Automotive test system supplier with a diverse range of track and lab testing equipment, AB Dynamics has launched a new compact Vulnerable Road User (VRU) test platform, capable of safe and controlled testing at speeds of up to 80 km/h and braking at over 0.6g.
According to the company, it is by far the only platform that fully meets the speed requirements of Euro NCAP's AEB/LSS VRU Test Protocol for motorcycle testing due to come into effect in 2023.
The company's LaunchPad products cater to all VRU targets. The new LaunchPad 80 joins the 50 and 60 models in the LaunchPad range, which are already trusted by more than 90 OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and test facility customers worldwide. The LaunchPad 80's significant speed increase has been achieved through more powerful motors, doubling amplifier and battery power and engineering superior electrical efficiency from cell to wheel.
Motorcyclists and moped riders are among the most vulnerable on the roads. Despite making up less than 1% of traffic, they account for around 20% of road deaths and have the highest casualty and fatality rates per distance travelled of all road users.
Testing of vehicle systems designed to tackle this disparity has been limited by the speed and braking capability of the available platforms. However, the company said that the new LaunchPad 80 makes realistic high-speed ADAS testing with motorcycle targets possible in preparation for forthcoming Euro NCAP test protocols.
With dummy motorcyclist or moped targets attached, the remotely-operated platform can be used to test driver assistance systems such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and blind-spot detection.
Targets emulate real-world objects' visual and radar profiles, ensuring a test vehicle's systems identify the target just as they would the real thing. If a vehicle collides with the target, the compact LaunchPad 80 can be driven over by the test vehicle with minimal risk of damage. The target can be reassembled and reused.
Once programmed to follow a pre-defined path, the LaunchPad can recreate even the most dangerous real-world traffic scenarios without risk and with complete repeatability. The company's synchro system ensures the LaunchPad 80 arrives at the intersection point with the vehicle being tested at exactly the right time, with the system controlling up to 16 individual test objects for even the most challenging multi-vehicle multi-target scenarios.