Efficient Development Processes
IAV is always on the cutting edge for you: We continually improve our development processes – so that we can handle our clients' projects quickly and efficiently at all time while keeping costs low and ensuring constant high quality. How do we do it? Our members of staff only use ISO-certified processes. We also make this expertise available to our clients in the form of consulting services.
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Dynamic Test-Bench Calibration of Engine and Transmission Maps
For several years now, a separate department within IAV has been developing processes for the automated test-bench calibration of engines and transmissions.
These are based, for example, on:
- Design of Experiments (DoE)
- Other model-based approaches and
- Data-based concepts with neural networks
We drastically cut calibration time by applying the DoE process in calibrating maps with several degrees of freedom. Using the physical models that are derived, we are in a position to optimize emissions, fuel consumption and other characteristic values off-line at the desk while allowing for trade-off limits. Together with the test-bench control system, the process can be applied on an automated basis using IAV's MPI2 tool.
Automated In-Vehicle Controller Calibration
Calibration on the vehicle itself involves optimizing and laying out algorithms that are constantly growing in complexity. This is where IAV has developed a tool of its own that provides the calibrator with support identifying the system to be calibrated in the vehicle. Doing so, the process tool replaces the driver and the recurring, unattractive tasks of the calibrator, automatically and reproducibly stating the operating points to be measured in the vehicle. The controller system is identified, the optimum controller parameters satisfying the calibrator's specifications are entered. These tools are capable of significantly reducing the development times for diesel/gasoline or hybrid calibration activities in the vehicle. They also enhance quality and documentation – real benefits for our clients.
Virtual Engine Development
As a provider of development services, we are often required to combine many seemingly contradictory aims and bring them together under one (engine) "hood". For example, we see ourselves confronted with the following demands:
- Shorter Development Times
- Growing Model Diversity
- Increasing Power Output with Lower Fuel Consumption
- Tighter Emission Standards
Meeting these demands involves much more than looking at individual functions or components. As a modern development-service provider, IAV focuses its attention on the overall powertrain system and the overall product development process. To evaluate functions, producibilty and installability, a large number of calculations and investigations are necessary on virtual components at an early stage in the development process.
Sophisticated Tools
Our tools come up to the most exacting of requirements: They efficiently provide a highly accurate picture of reality and of specific processes. IAV's developers are provided with virtual tools for simulating the entire powertrain. This makes it possible to predict with precision all forms of operating behavior and characteristic properties on the computer screen. This procedure shortens development phases and, in some cases, can do away with them completely. Simulation results are evaluated as soon as the first hardware is generated with efficient prototyping methods. This holistic approach to the development process permits significant quality improvements and high potential savings.
Software and Algorithm Development Process
For many years, IAV has been developing software for real-time capable systems. These, for example, represent the entire V-Model development process. In addition, individual modules are developed and applied, for instance, in the context of complex functions as well as safety-critical functions.
Our ISO-certified processes are currently being extended and audited in connection with the SPICE process. These processes allow IAV to handle global projects efficiently and ensure our customary high level of quality and punctuality.
Automated Test Processes
Testing processes form an integral part of many trials and project work activities. In this context, it is important not to underestimate the growing complexity of components, functions, sub-systems or overall systems. An exact time schedule and good system skills are necessary to obtain resilient results. The interdisciplinary IAV Test Suite involves the use of many test methods of our own. In addition to standard tools, we are, for example, in the process of developing a specific test software package for the automated generation of test vectors for graphic programs, such as Matlab(R). We also integrate test management software and use Software-in-the-Loop or Hardware-in-the-Loop systems for testing complete systems.