Wiltshire-based AB Dynamics (www.abdynamics.com), a leading automotive test system supplier, has launched a new global testing service division. It says the new offering has been driven by customer demand following the rapid expansion of the complexity and quantity of vehicle testing and assessment.

The division will provide expertise, resource and equipment, enabling some customers to carry out testing that they would not have been able to previously and others to meet strict deadlines.

Regulatory and consumer testing is expanding rapidly, placing increasing pressures on manufacturers. In 2014, the Euro NCAP assessment included 6 ADAS test scenarios, in 2020 it is now 39, an increase of 650%.

On top of this, the drive for safety has meant that advanced technologies that were once the preserve of prestige vehicles are now commonplace at all price levels, resulting in a growing number of vehicle models requiring driver assistance and crash avoidance testing.

By 2022 many advanced driver assistance systems will be made mandatory for all new cars in 40 countries.

Wesley Hulshof, AB Dynamics Testing Services senior applications engineer, said: “Vehicle testing and assessment is more complex and requires more resource than ever before, and this trend is likely to continue as the scenarios evolve.

“This poses a significant challenge, whether you are a major vehicle manufacturer or test laboratory lacking the resource to carry out the required quantity of testing, or a start-up that doesn’t have the test equipment or expertise. Our service is a scalable and flexible solution to meet the customers’ specific needs.”

AB Dynamics’ testing services are split into three distinct areas: consultancy, training and testing. It offers a scalable ‘one-stop’ testing solution, which encompasses its class-leading test equipment and expertise.

All of the company’s products are designed and built in-house and the company works in close association with major consumer and regulatory testing groups. Its equipment is used by every Euro NCAP test laboratory as well as authorities carrying out tests for NHTSA and UNECE.

Mr Hulahoff said: “By taking advantage of our extensive knowledge, clients can negotiate even the most complex of testing scenarios. This allows them to progress projects as efficiently as possible, achieve greater testing capacity and enhance the skillsets of their own teams.

“In particular, customers may find our support most beneficial in staging increasingly common swarm testing environments that require the accurate control of seven or more vehicles or targets.

“These swarm scenarios, which are becoming essential for developing autonomous driving technologies, can quickly strain an entire lab’s resources and knowledge. This type of test requires a significant investment in testing equipment and choreographing the scenario can be incredibly complex.”

AB Dynamics’ unique Simpia toolchain software is used throughout all of its products, meaning complicated ADAS or AV test scenarios need only be generated once and can then be precisely replicated from virtual testing on the simulator to real life on the test track or vice versa, achieving considerable time savings.

The flexibility of the service is particularly beneficial for smaller companies which only have a limited need for testing, perhaps for a standalone project.

It allows them to complete their own programme without the need for heavy investment in personnel and equipment, giving access to an ‘on-demand’ service that provides the opportunity to bid for bigger projects.

The service is tailored to an individual customer’s requirements, whether it's consultancy, training or the completion of physical testing. Using its extensive suite of test products, AB Dynamics can provide a ‘turn up and test’ service, supplying and operating the test objects only, or, if preferred, control the entire scenario on a customer-supplied test vehicle. With several international bases and the ability to transport teams and equipment, it is a global service offering.

Mr Hulahoff concluded: “Our robots and test systems have long been adopted world-wide as the first choice for vehicle testing and so our knowledge of the industry and equipment is unrivalled.

“By passing on this expertise to our customers, we are ensuring that they can successfully overcome any testing challenges as a result of evolving technology and, if they do already have the relevant knowledge, help them to optimise their workload and efficiency.”