February 22, 2020 |
Pirelli’s new simulator to reduce tyre development time and the number physical prototypes needed
The experience gained from Formula 1 and motorsport now comes to the road. The new simulator is the latest instalment of Pirelli’s far-reaching digitalisation strategy.
Pirelli’s brand-new simulator, recently inaugurated at the company’s renowned research and development division in Milan, will reduce tyre development time as well as the number of physical prototypes needed. It will further enhance the close working relationship between the Italian firm and the world’s best-known car manufacturers.
The new simulator aims to accelerate development cycles and tyre testing, reduces lead times and reinforces the strong partnerships with leading car makers, thanks to a more agile interaction between Pirelli and these key producers of prestige and premium vehicles.
Courtesy of this cutting-edge technology, there is now a 30% reduction in average development time for new tyres, both for the road and motorsport, as virtual prototypes produced for different car models can be assessed faster. The new simulator makes it possible for different development parameters to be rapidly remodelled, leading to a faster exchange of digital information between Pirelli and the manufacturers.
Compared to traditional development methods, the simulator allows a virtual model of any car, either supplied by the manufacturer or produced internally, to be quickly programmed into the system, while joint design and development work can also be carried out on the manufacturer’s own simulator. This means that with new car models being introduced more frequently, tyre development lead times remain perfectly in step with those of the cars that they are destined for.
Furthermore, the use of a simulator to maximise the virtual development phase means that the number of actual physical prototypes made is reduced, which is in step with Pirelli’s sustainability ethos and the consequent benefits to the environment.
FORMULA 1 TECHNOLOGY TAKES TO THE ROAD
Advanced simulation has been used for more than 10 years in the design and development of Formula 1 and other motorsport tyres. Now this technology, paired with the long experience of Pirelli's research and development department, is also being utilised for road-going tyres.
The simulator is produced by VI-grade and consists of a wrap-round 210-degree panoramic screen, 7.5 metres in diameter, which visually reproduces a wide range of different driving conditions, roads, and circuits. At the heart of the system is a static car equipped with various active technologies. These exactly reproduce the sensations that any driver would feel in a real car through the seat, steering wheel, seat belts, and different shaker systems, which precisely replicate the movements of the suspension and engine.
The whole process is coordinated by a control room, which can programme the simulator to reproduce the different technical specifications of any tyre or car. The results are carefully logged, measuring the interaction between the tyre and the ‘road’, as well as all other parameters relevant to tyre behaviour. These can then be added to the subjective impressions felt by the test ‘driver’.
The important work carried out on this simulator can be integrated with the dynamic simulator project (designed to reproduce lateral and longitudinal accelerations, as well as rotations), which will be installed at Politecnico di Milano. Pirelli has enjoyed a long collaboration with this institution, carrying out test work complementary to the activities at the company’s own research and development centre in Milan.
Source: Pirelli
