Vehicle estimating system that utilizes volumetric finite element analysis to provide a predictive estimate

1. An apparatus that provides a predictive estimate for a damaged vehicle, comprising:

an input for receiving a three-dimensional map of a damaged vehicle;

memory for storing a three-dimensional map of an undamaged vehicle, said memory also contains a database the contains predictive estimates for a variety of previously generated volumetric deltas and previously generated penetration ratios; and,

a processor that generates a volumetric delta from the three-dimensional map of the damaged vehicle and the three-dimensional map of the undamaged vehicle, generates a penetration ratio, and then provides a predictive estimate by comparing the generated volumetric delta and penetration ratio with the previously generated volumetric deltas and previously generated penetration ratios in the database, said predictive estimate is displayed on a graphical user interface that includes estimates for part and labor costs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles are defined by finite elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the penetration ratio is calculated as a maximum depth divided by a damaged surface area.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein maximum depth is calculated along an axis of impact.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the damaged surface area is determined from a difference between the three-dimensional maps of the damaged vehicle and the undamaged vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles are defined by finite elements.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the maximum depth is calculated by comparing the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles.

8. A non-transitory computer program storage medium, comprising computer-readable instructions for providing a predictive estimate for a damaged vehicle, execution of said computer-readable instructions by at least one processor performs the steps:

storing in memory a three-dimensional map of an undamaged vehicle and a database the contains predictive estimates for a variety of previously generated volumetric deltas and previously generated penetration ratios;

receiving a three-dimensional map of a damaged vehicle through an input; and,

generating with a processor a volumetric delta from the three-dimensional map of the damaged vehicle and the three-dimensional map of the undamaged vehicle, generating a penetration ratio, and then providing a predictive estimate by comparing the generated volumetric delta and penetration ratio with the previously generated volumetric deltas and previously generated penetration ratios in the database, said predictive estimate is displayed on a graphical user interface that includes estimates for part and labor costs.

9. The non-transitory computer program storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles are defined by finite elements.

10. The non-transitory computer program storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the penetration ratio is calculated as a maximum depth divided by a damaged surface area.

11. The non-transitory computer program storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the damaged surface area is determined from a difference between the three-dimensional maps of the damaged vehicle and the undamaged vehicle.

12. The non-transitory computer program storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles are defined by finite elements.

13. The non-transitory computer program storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the maximum depth is calculated by comparing the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles.

14. The non-transitory computer program storage medium of claim 10 , wherein maximum depth is calculated along an axis of impact.

15. A method for providing a predictive estimate for a damaged vehicle, comprising;

storing in memory a three-dimensional map of an undamaged vehicle and a database the contains predictive estimates for a variety of previously generated volumetric deltas and previously generated penetration ratios;

receiving a three-dimensional map of a damaged vehicle through an input; and,

generating with a processor a volumetric delta from the three-dimensional map of the damaged vehicle and the three-dimensional map of the undamaged vehicle, generating a penetration ratio, and then providing a predictive estimate by comparing the generated volumetric delta and penetration ratio with the previously generated volumetric deltas and previously generated penetration ratios in the database, said predictive estimate is displayed on a graphical user interface that includes estimates for part and labor costs.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles are defined by finite elements.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the penetration ratio is calculated as a maximum depth divided by a damaged surface area.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the damaged surface area is determined from a difference between the three-dimensional maps of the damaged vehicle and the undamaged vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles are defined by finite elements.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the maximum depth is calculated by comparing the three-dimensional maps of the damaged and undamaged vehicles.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein maximum depth is calculated along an axis of impact.