In recent decades there has been a decided shift in the way new cars are introduced into the marketplace. Compression of time-to-market cycles has been unprecedented; auto manufacturers are designing, developing, testing, refining, approving, and deploying vehicles into the world faster than ever before. And this is occurring simultaneously with the uptake and integration of staggering engineering-level complexities in the form of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems as well as on-board technologies such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
An economist might call this scenario a "problem" in the classic economic sense, i.e., one of the means of production (the available time to design and test a new vehicle) is changing and so too is at least one of the ends of production (the definition of what defines a "good car"). So the question becomes: What can be done to help solve this "problem?"
Early Warning System
Many manufacturers are tackling this situation by implementing methods that can detect and catch vehicle problems as early as possible in the development cycle, when they are much less likely to cause program delays – and when they are cheaper and easier to fix. A good catch is one that occurs either in the digital prototype / virtual verification stage or in the first few rounds of physical prototyping. Beyond this there may simply be too much inertia in any modern development programme to do anything but apply counter-measures.
One early detection method that has proven successful is the inclusion of engineering class Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulation within the vehicle development process. A DIL simulator is but one possible tool, but for this discussion let's use it as an example of a practical "early warning system." Before implementing such a tool one might logically ask this: If we have an early warning system such as a DIL simulator, what exactly is it that we wish to be warned about? Here are three considerations:
Brand Identity
Nothing can destroy a vehicle's brand identity and uniqueness faster than homogenising the driving experience in an attempt to satisfy an overwhelming number of connectivity requirements – internal, external, and/or regulatory. DIL simulation, by its very definition as a tool to connect real people with imagined systems, can help ensure that traditional vehicle performance and character attributes don’t get lost in the drive for multi-system integration, fault-free software implementations, and so on. As technology continues to pour into vehicle developments in the coming years, there will likely be a stronger case for the virtual test drive, for keeping real people as close to the simulation and development process as possible.
Silo Syndrome
As vehicles become more sophisticated, more connected, the individual mechanical and electronic subsystems that make up the collective are each becoming increasingly specialised and complex. The risk is that this can lead to functional developments occurring in isolation, to the extent that less-than-optimal overall performance is realised when the systems finally merge later in the programme.
Next-gen DIL simulator technology makes it possible for subsystem teams to experience the effect that their development directions and decisions might have on other functional areas. How is this possible? One mechanism is the simple fact that DIL simulation actively invites human participation in what would otherwise be off-line simulations. Another mechanism is the heightened value of subjective feedback in the context of vetting new system implementations, i.e., it is not necessary to objectively scrutinise experimental data if an experiment is subjectively unacceptable, so efficiency gains can be realised in many cases.
Future Shock
We can guess with some measure of confidence that we are only on the leading edge of a wave of new vehicle technologies. Using DIL simulation to place real people into contact with imagined systems early and often in the development process – even before physical prototypes are available – is crucial not only for catching and resolving problems but for keeping pace in a rapidly changing marketplace.
The benefits of virtual verification via Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation - and other off-line approaches - are well known. Now it is possible to extend these domains to include subjective assessments and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) considerations. For example, a properly configured DIL simulator can be connected directly to existing HIL test benches and SIL models to safely explore conflicting demands placed upon driving as a control task, or to evaluate new-to-market systems via virtual test drives. Closing the loop with a real person, figuratively and literally, is perhaps one of the best ways to "stay connected."
To learn more about how engineering class Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulators are becoming a primary vehicle development tool, download our FREE eBook, Looking down the road: Harnessing the benefits of driving simulator technology.
