Automotive
Services
Improving design and performance is the fuel for the future of the automotive industry.
OptimumG gets that. That’s why the world’s best automakers rely on us for complete solutions in testing, simulating, and vehicle improvement. Whether you want us to do the work or train your team in our ways—we’re here for what you need.
Tire Testing
Over the last 20 years, OptimumG has tested and modeled thousands of passenger cars in labs and on tracks over hundreds of days, for dozens of clients. Not only is our tire-testing service proven, it’s complete and includes test preparation, execution, test data analysis, tire modeling, and a detailed test report with recommendations on how the tire model extracted from test data can be used in vehicle design, and how to validate these tire models with on-track testing.
Another important offering is tire benchmarking—comparing different types of tires with the same brand or different brands.
Tire tests for racing customers include a study of thermal influence and heat cycles on tire performance and consistency. We can then quickly use the data to define car setup choices such as camber and pressure, while the model created with our software, OptimumTire, can be used as input in simulations.
Accurate tire data and tire models are vital. That’s why OptimumG offers tire data collection and processing. Our modeling services convert raw data into tire models you can use in vehicle simulations and decision making.
And thanks to our years of experience, proven tools, and documented methods, matching a tire to a vehicle is now much easier.
Why choose OptimumG for Tire Testing?
- OptimumG has performed tire testing on more than 50 projects since 2009.
- We share not only all data, but also all methods. We test and fit any type of tire models, from simple and widely used steady state, to more complex transient, thermal, or FEA-like models.
- We offer fast and cost-effective solutions with our proprietary tire analysis software, OptimumTire.
- We can analyze tire data to share recommendations on getting the most out of a tire package, whether you optimize vehicle design or vehicle setup.
- We can scale tire models generated on a Flat-Trac® machine as well as tire forces generated on the road, so simulation matches reality.
Center of Gravity & Inertia Testing
Because knowing where the center of gravity and moments of inertia are in vehicles is so key for performance and safety, you can count on OptimumG to pinpoint it every time. We know these items are required inputs for any simulation software, so we always measure them.
Kinematics & Compliance Testing
Testing your vehicle on a kinematics and compliance (K&C) rig can give you needed insight into factors behind ride and handling—tough to see in simulation or to find with on-track testing.
These measurements offer a fundamental understanding of the vehicle’s suspension characteristics. These tests are often performed at Morse Measurements and Aerodyne in North Carolina; at SEA in Ohio; or at car or tire manufacturers’ test facilities. Test results are used in car benchmarking as inputs in vehicle dynamic simulation.
Why choose OptimumG for Kinematics & Compliance Testing?
- We can characterize the vehicle suspension using K&C Testing.
- We will be using the K&C testing results to create a reliable and accurate vehicle model.
- We can uncover problems with your car’s design and manufacturing process by analyzing test results.
4/7 Post Rig Testing
The transient response of any vehicle is closely related to its damping characteristics. And we know that testing on four, seven, or eight-post rigs is a powerful tool to tune the damping and stiffness settings of any vehicle.
Whether it’s about ride quality, tire load variation, or platform control, OptimumG has the tools, experience, and know-how to help determine the best settings.
4/7 Post-Rig Testing Delivers a Fundamental Understanding of the Vehicle’s Suspension
- Mechanical evaluations (find structural/vibration issues, validate chassis stiffness)
- Vehicle characterizations (determine actual system frequencies and damping)
- Performance optimizations (quantify effect of damper/springs/ARBs, validate steady-state, and transient vehicle balance)
Vehicle Instrumentation
OptimumG helps you select, design, install, and calibrate data acquisition hardware to vehicles and other test equipment. Our engineers are experienced in using accelerometer sensors, ride height sensors, inertial measurement units, slip angle sensors, wheel force transducers, and steering robots.
And we make sure you get the most cost-effective solution for your requirement.
