BIRMINGHAM, UK - 10th October 2005 - As an integral part of the TRW booth at the IAA 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show Conekt was contracted to design two interactive simulators. These simulators were intended to demonstrate TRW's integrated safety technologies to important customers as well as members of the public over the two week period.
Help screens on the simulators were used to guide the user though a simulation of each TRW system demonstrated through 4 "Worldwide" Scenarios: Test Centre; US Highway; Urban Tokyo; and European Alpine.
The Test Centre Scenario provided a simple oval track for learning the basics of vehicle control. Once this scenario was mastered, the users could move onto the other more challenging scenarios which provided locations to trial a variety of other active and passive safety technologies including driver assistance systems, stability control systems and braking systems. It also demonstrated how these technologies could work interactively, for example the interaction of the TRW's active control retractor with a vehicle's airbag system.
The simulator was based around the Conekt active steering wheel system (ASWS) which provides a realistic steering feel when driving through simulated terrain. It incorporated a fully integrated unit containing brushless AC electric motor, ECU, gearbox and a sensor to measure driver torque, hand wheel angle & velocity. An advanced vehicle handling model designed by Randle Engineering enabled limit handling tests on different (and mixed) friction surfaces with accurate feedback through the ASWS.
The standard ASWS can be purchased from Conekt or bespoke simulator systems can be developed to specification. Applications include military and civilian vehicle training simulators as well as steering development programmes.
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