Izzy Wood, Author at Automotive Testing Technology International

Subaru installs 5G network at Japanese test track

Izzy Wood — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:45:47 +0000

Subaru’s Bifuka Proving Ground in Hokkaido, Japan, now utilizes a local sub-6 5G standalone (SA)network, which is an infrastructure that uses the spectrum below 6GHz and covers the entire circuit in the Subaru R&E Center.

According to the company, the local 5G network across Subaru’s test course is the first to be used by a Japanese car maker. The network is trialling the use of cooperative driving automation.

Automated driving through coordination control

The test track will utilize the fast and reliable connectivity provided by the local 5G SA network to accelerate automation and development. The center has commenced testing coordination control, including merging and other maneuvers by multiple automated vehicles and remote vehicle control.

Automated driving through remote vehicle control

Seven sub-6 wireless base stations have been set up around the proving ground which enables remote control for cooperative driving automation throughout the area. Detailed specification of the equipment includes a Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (NDAC)system, provided by Nokia Solutions and Networks Japan GK. The installation was carried out with assistance from NS Solutions Corp.

Mustang Advanced Engineering designs R&D test cell for development of power-sport vehicles

Izzy Wood — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:47:42 +0000

Mustang Advanced Engineering (MAE), a US-based manufacturer of testing equipment and dynamometers, has recently installed a custom-designed test cell for research and development purposes at a power-sport vehicle manufacturer. The test cell was specifically created to meet the needs of this manufacturer, which produces motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-side vehicles.

The customer required a facility capable of testing a wide range of four-wheeled solutions with 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains, and the test cell includes several advanced features tailored to the manufacturer’s requirements. It is equipped with 1m-diameter flame-spray coated rollers, two large 600hp asynchronous AC dynamometers and a high-capacity tire cooling system with variable speed control. The system also features removable roller-bump profiles for performing bump tests and a 75,500 l/sec, 250hp frontal cooling fan system synchronized with vehicle speed.

Protean Electric’s Gen 5 in-wheel motor completes testing and validation

Izzy Wood — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 10:22:27 +0000

UK-based automotive technology company Protean Electric has completed the validation program for its latest in-wheel motor (IWM), the ProteanDrive Generation 5 (Gen 5). The Pd18 Gen5 IWM, which fits into an 18-inch wheel and includes an integrated inverter, now delivers a peak torque of 1500.

The validation program for the Pd18 Gen5 involved extensive testing, with more than 80 IWMs undergoing 64 test programs to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations and original equipment manufacturer standards. The IWM is designed for mainstream automotive applications, meeting durability requirements of 15 years and 300,000km. It has also been validated for various environmental conditions, including wading and pothole impact, and meets the ISO 26262 standard as a Safety Element Out of Context, addressing ASIL D hazards – a first for an IWM.

The Pd18 Gen5 IWM is produced at Protean’s IATF 16949-certified facility in Tianjin, China, marking the start of full-scale industrialization of the technology. The company currently provides 400V DC versions of the IWM, with plans to introduce 800V DC versions by the end of 2024.

Stephen Lambert, CTO of Protean Electric, commented, “In-wheel motors are proving to be a pivotal enabling technology for the next generation of EVs. However, much like the first EVs, there needs to be a testing and validation rulebook set out.

“As an industry, much has been discussed about the design and validation challenges of in-wheel motors, particularly the demands of reliability and durability due to the harshest installation environments. Looking to the future, our team has invested heavily in our test and validation procedures to ensure that the Gen 5 IWM, exposed to severe shock, vibration, thermal cycle, sand, dust, water and chemical contamination, is designed to last and do the distance, securing a net-zero future across multiple vehicles and transport solutions.”

Protean will showcase the Gen 5 Pd18 at the upcoming Cenex Expo 2024 at UTAC Millbrook, UK, September 4 and 5.

Autonomous vehicles begin testing on public roads in Hengqin

Izzy Wood — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:18:22 +0000

Authorities in Hengqin, an island in Zhuhai, China, have initiated extensive testing of autonomous minibuses and robotaxis on public roads. The minibuses, which lack steering wheels, are monitored by safety personnel seated at the rear. According to an official from Hengqin’s Urban Planning and Construction Bureau, the minibuses utilize a 360° perception system powered by redundant sensors and sensor fusion algorithms, giving them the ability to operate without blind spots.

The tests have proceeded smoothly, with no accidents or human intervention required thus far.

Continue reading Autonomous vehicles begin testing on public roads in Hengqin at Automotive Testing Technology International.

Arrk Engineering and Gefasoft develop test bench for HUDs in vehicles

Izzy Wood — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:15:03 +0000

Arrk Engineering, a development partner for the automotive and mobility industry, has partnered with test bench specialist Gefasoft to develop a new high-precision test bench designed to measure head-up displays (HUDs) in vehicles, with greater accuracy and automation.

The collaboration began in 2020, focusing on creating a test bench that could meet the strict specifications required for HUD systems. The test bench, which is designed to accommodate entire windshields, aims to permit manufacturer-independent measurements across various vehicle types.