OptimumG can perform the following:
- Hardware / software sourcing
- Wiring loom and sensor installations
- Data logger and sensor setup / configuration
- Testing, calibration, and validation
- Fault-finding
OptimumG owns a fully equipped sensor and data acquisition set to make live demonstrations of vehicle testing and data analysis. In 2018, we performed a three-day test in Argentina where we fully equipped a passenger vehicle, tested it, and presented the data on the last day.
Vehicle Testing (Subjective & Objective Evaluation)
Getting and analyzing objective vehicle performance data is an essential part of the holistic vehicle development process. Comparing objective test data from any manufacturer’s vehicles to similar vehicles yields a quantifiable amount of vehicle performance improvement to match competitors. The long-term intent is not only to benchmark vehicles against what’s on the market, but also to push the company’s vehicles past just average performance.
The test includes:
Vehicle Configuration
Vehicle Instrumentation
- Sensors List
- Data Acquisition Setup
- Filter Specification
Track Surface Characterization
Tire Specifications
Test Procedures
- Slow Increasing Steer (ISO 4138)
- Constant Radius Cornering (ISO 4138)
- Step Steer (ISO 7401)
- Continuous Sinusoidal Input (ISO 7401)
- Braking in a turn (ISO 7975)
- Power-off reaction (ISO 9816)
Weather Report
OptimumG engineers rate the performance of the vehicle using a set of criteria. These ratings are then correlated against objective metrics which are extracted from test data. The list of subjective evaluation criteria includes:
- On-center window: The general feel and responsiveness of the steering wheel at the center position. A good rating generally means that the steering wheel tends to return to center when a small input is applied.
- Steering feedback: How well the steering wheel torque correlates with vehicle behavior. A vehicle with a linear response typically has a good rating under this criterion.
- Connected feel: How well the vehicle movement (roll, pitch, and yaw) correlates to driver inputs (steering, brake, and throttle).
- Lane change: How stable the car feels during a lane change maneuver.
- Control: The amount of yaw response to a steer input.
- Stability: The ability of the car to remain in its trajectory after a small disturbance.
- Grip: The maximum lateral acceleration the vehicle can have during a cornering maneuver.
- Balance: How much the car oversteers/understeers during corner entry, apex, or exit.
- Breakaway: How the vehicle behaves past its maximum acceleration point. A good rating generally represents a gradual breakaway with no sudden changes in vehicle behavior.
- Throttle and braking behavior: General performance evaluation of the throttle and braking systems.
- Confidence level: General evaluation of the amount of confidence the driver has on the stability of the vehicle.
Vehicle Modeling, Simulation, & Validation
OptimumG combines both MSC Adams Car® and OptimumDynamics, our vehicle dynamics software, to create a full-vehicle model and perform steady-state and transient-state simulations. We create a full-vehicle model with parameters from previous tests.
MSC Adams Car®
Simulations using the MSC Adams Car® software suite typically try to replicate testing scenarios. Parameters and metrics extracted from these simulations can then be compared against real test data. The list of simulation events includes:
- Slow Increasing Steer (ISO 4138)
- Constant Radius Cornering (ISO 4138)
- Step Steer (ISO 7401)
- Continuous Sinusoidal Input (ISO 7401)
- Braking in a turn (ISO 7975)
- Power-off reaction (ISO 9816)
Yaw Moment Method
Yaw Moment Method simulations can show how different vehicle subsystems (tires, suspension, aerodynamics, drivetrain, etc.) influence a vehicle’s handling and performance. This methodology also shows how vehicles respond in different situations, so detailed information on the track isn’t necessary to run a simulation.
OptimumG also uses OptimumDynamics to perform simulations following the Yaw Moment Method.
This simulation’s outputs include fundamental characteristics such as grip, balance, stability, and control.
Examples:
Examples:
- How much understeer does the car have in a high-speed corner?
- How is the stability during hard braking?
- How much does the balance shift when throttle is applied?
OptimumG has successfully used this kind of simulation for both racing and passenger cars.
Ready to work with us?