Press Release Please send specimen copy and queries to: FEV GmbH, Neuenhofstraße 181, 52078 Aachen, Mr. Gälweiler, Tel. 0241 5689 6452 – Engineers from Aachen established real-time connection between test benches for increased efficiency In order to achieve significant time and cost reduction in the development process, FEV and the Institute for Combustion Engines of the RWTH Aachen University (VKA) have implemented a virtual connection between two test benches. The test environment consists of spatially separated test benches, which are connected by a real-time deterministic EtherCAT in both test benches are connection. “The dynamometers controlled in a way that achieves the equivalent system behavior of a real mechanical shaft,” explains Professor Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of FEV Group and Director of the Institute for Combustion Engines of the RWTH Aachen this an interaction for example between University. „With – engine and transmission is achieved during the prototype – phase before both components are able to be adapted, thus saving important development time.“ The test effort of modern hybrid drives is significantly higher when compared to conventional powertrains. The main reason for this lies in the higher number and more complex interaction of the components. At the same time, current trends in powertrain development for to result in – example, ”road rig“ approaches – the movement of significant portions of the development process from the vehicle to the test bench and, thus, into earlier project phases. New solutions must be found to manage this increasing test complexity and to accelerate development cycles. Against
Press Release Please send specimen copy and queries to: FEV GmbH, Neuenhofstraße 181, 52078 Aachen, Mr. Gälweiler, Tel. 0241 – 5689 6452 Engineers from Aachen established real-time connection between test benches for increased efficiency In order to achieve significant time and cost reduction in the development process, FEV and the Institute for Combustion Engines of the RWTH Aachen University (VKA) have implemented a virtual connection between two test benches. The test environment consists of spatially separated test benches, which are connected by a real-time deterministic EtherCAT connection. “The dynamometers in both test benches are controlled in a way that achieves the equivalent system behavior of a real mechanical shaft,” explains Professor Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of FEV Group and Director of the Institute for Combustion Engines of the RWTH Aachen University. „With this an interaction – for example between engine and transmission – is achieved during the prototype phase before both components are able to be adapted, thus saving important development time.“ The test effort of modern hybrid drives is significantly higher when compared to conventional powertrains. The main reason for this lies in the higher number and more complex interaction of the components. At the same time, current trends in powertrain development – for example, ”road to rig“ approaches – result in the movement of significant portions of the development process from the vehicle to the test bench and, thus, into earlier project phases. New solutions must be found to manage this increasing test complexity and to accelerate development cycles. Against