Close Menu
Automotive Testing Technology International
  • News
    • A-H
      • ADAS & CAVs
      • Aerodynamics
      • Appointments, Partnerships, Investments & Acquisitions
      • Automotive Testing Expo
      • Batteries & Powertrain Testing
      • Component Testing
      • Safety and crash testing
      • Dynamometers
      • EMC & Electronics Testing
      • Emissions & Fuel Consumption
      • Facilities
      • Full-vehicle Testing
    • I-Z
      • Interiors & Infotainment Testing
      • Measurement Tools, Test Systems & Equipment
      • Motorsport
      • NVH & Acoustics
      • Proving Grounds
      • R&D
      • Sensors & Transducers
      • CAE, Simulation & Modeling
      • Software Engineering & SDVs
      • Tire Testing
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • March 2025
    • November 2024
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Crash Test Technology – 2023
    • Automotive Testing Technology
    • Subscribe to Automotive Testing
    • Crash Test Technology
    • Subscribe to Crash Test Technology
  • Opinion
  • Awards
    • About
    • What’s new and key dates
    • Eligibility and nomination
    • Get in touch
    • Judges
    • Winner interviews
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Proving Grounds
  • Events
LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter)
  • Automotive Interiors
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle
  • Professional Motorsport
  • Tire Technology
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn
Subscribe
Automotive Testing Technology International
  • News
      • ADAS & CAVs
      • Aerodynamics
      • Appointments, Partnerships, Investments & Acquisitions
      • Automotive Testing Expo
      • Batteries & Powertrain Testing
      • Component Testing
      • Safety and crash testing
      • Dynamometers
      • EMC & Electronics Testing
      • Emissions & Fuel Consumption
      • Facilities
      • Full-vehicle Testing
      • Interiors & Infotainment Testing
      • Measurement Tools, Test Systems & Equipment
      • Motorsport
      • NVH & Acoustics
      • Proving Grounds
      • R&D
      • Sensors & Transducers
      • CAE, Simulation & Modeling
      • Software Engineering & SDVs
      • Tire Testing
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. November 2024
    3. Crash Test Technology – 2024
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. Automotive Testing Technology
    7. Subscribe to Automotive Testing
    8. Crash Test Technology
    9. Subscribe to Crash Test Technology
    Featured
    April 9, 2025

    In this Issue – March 2025

    Automotive Testing Technology By Rachel Evans
    Recent

    In this Issue – March 2025

    April 9, 2025

    In this Issue – November 2024

    November 26, 2024

    In this Issue – 2024

    September 30, 2024
  • Opinion
  • Awards
    • About
    • What’s new and key dates
    • Eligibility and nomination
    • Get in touch
    • Judges
    • Winner interviews
    • ATTI Awards Forum
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Proving Grounds
  • Events
LinkedIn
Subscribe
Automotive Testing Technology International
CAE, Simulation & Modeling

Driving simulators: access all areas

Ian Haigh, team lead, Ansible MotionBy Ian Haigh, team lead, Ansible MotionMarch 8, 20236 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Ian Haigh, team lead at Ansible Motion, discusses how open access to driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulation could help more of the automotive industry confront its biggest challenges.

The launch of the open-access driving simulator at Hungary’s Bay Zoltán Research Centre earlier this year marked more than just the arrival of another test facility. Located close to the Austrian, Slovenian and Croatian borders, it’s in a prime position to serve the European automotive industry, including Hungary’s own rapidly developing R&D sector. But what’s special about the new ZalaZone facility is that it grants organizations right across the automotive spectrum access to a crucial development technology that once only existed behind closed doors. The ultimate target is said to be to have all German premium manufacturers develop their vehicles in Hungary by 2030.

Over the last couple of decades, DIL simulation has expanded from a curiosity embraced by a handful of major OEMs and big-budget race teams into an everyday tool for the mainstream automotive industry. Globally, the value of the driving simulator market is predicted to grow to US$2.1bn by 2025.

These days, the applications of DIL simulators range from ride and handling assessments through to HMI and UI development, NVH evaluations and even work on the user experience for autonomous vehicles.

There are fundamental benefits to studying any of these aspects in a simulator, but the unique pressures facing the automotive industry at the moment are driving specific demand in a number of key areas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIpTyTt_hLg

Electrification is posing new and sometimes difficult questions. Perhaps most obviously, it brings a whole new character to the powertrain. Driveability and performance feel can be very different when the power, torque and weight characteristics of the vehicles have shifted so dramatically from their combustion-engined predecessors.

