Testing and instrumentation

This special Testing and Instrumentation edition of Product Briefs highlights the latest stationary and mobile equipment used to develop cleaner, quieter, and safer vehicles.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRi) engineers have developed a test apparatus capable of simulating vehicle powertrain operations in the laboratory. The apparatus uses hardware-in-the-loop technology and a software-controlled simulator to determine how a powertrain or related component would perform if it were integrated into a vehicle. The engineers designed and constructed a test system that simulates the operation of a transmission under a wide range of real-world conditions. (The image shows a portable cold box being used to test a transmission under low-temperature conditions and varying grade angles.) Similar test systems can be developed to test engines, electric motors, hybrid-vehicle battery packs, and other equipment under a variety of road and environmental conditions. Using the RAPTOR VSM powertrain simulation software, researchers can perform numerous driving cycles to simulate driving conditions and eliminate some fleet testing. The apparatus can simulate stop-and-go traffic, roll and grade angle, heat rejection, aerodynamic drag, varying temperatures, and other parameters.