Dynamometer Testing Under Computer Control

The Dynamometer Laboratories of the Ford Motor Company installed a digital computer to automatically control tests; acquire, convert and store instrument data; monitor, alarm and initiate corrective action; and compute, and produce test results as punched cards, formated reports, and machine plotted graphs.

The evolution of this application; the selection and implementation of a suitable system; the development of hardware and software features; and the technical and economic evaluation aspects are discussed.

The system has been on-line since September, 1966, and has been performing engine and transmission tests under computer control. Examples of the resultant reports and graphs are presented.