Ford Auto/Emission Driver System

The Ford Auto/Emission Driver System automates the driving of a test vehicle on a chassis dynamometer while it is undergoing exhaust emissions testing. The system “drives” the vehicle through the 1372 s EPA Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule associated with the CVS-C and CVS-CH Test Procedures by applying the accelerator and brake pedals directly and also shifts the transmission if the vehicle is equipped with a standard transmission.

The Ford Auto/Emission Driver System consists of a hybrid analog and digital electronic control console including a magnetic tape recorder and a servo hydraulic mechanical console linked to universal interface fixtures in the vehicle via flexible mechanical push-pull cables. The high response hydraulic rams are mounted remote from the vehicle to permit design of actuating fixtures which are compact, light weight and therefore easy to install. Test results indicate, based on several empirical parameters, that the system “drives” the test vehicle more repeatably than even the best human driver.