Jan 31, 2018

Path Following in VBOX Test Suite


An update to VBOX Test Suite software that allows test drivers to accurately follow a prescribed path during testing is now available.

The Path-Following feature has been developed as a result of VBOX customer requirements to achieve greater levels of testing consistency. When conducting wet braking tests, for instance, inconsistencies in track surfaces (perhaps as a result of certain areas becoming ‘polished’) can lead to less consistent braking distance measurements. It therefore becomes vital that tests are conducted in exactly the same area, but this is difficult to achieve without guidance for the driver. Indeed, it can be very difficult to drive on the same piece of tarmac in manoeuvres such as clock wise and counter clockwise roll gradient tests without using a steering robot – incurring significant time and financial overheads.

The Test Suite software predicts the path that the driver should take by using an algorithm which includes speed and heading prediction. It is challenging for drivers to follow a live and immediate guidance accurately, so the prediction aspect of the algorithm ‘soaks up’ the latency of human actions at the wheel and the mechanical response of the vehicle. This cancels out any oscillations in driven line that occur when attempting to drive in such a precise manner: the VBTS software offers this predictive guidance in a number of display options to accommodate driver preference.

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