The development of a vehicle dynamics application in terms of control basically inherits Rapid-Control-Prototyping (RCP) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) design cycles. RCP inherits theoretical control methodology from system modelling and analysis up to a design of a control concept, testing and optimizing of the control algorithm by simulations, automatic code generation for a real-time platform on the test rig and verifying and optimizing of the controller on the test rig. Finally, this development cycle provides a controller prototype, which is further to be implemented and optimized on an electronic-controller-unit (ECU) during the HIL design cycle.

Vehicle Mockup and Visualisation System Testing of Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) such as force-feedback steering wheel actuators requires more than pure HiL tests. A vehicle mockup together with a high quality visualisation system complement our test facilities for a realistic driving experience.

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Steer-by-Wire Test Rig Vehicle steering technology is evolving by substituting the mechanical and hydraulic subsystems with electrical equivalents to boost performance and enhance safety. The steer-by-wire technology provides essential advantages, such as, simplified construction and higher design flexibility at the price of redundancy and safety measures. It introduces a complex mechatronical steering technology consisting of computing units, sensors and actuators. Thereby the mechanical interface - steering column - between driver and vehicle is replaced by two electrical actuators which are algorithmically coupled by a steer-by-wire controller to provide the driver a desired steering feeling and the vehicle a desired steering response.

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Hydraulic Steering Test Rig The test rigs are used to investigate the dynamic characteristics of hydraulic power steering systems. The results can be used to update numerical simulation models of hydraulic power steering systems from the automotive industry.

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Models and Tools for HIL Leaving the pure simulation of mechatronic systems behind, Hardware-in-the-Loop test rigs provide cost effective ways to test new control algorithms with existing hardware. This requires to transform existing simulation models to real-time capable code.

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