Should a high-performance EV, for instance, unleash its full torque capability as soon as there’s enough traction to support that or should it be calibrated to mimic the more progressive delivery of an IC engine? Should EVs be silent, or should they offer some sort of soundtrack? Could the use of torque vectoring or rear-wheel steering mask the extra weight of a BEV powertrain?

The thing that unites all these questions is that they relate to the subjective experience of driving the vehicle. That’s not generally something that can be captured with numerical data from an offline simulation. A car that’s quicker through a simulated lap of a handling circuit, for instance, is not always as engaging or as exploitable as one that might be slower against the clock.

Ironically, this feedback loop that exists between the car and its driver becomes even more critical as the software begins to play a bigger role in the control of the vehicle. ADAS systems, including partial autonomy, are the other big technological battleground in the automotive industry at present.

A key question with any ADAS system is when to intervene, and to what extent. In the EU, emergency lane keeping systems (ELKS) are already mandatory for newly homologated cars and vans. Historically, many of these systems have proved notoriously intrusive, with drivers actively steering against unwanted adjustments or simply disabling the function completely. Again, it’s a matter of human perception.

The stakes can be even higher if an ADAS system is operating under highly dynamic conditions. Imagine, for instance, the ESC calibration on a high-performance vehicle that allows a degree of slip before it intervenes; if the intervention was too pronounced it could even lead to the driver instinctively trying to correct it, making the situation worse rather than better. In this scenario, a realistic and immersive representation of the vehicle’s dynamics is essential for developing and calibrating the system.

In theory, the ultimate test for these systems comes with a physical prototype in the real world, but there are numerous obstacles to consider – particularly in the early stages of development. Physical prototypes can be time consuming and eye-wateringly expensive to produce. Once they do arrive on the test fleet, the competition between different departments to get access to the latest spec vehicles can be intense.

Next comes the job of finding a suitable test venue. Even large OEMs that have their own proving grounds will generally need to ship vehicles around the world for things like winter testing. Once on location, there’s the small matter of finding the right weather conditions and hoping they’ll hold for the duration of the trip. Even small changes in ambient conditions or surface friction can impact the repeatability of the test.

A state-of-the-art DIL simulator such as the Ansible Motion Delta S3 machine now installed at Bay Zoltán is designed to combine the fidelity required to represent these minute changes with total control over the test conditions. If you want to vary the coefficient of friction of the track surface by 1% every lap, for instance, you can do so. What’s more, the model for an initial proof of concept can be ready in days rather than months, and at a tiny fraction of the cost of a physical prototype.

Add up the additional prototype costs, the stoppages due to bad weather or broken cars and the delays to the program before physical prototypes become available, and the return on investment for a DIL simulator becomes clear. What’s harder to absorb is the upfront cost, which can be a seven-figure commitment.

For smaller organizations, and those who only require DIL facilities periodically, this investment can be prohibitive. Under those circumstances it makes sense to do what the industry often does for other pieces of high-capital equipment – rent it from someone else.

Fortunately, simulators such as the Delta S3’s open and modular architecture is software agnostic, making it compatible with all major simulation tools. A model that has been developed and used for offline testing in an industry standard tool such as AVL VSM, IPG CarMaker or Mechanical Simulation CarSim can be plugged virtually straight into the simulator. The center even allows customers to build their own bespoke cabins to use on the shared motion platform and store on-site.

Access to facilities such as Bay Zoltán will allow technology developers to harness the power of DIL simulation. It provides a platform to explore new possibilities earlier in the program and at lower cost than physical testing. And, most importantly, it delivers insights that you can only get with a human being sitting at the controls.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleMaserati GT2 hits the track for inaugural test runs
Next Article Q&A: Kentaro Honda, segment chief engineer, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
Ian Haigh, team lead, Ansible Motion

Related Posts

Tire Testing

Nexen Tire establishes winter tire testing center in Finland

April 14, 20253 Mins Read
Full-vehicle Testing

Transforming automotive time-to-market – Now or never for traditional auto makers

April 10, 20257 Mins Read
Batteries & Powertrain Testing

Battery swelling analysis becomes key tool for Hofer Powertrain

April 9, 20251 Min Read
Latest News

Final handling tests for Alpine A390 sport fastback

April 28, 2025

Mustang installs R&D heavy-duty test stand at Texas A&M

April 28, 2025

Thales to help Michelin protect and expand its software business

April 28, 2025
Free Weekly E-Newsletter

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Our Social Channels
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
  • Meet the Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
RELATED UKI TITLES
  • Automotive Interiors
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle
  • Professional Motorsport
  • Tire Technology
  • Media Pack
© 2025 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Notice & Takedown Policy
  • Site FAQs

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Others

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

SAVE & ACCEPT