rFpro is supplying simulator software to power the world’s first vehicle dynamics grade DIL simulator for a motorcycle application. The technology enables manufacturers to evaluate alternative chassis configurations using riders with different styles and ability levels in a controlled, safe environment.
“Simulating the dynamics of a motorcycle accurately is incredibly challenging due to the mobility of the rider and the unique steering characteristics of the vehicle,” said technical director Chris Hoyle. “By working alongside a motorcycle manufacturer to create our technology we have been able to develop and validate solutions to these hurdles and so enable DIL simulation to significantly reduce development time and cost.”
Major differences arise between motorcycle applications and other vehicles due to the completely different steering dynamics and the freedom of the rider to move around on the machine. In a car, the steering angle is an input from the driver and the steer torque is fed back to them as a system output. On a motorcycle the opposite happens; the rider applies a steering torque to the handlebars and the vehicle model calculates the appropriate steering angle for the front wheel.
The ground-breaking application is being developed for a confidential customer by system integrator Ansible Motion and, in addition to the simulator software, rFpro is supplying a number of digital test track models to enable direct comparison with existing physical data.
March 21, 2017