The demand for comprehensive testing of HUDs has increased due to the challenges these systems present, such as difficulties in visibility under certain lighting conditions or the potential for distracting drivers if improperly calibrated. Traditional test benches often rely on outdated measurement methods, which do not meet the requirements of modern HUD technology. In response, the companies have developed a new system capable of conducting fully automated, precise measurements with a high degree of repeatability.

“HUDs are like any other technology: the more functionalities are mapped, the greater the demands on testing,” explained Sebastian Hensle, group manager of optical systems at Arrk Engineering. The new test enables the entire windshield to be measured, which is important for evaluating the latest HUD technologies.

“Especially in the context of new, larger HUDs or display content that is projected in the so-called black area of the windshield, for example, it is necessary to measure the entire windshield, which our previous test bench was simply unable to do,” he added.

The test bench is designed to be flexible and customizable, capable of adapting to future HUD generations. Gefasoft incorporated an automated conveyor line to improve the workflow for inserting new HUD projectors and designed a moveable windshield master that can be easily replaced. This flexibility is particularly important as future HUD technologies, such as augmented reality HUDs (AR HUDs), will use larger areas of the windshield for contact-analog projections.

The test bench also features photometric measurement capabilities, using a high-resolution LMK 6 color camera from TechnoTeam. The camera is guided by a linear system, achieving precise positioning accuracy, and the mechanical stability of the test bench ensures high measurement repeatability.

“We had to modify our software accordingly in order to realize the required test scope and measurement sequences,” said Jonathan Guthmann, project manager of vision/HUD at Gefasoft. “We also equipped the system with comprehensive access options and interfaces for our own extensions, so that our colleagues at Arrk Engineering can keep it state of the art in the future and adapt it to the challenges of new HUD generations.”

The fully automated nature of the test bench means lengthy tasks such as luminance measurements can be carried out without manual supervision.

“We chose Gefasoft as our project partner for two main reasons,” concluded Hensle. “First, because of their many years of expertise in the windshield and HUD sector and, second, because we were able to obtain hardware and software from a single provider.”

Trace Machina develops simulation platform for testing safety-critical applications

Izzy Wood — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 13:23:07 +0000

Trace Machina, a startup focused on improving the safety of critical software updates, has received US$4.7m seed investment to develop simulation software designed to help developers test updates in more realistic simulated environments, particularly for autonomous systems such as self-driving cars and warehouse automation equipment.

The need for such a platform was highlighted recently when a faulty CrowdStrike update disrupted critical infrastructure, including airports and hospitals. Marcus Eagan, CEO and co-founder of Trace Machina, explained that his company’s system aims to prevent similar incidents by enabling more rigorous testing before software is deployed in real-world applications.

“The way we solve that is by providing a native link between developers and their autonomous vision,” Eagan said, referring to the company’s first product, NativeLink. This tool, built in Rust, gives engineers the ability to run experiments and tests directly on local hardware.

NativeLink is designed to simulate resource-constrained environments, such as embedded Nvidia GPU chips, which are commonly used in robots, self-driving cars and edge devices. Eagan pointed out that previously, only well-funded companies had the means to build such testing environments. Trace Machina’s platform aims to make these capabilities accessible to a broader range of companies, aiming to conduct thorough testing with direct hardware access.

“There’s always been this virtualized layer, this abstraction layer, that made it easier for companies to build those systems and iterate. We just had to pay the tax of being close to the metal,” Eagan said, describing the challenges of developing such a system.

The seed funding round was led by Wellington Management, with participation from Samsung Next, Sequoia Capital Scout Fund, Green Bay Ventures, Verissimo Ventures and several other prominent industry players.

Altair and Oasys to co-develop integrated solution for pre-processing crash and safety simulation

Izzy Wood — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 11:55:15 +0000

Computational intelligence company Altair and software company Oasys have signed a joint development agreement to deliver an integrated solution for safety simulation modeling in the automotive sector. Oasys is part of Arup, a consultant of designers and experts dedicated to sustainable development.

The solution will provide users with a workflow between Altair HyperWorks, a design and simulation platform, and Oasys Primer, a solution for the preparation and modification of crash safety analysis models.

“Altair is a leader in the automotive simulation sector, and we look forward to seeing what our customers will achieve with this new solution,” said Peter Young, director at Oasys. “The Oasys Suite provides best-in-class solutions to accelerate and advance crash simulations, and this collaboration with Altair will catapult our joint offer.”

Powered using AI-augmented 3D modeling and visualization tools, Altair HyperWorks enables users to “effortlessly” manage large and complex models, the company says. The Oasys Suite is a tailored set of tools which supports users in analyzing, building and sharing quality models and results, through pre- and post-processing software.

Accessible through the Altair HyperWorks environment, engineers will be able to use the combined platforms to prepare data for crash simulations.

“We are delighted to team up with Oasys, whose pedigree and strong market presence in crash simulation has long been admired,” said James R Scapa, founder and chief executive officer, Altair. “The combination of the power of Altair HyperWorks and Oasys Primer will provide customers with an advanced solution for safety modeling.”

Ascential Technologies rebrands General Industries division as Test & Measurement Systems

Izzy Wood — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:18:54 +0000

Ascential Technologies, a provider of automated diagnostic, inspection, assembly and test systems, has rebranded its General Industries division as Ascential Technologies, Test & Measurement Systems (T&M).

