Testing on the move

Advances in mobile data acquisition, such as those from HBM, have helped engineers move the testing of vehicles from the laboratory to the road.

Automotive manufacturers need test stands and simulators for life-cycle testing, the effects of temperature, stress analysis, and more. A simulated environment can provide a great deal of useful information and a high level of programmability and control. But when you get right down to it, there's really nothing like being able to test a vehicle under actual driving conditions.

Because of the mounting desire of engineers for more “real world” testing capability, coupled with concurrent technological developments that make it possible, data acquisition from mobile vehicle testing is on the rise. Advancements such as telemetry, wireless computing and data transmission, and the ability to tap into onboard CAN bus systems greatly reduce and simplify sensor requirements. The sophistication and ease-of-use of modern data-acquisition hardware and software also must not be overlooked. Only recently, however, has mobile testing become more widely utilized.