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Bosch Rexroth Builds Advanced Motion Simulation Systems for Autonomous Driving

December 17, 2020 by Stephanie Leonida

Bosch Rexroth created two driving simulator systems to provide manufacturers with insights into the world of driverless vehicle transport.

Bosch Rexroth is a global provider of drive and control technologies. The company’s expertise spans engineering, machinery, mobile applications, and factory automation market segments.

The group provides customers with products that encompass mobile hydraulics and electronics, linear motion and tightening technology, electric drives and controls, robotic product assistants, resistance welding, and more.

Recently, Rexroth constructed two simulators, the High Dynamic (HD) and High Fidelity (HF) simulators, that enable automotive manufacturers to recreate two different driving experiences. 

 

High Dynamic Simulators

Creating simulations for driverless vehicles in various scenarios can provide manufacturers with a more accurate and immersive experience. The insights and fine details may contribute to developing key features to ensure safe and efficient driverless vehicle performance. 

 

Rexroth’s HD simulator working in conjunction with BMW Group. Image courtesy of Bosch Rexroth.

 

Rexroth’s HD simulator is designed to provide a simulated experience of driving on highways at high speeds and high accelerations. “The HD simulator only has seven directions of freedom, but is capable of generating a greater sensation of acceleration,” said Ronald Bekker, Project Manager for Bosch Rexroth in a recent press release

 

High Fidelity Simulators

The HF simulator enables users to feel what it is like to drive autonomously in cities or on country roads with varying speeds and accelerations. 

“The HF simulator has nine directions of freedom as driving in cities tends to involve sharper turns, frequent changes in direction and speed,” Bekker explained. 

The HF system features the largest X-Y table displaying an 18 m x 15 m displacement. The large displacement allows for the generation of a wide variety of driving scenarios. On top of the highly-robust X-Y table, the HF motion platform also has a high-performance hexapod and rotating yaw table. The HD system can achieve up to 1 g acceleration (specified by BMW Group) and velocities of up to 8 m/s. This enables the testing of vehicle dynamics during the design phase and prototyping.

Both the HF and HD systems use linear motors, with the HD system incorporating more motors to reach higher acceleration and deceleration forces. Rexroth also developed a new rail wheel system and electrical linear motors without moving parts for the simulation systems. This helps generate higher maximum speeds and reducing noise respectively. 

 

Bosch Rexroth Partnering with AV Simulations

While Rexroth will be providing the motion systems, an external partner, AV Simulations, will provide the dome, mock-up car, and 360-degree projection equipment.

 

The Bosch Rexroth motion systems working with simulation techniques. Image courtesy of Bosch Rexroth.

 

Both HF and HD systems present their “own engineering challenges, especially as a primary goal is for both to be as immersive as possible, which means we need the systems to be very responsive and at the same time as smooth and silent as possible, which are contradictive requirements,” commented Bekker. 

Bosch Rexroth hopes these motion systems and simulation techniques will help drive innovation in the automotive industry.