WINDSOR, Ontario, Sept. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The FCA
Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC) inaugurated
a new Vehicle Dynamics Simulator (VDS) lab today, launching the
most advanced driving simulator technology available in
North America. With nine
directions of movement and specific driver calibration, the new
simulator closely duplicates the actual driving experience.
"Our new VDS is cutting-edge technology that emulates a
vehicle's driving dynamics in a real time, virtual environment,"
said Tony Mancina, Head of
Engineering, FCA Canada. "This new technology offers the driver a
customized virtual immersion that replicates the ride and handling
of a specific vehicle on a multitude of simulated road surfaces and
driving environments."
Most driving simulators make use of six actuators to deliver six
"degrees of freedom." However, to accurately reproduce vehicle
ride, handling and acceleration characteristics, the FCA VDS system
uses nine actuators to create additional ranges of motion that
create a closer immersion to an actual vehicle.
A notable feature of the new VDS is a three-micron cushion of
air, which floats the entire 4.5-tonne motion platform above the
floor like a hovercraft or air-hockey puck, allowing for a quiet
and seamless motion via the massive electric actuators.
The new simulator has the ability to add subsystems, such as
brake and steering, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), to create a hardware in the loop test
bench to better meet functional targets. This strategy helps reduce
product development times and lower project validation costs.
"The ability to simulate a drive experience with hardware in the
loop is key to our engineering efforts and assists in identifying
design changes much earlier in the development process," said
Rob Wichman, Head of FCA Vehicle
Engineering. "By using simulators, we can create a virtual
environment to assess the ride and handling of a vehicle, perform
tests on sensor technology for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
(ADAS) applications, evaluate different Human Machine Interface
(HMI) configurations, and test for driver distraction and
distraction remedies."
The simulator can be fitted with any vehicle body, road and
environment. To create a visual experience on the five projector
screens, data is collected by scanning the environments and the
different roads, such as FCA's proving grounds in Chelsea, Michigan. The data is then stitched
together to create a real-time virtual environment that can include
elevation changes, off-camber roads and potholes.
Initially, the VDS will be used to support Chassis Vehicle
Dynamics, but in the future will be used to support development of
ADAS and HMI systems. With an overall investment of $10.1 million CAD, including support from the
Ontario government through the
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, FCA worked with VI-grade,
the developer of the new driving simulator technology.
About FCA Canada
Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, FCA Canada Inc. is
based in Windsor, Ontario, and
celebrates its 94th anniversary in 2019. FCA Canada is a wholly
owned subsidiary of FCA US LLC, a North American automaker based in
Auburn Hills, Michigan and member
of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of
companies. FCA Canada has approximately 440 dealers and sells
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as
the SRT performance designation. The company also distributes Mopar
and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. In addition to its assembly
facilities, which produce the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica
Hybrid and Dodge Grand Caravan (Windsor), Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and
Dodge Challenger (Brampton), FCA
Canada operates an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, a research and development centre
in Windsor, and has sales offices
and parts distribution centers throughout the country.
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SOURCE FCA US LLC