In this article:
- State-of-the-art driving simulators enable race car manufacturers to reduce design and development time, saving on training time and costs
- The level of motion fidelity needed for the application is crucial and Moog works with customers to evaluate requirements and ensure the right technology is used
Moog Industrial Group designed and delivered a high performance driving simulator for race car test and simulation for leading race car manufacturer Dallara. The company had been looking for a way to effectively shorten product development time and reduce the cost of testing and driver training compared to track testing. Dallara asked Moog, the market leader in electric 6 DOF (six degrees of freedom) motion bases, to provide the motion system with dome, steering wheel control loading, electric cabinet with real time controller and real time PC with Moog cueing software to enhance the performance of its driving simulator. The solution is based on high-fidelity motion simulation technology that has been used successfully in innovative test and training systems for the aerospace, defense and automotive industries.
Dallara Automobili, based in Varano de’ Melegari, Italy, provides design, engineering and support for some of the world’s most competitive car racing teams. Since the driving simulator was delivered in 2010, Dallara has reaped a wide range of benefits from using the Moog Test System including saving training time and costs, eliminating potential problems and safety concerns with using a racetrack, enabling better evaluation of design choices, and providing early feedback in the development process.
The high performance driving simulator was specially developed for test and simulation in motorsport. For this application, very low latency and high acceleration and velocity are required so race car drivers can experience the most accurate feel of the car’s behavior. For the 6 DOF motion system, Moog designed new actuators that feature higher stiffness at lower weight to meet stringent frequency response specifications.
The integration of a Moog control loading system provides the force feedback during steering and the special shape and construction of the dome, as well as the high quality visual system helped improve the fidelity of the system.
Most high performance driving simulators use a control loading system to simulate the force feel of driver controls. The technology has been widely used for decades for flight controls in flight simulation. A highly responsive actuator (control loader) combined with an intelligent controller creates the most realistic experience. Amplifying a signal from the real-time computer, the servo drive transmits electric control signals to the control loader to produce the required force. Software on the host model computer sends the required forces, which correspond with the vehicle type and drive scheme.
Moog Driving Simulator at Dallara (courtesy of Dallara)
“Over the two years that the simulator has been operational, it has proved to be an indispensable tool for us to reduce the development time and costs for new products and the cost for car setup optimization and driver training as part of race preparations,” says Andrea Pontremoli, CEO and General Manager from Dallara. “It has contributed greatly in the evaluation and refinement of car parts and bodies prior to the production phase. For example, we have reduced the number of prototypes—most of the early prototyping can now be done by using sophisticated models and testing them in the simulator.”
The advantages of preparing drivers for races in a simulator are numerous. Dallara saves considerable time and money without compromising training quality. Drivers can even feel the little bumps in the racetrack that are so characteristic of certain circuits as a laser scans the racetrack and the results are loaded into the circuit software model. When combined with the highly responsive Moog actuators and sophisticated algorithms in the motion cueing software, this creates a highly realistic driving experience. Training in the simulator also helps Dallara to optimize the car settings prior to the race. As a result, fewer training laps are needed to reach the optimal settings. Even race tactics can be discussed, prepared and instructed while using the simulator. Another advantage is that a simulator is available every day, all day, whereas training on the racetrack is bound by time limitations.
View from the control room at the simulator (courtesy of Dallara)
Other important benefits are that the simulator eliminates many problems associated with a racetrack and improves safety. When training is done on the racetrack, there is a chance that the car might suffer electrical or mechanical problems that can negatively impact the training process and even influence the turnout of a race. Although racing on circuits has become safer, it cannot compete with the absolute level of safety that a high performance simulator provides.
In addition to the advantages of driver training, Dallara has reduced its design and development times for car parts, bodies and complete models. The simulator makes it possible to accurately measure the effect of certain design choices. The new car model is loaded into the simulator and the driver can then test it. The procedure can be used for assessing new aerodynamic parts, springs and shock absorbers, and testing how tire behavior and degradation changes with the level of fuel. A simulator verifies driving aspects of a car design just as a wind tunnel does this for aerodynamics.
View from inside the simulator (Courtesy of Dallara)
There are numerous advantages to using a driving simulator to obtain driver feedback early in the development process including identifying improvements in the vehicle model and reducing the need for design alternatives. A simulator environment also offers the possibility of including feedback from less experienced drivers. It provides a safe environment under all kinds of driving conditions, including more dangerous maneuvers.
Moog has provided motion systems for driving simulators used by a variety of automotive OEMs and component manufacturers. Driving simulators with various setups can also be used for other applications, such as evaluating the ride and comfort of a car, investigating the behavior of drivers, and evaluating active driver assistance systems. In applications like these, a high performance driving simulator also represents an extremely useful tool for developing designs of road cars and optimizing their prototypes. The required level of fidelity for the application plays a crucial role in selecting the type of simulator and motion system and Moog works with customers to evaluate requirements and ensure the right technology is used.
Authors
Fons Hoeberichts, programme manager test systems and Frans Niewold, systems and application engineer test systems, Moog
Frans Niewold is systems and application engineer test systems at Moog, where he is involved in the development of test systems for the automotive industry. He joined Moog in 2004 as a software and application engineer responsible for software and technology development of Motion Systems for fixed- and rotary wing simulator projects. Frans studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Twente, the Netherlands.
Fons Hoeberichts is programme manager test systems at Moog, where he focuses on test systems for the automotive industry. He joined Moog in 2008 as business development manager. Previously, he worked for NedCar where in 1995 he started as Noise and Vibration Engineer and later was appointed as Test Engineer Noise and Vibration. Fons studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Contributors
Andrea Pontremoli, CEO and general manager, Dallara
Gert Jan van Hilten, marketing communication specialist, Moog