Ab Dynamics
Transforming The Testing Of Future Vehicles

Automotive Industry is a highly competitive and progressive industry all across the globe. To survive in the market for a long time, automotive industries need to be constantly innovative in quality, durability, etc. Also, the manufacturers of vehicles need to ensure that the system and components of the automobiles must function appropriately throughout their working life. Although the automobiles bear in a year or year after year changes frequently, engineers need to use highly sophisticated and innovative test applications to enhance the performance of newly launched products in a highly effective and modern way.

A company doing exceptionally well in the automotive testing arena by offering diversified automotive testing solutions and dynamic expertise is AB Dynamics. Founded in 1982 as a vehicle engineering consultancy, AB Dynamics has grown leaps and bounds to become one of the world’s most trusted suppliers of automotive test systems. Today, the company’s clients include the top 25 global vehicle manufacturers, seven Euro NCAP laboratories, and numerous government test authorities.

AB Dynamics’ applications range from highly efficient durability testing to precision control for

critical new areas of technology development such as active safety and autonomous driving, all with efficient data and protocol integration from virtual to physical to real-world. The company’s background in vehicle development, combined with its close relationships with leading vehicle manufacturers, has given them a deep understanding of the fast-changing demands placed on test programmes. AB Dynamics’ comprehensive range of vehicle test and development systems runs in parallel with customers’ fast-changing programme requirements.

Since its inception, the company has been at the forefront of designing and manufacturing specialised systems for: suspension, chassis and steering system development, testing of vehicle dynamics on the track, the next generation of advanced safety system in the vehicles, evaluation of driverless car technology, Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH) testing of powertrain assemblies and Vehicle driving simulation.

The ideal instrument for future vehicle development

One of the notable solutions of AB Dynamics that is stirring a revolution in the automotive industry is vehicle driving simulation. The company’s suite of simulators has a solution to cater to all clients vehicle simulation needs to enable virtual development of vehicles, whether for general automotive testing or specialised motorsport applications. The simulator delivers a truly immersive driving environment, where the actions of the test vehicle and the driver become entwined, enabling vital and reliable driver feedback during the development and verification of the vehicle. The company’s simulators accommodate hardware-in-the-loop (HiL), software-in-the-loop (SiL) and driver-in-the-loop (DiL) testing to accurately gain information on the most minor changes to a vehicle’s configuration.

In 2019, AB Dynamics acquired the simulation software specialist rFpro, which strengthens the company’s position in the simulation-based verification market for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and autonomous vehicles. rFpro is a specialist in driving simulation for ADAS, autonomous systems and vehicle dynamics. Its software is used as standard on the three main driving simulation platforms on the market and has benefitted from year on year growth since its incarnation in 2007. rFpro also supports the motorsport market, and AB Dynamics recently sold its aVDS (advanced Vehicle Driving Simulator), running the rFpro simulation environment, to the Sauber Group’s F1 team Alfa Romeo Racing. rFpro’s simulation tools complement AB Dynamics’ existing portfolio of test equipment, such as driving robots and test rigs. This enables customers to test and develop vehicles in a virtual environment before real world validation from a single supplier. This level of synergy is now unrivalled in the market.

“The acquisition fits squarely in our stated strategy to develop the Group through organic and acquisitive growth,” says Dr James Routh, CEO at AB Dynamics. “Importantly, it provides the Group with direct access to the potentially high growth simulation-based simulation-based verification market for ADAS and autonomous vehicles, which complements our existing track testing business. It also enables the Group to more rapidly develop and grow our existing aVDS simulator product line. We’re really excited about the way the two companies’ products, from both the real and the virtual sides of the testing market, can combine and create a seamless test platform from data centre through to proving ground.”

Next-Gen Simulators

Today, the company is renowned for its advanced Vehicle Driving Simulator (aVDS), a versatile and innovative driving simulator, combining a high-performance motion platform and high specification audio and visual hardware with industry-leading virtual content from rFpro. As a part of the AB Dynamics family of driving simulators, aVDS has been designed to reduce new vehicle development timescales and costs by allowing meaningful testing far earlier in the vehicle development process. The simulator can be used across various applications, including vehicle dynamics, ADAS and autonomous systems, durability, and driver monitoring. The ability to change suspension parameters on the go or to perform complex automated manoeuvres in chaotic traffic conditions is a level of capability that engineers dream of.

When it comes to simulation, immersion is critical to maintaining the authenticity of the driver’s experience and reactions. With that in mind, aVDS is designed to be engaging and detailed that seasoned drivers could detect incremental parameter changes as if they were in the real car. This is made possible by the high road surface fidelity reproduced by the aVDS; simulated results and data correlate closely with those attained by physically driving a real vehicle on a specific road or track. Visual, audio, haptic and vestibular cueing ensures that the driver is fully engaged with senses stimulated for an unmatched level of realism.

The platform’s motion and visual feed have been precisely synchronised to eliminate the motion sickness experienced when operating driving simulators.

The aVDS utilises high specification linear actuators to deliver class-leading 6DoF dynamic performance, with up to 60Hz frequency response, providing a tightly harmonised driving experience. The primary goal of aVDS is to make vehicle and system development simpler and faster. The aVDS also can integrate seamlessly with other test equipment, providing a link between simulation, laboratory-based testing, and track testing. The specifications of each simulators are being tailored to the customer requirements. AB Dynamics has it all covered whether customers need a workstation, static or dynamic solution, stereo projection for 3D visuals, a custom lightweight cabin or additional computational power. The robust, lightweight construction of aVDS adds to its immense usability. Its durable design ensures negligible user performed maintenance, and there’s no need to schedule in downtime for expensive part replacement intervals.

The company’s premium simulator range is now available to rent, along with support from its simulation experts, enabling users to gain a significant advantage in their vehicle testing and development programme. Clients will also get to partner with the leading providers of simulation software systems. As the company is familiar with all leading automotive modelling packages, they will guide OEMs through the process to help them gain the most out of the product.

Expertise in a wide range of automotive testing

AB Dynamics is backed by its highly skilled team that can influence and advise stakeholders on best practice or work closely with clients to formulate test methods or scenarios for applications specific to their business. The company’s experienced team also provides training for vehicle manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers and all the Euro NCAP test labs and can offer advanced training on test systems to ensure efficiency is maximised during testing. From planning and preparation through to execution, data analysis and reporting., they can support all phases and processes. The team can provide a ‘turn up and test’ service, supplying and operating the test objects, or control the entire scenario on a customer-supplied test vehicle. By constantly investing in skilled people, the company tests the boundaries and capabilities of their development and testing space in the automotive industry. The firm’s future roadmap is dominated by two things: working on new capabilities and delivering better and effective user experiences. To that end, one of the things that the firm is planning on is developing more tools and techniques that help revolutionise the testing of future vehicles. Being a provider of test and development solutions means working closely with customers to ensure they always have the systems required to deliver the information they need quickly and efficiently. “Our customers talk to us when they need cutting-edge technology, and we work with them to develop innovative engineering solutions for vehicle testing,” concludes Routh.