Combining mechanical- and software-test technologies

Recent developments in both mechanical-test systems and simulation software have produced new and important gains to accelerate and improve the vehicle development cycle.

It has been some time since the first laboratory road-simulation system was used to develop a new automobile suspension. While some in the industry expected the impact of laboratory testing technologies to plateau, that has not been the case. The advent of laboratory durability and fatigue testing of vehicles (which replaced much of the work that had been done on the test track) has had a significant impact on the way cars and trucks are developed worldwide. The employment of road-simulation technology, including both the mechanical spindle and tire-coupled servohydraulic test systems, and simulation software are wide spread. The synergistic role of these technologies have helped car makers increase their vehicle development efficiency, both in the test laboratory and also in the newer venues of modeling, analysis, design, and virtual testing.