusually captivating and productive.
Rather than replacing designers, Audi has equipped its teams with a new capability that broadens their creative reach. FelGAN stands for Felge, the German term for rim, combined with GAN, short for Generative Adversarial Networks. GAN is a self-learning computer program built on two competing algorithms that train together, each learning from its mistakes and continually improving what they produce.
One component of the system creates imagery so lifelike that even seasoned observers can have trouble distinguishing it from actual photos.
These AI-generated rim designs serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the design team, acting as an evolving focal point for spontaneous ideas. The tool enables designers to experiment with form, color, surface texture, and other attributes in real time. In practice, design does not rely solely on AI; designers can upload their own projects and photographs into the platform for refinement and adjustment.
The final stage involves turning digital concepts into physical prototypes. Prototypes are produced from plastic or aluminum using advanced milling technologies, translating virtual ideas into tangible rims that can be evaluated in the real world.
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