The company will leverage the collective expertise and technology of the five, formerly independent brands (CIMAT, Galileo, Kleinknecht, Lismar and Titan) in a unified division that addresses needs across industries including HVAC, white goods, heavy equipment, steel, automotive, aerospace and energy markets.

As part of the rebranding, the five companies will become product brands under the T&M umbrella, creating individual Technology Competence Centers intended to develop technology platforms. The parent company remains Ascential Technologies, and its other two divisions will continue to operate as Burke Porter (Transportation) and Ascential Medical and Life Sciences.

In terms of operations, the tighter integration of the company’s individual brand entities under the new division will enable closer affiliation between its engineering and R&D teams to encourage collaboration efforts, and a new global service organization will deliver a faster response and more lifecycle value as part of a wider support structure, Ascential says.

“Aligning the T&M division presents a significant growth opportunity for Ascential Technologies as a whole. It allows us to more effectively address our customer needs, providing clearer specifications around the division’s core competencies,” said Scott Watts, CEO of Ascential Technologies’ Transportation and Test & Measurement Systems divisions.

“Ultimately, this evolution will drive more value for our customers and employees while enabling our team to operate more effectively.”

The company says the current rebrand aligns with the focus area – faster time-to-market and greater scale – that Ascential Technologies announced as part of its Burke Porter Group rebrand in September 2023.

EA Elektro-Automatik launches enhanced battery test system

Izzy Wood — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:03:13 +0000

EA Elektro-Automatik (EA), a Tektronix business unit and specialist in direct current (DC) programmable power supplies and bidirectional power supplies, has introduced the EA BTS 10300 battery test system (BTS).

The BTS is designed to address the challenges faced by manufacturers in testing electric vehicle batteries. EA says it provides 300kW in a single 42U-high rack that occupies a 6.5ft2 of production-floor space. It also has a 2000V DC capacity for high-voltage EV battery tests, supplying and sinking up to 2,400A per rack, reaching a total capacity of up to 30,720A.

This high-current capability is essential for battery module tests and battery cell tests, including pulse testing which uses higher currents.

Featuring EA’s bidirectional power supply with SiC-based switching, the EA BTS 10300 is designed to reduce electrical costs by regenerating power back to the grid and minimizing HVAC expenses due to its low heat generation, the company says.

“The EA BTS 10300 Battery Test System represents a leap in testing technology, offering significant cost and space savings while being environmentally friendly,” explained Russ Gaubatz, EA senior applications engineer.

“Its power regeneration and efficient operation cut electrical and HVAC costs, and its compact design requires only a third of the floor space compared to competitors. With high voltage capabilities and autoranging, it’s a futureproof investment that pays for itself by adapting to evolving testing needs.”

Further capabilities of the system include HMI and data reporting, alongside the ability to adjust test ranges.

James Hitchcock, general manager at Tektronix, added, “EA Elektro-Automatik’s EA BTS 10300 complements Tektronix’s portfolio by adding advanced battery testing capabilities, crucial for the evolving needs of the EV market.”

Akeana launches with customizable RISC-V IP suite

Izzy Wood — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:30:48 +0000

Akeana, a new name in the semiconductor industry, has officially launched after raising over US$100m in capital from investors including Kleiner Perkins, Mayfiel and Fidelity Ventures. Founded by the team behind Marvell’s ThunderX2 server chips, Akeana provides a range of customizable RISC-V-based IP solutions designed to meet a variety of semiconductor markets, including automotive.

Akeana has released three processor lines alongside the formal launch of the company. These include the Akeana 100 Series, a line of 32-bit RISC-V cores that cater to applications such as embedded microcontrollers, edge gateways and personal computing devices; the Akeana 1000 Series, featuring 64-bit RISC-V cores, which supports rich operating systems and provides configurations for in-order or out-of-order pipelines, multi-threading, vector extensions and optional AI computation extensions; and the Akeana 5000 Series, a high-performance line optimized for applications in next-generation devices, laptops, data centers and cloud infrastructure.

“Our team has a proven track record of designing world-class server chips, and we are now applying that expertise to the broader semiconductor market as we formally go to market,” said Rabin Sugumar, Akeana CEO. “With our rich portfolio of customizable cores and special security, debug, RAS and telemetry features, we provide our customers with unparalleled performance, observability and reliability. We believe our products will revolutionize the industry.”

Additionally, the company provides a suite of processor system IP, including a Coherent Cluster Cache, I/O MMU and Interrupt Controller IPs. For AI acceleration, the company has also engineered an AI Matrix computation engine designed to offload Matrix Multiply operations.

“The renaissance of silicon, sweeping through our industry, is driving the rise of architectural innovations like RISC-V,” said Navin Chaddha, managing partner at Mayfield. “Akeana has everything needed to become a breakout company – a world-class team of founders and investors, the most comprehensive IP, a fair licensing model, and a compelling value proposition for aiding chipmakers in designing workload-optimized silicon solutions. I look forward to partnering with Rabin and the team in the next phase of their journey.”