Virtual test drive in the application process of ESP®-systems to ensure performance and robustness

Abstract

Vehicle dynamics simulation is a well established tool in the function development and in software testing of ESP® - the Electronic Stability Program. Due to an increase of vehicle variants, additional ESP® features, legal requirements and the pressure to increase the overall efficiency in the development process vehicle dynamics simulation is becoming more and more a part of the ESP® application process. For this purpose increased requirements of the simulation models, the set-up process of the simulation environment and finally the test cases have to be met. This paper describes the ESP® specific simulation methods, the environment and the related process between OEM and supplier to set-up and run the simulation platform commonly. Examples are presented which are applied in two phases in the application process. One is the frontloading process to set-up an initial mature software (SW) supported with simulation. The other one is the handling of projects with a large amount of vehicle variants. In both cases simulation is used to ensure the performance and robustness of the overall vehicle and ESP® system. © Springer-Verlag 2013.