In 2012 ABD supplied a Combined Brake and Accelerator Robot to the Transport Research Center Inc. in Ohio, USA, facilitating the development of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) test methodology on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
FCW and LDW testing are to be included in a new US NCAP program entitled "Testing of Advanced Technologies on Passenger Vehicles".
TRC Inc. has also discovered that its ABD robot can be used in other areas, playing a particularly important role in pass-by noise testing. The SAE J1470 procedure calls for 50kph entry speed followed by wide-open throttle (which must occur within a time-frame of less than a quarter of a second). This was a particular challenge for human drivers, but can be easily set up using the CBAR and GPS triggering. According to TRC Inc., this method has been found to be repeatable and accurate.
See TRC Inc. website.
Photo credit: TRC Inc.