TEST SYSTEM

• US 20140297098A1
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: YOSHIMOTO, Hiroshi, HAYAMA, Ryouhei, TAGAMI, Masaharu, MAROONIAN, Aris, KADA, Tomoyasu
• Granted Patent: US 9,448,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A test system includes an actual machine including a test piece that is a mechanical element of a vehicle, the actual machine being installed in a first location; a control device that is installed in the first location, and controls the actual machine; a model installed in a second location away from the first location; and a data processor that is installed in the second location, and is connected to the actual machine or the control device via a communication line so that data communication is performed, the data processor acquiring data from the actual machine via the communication line so that an operation test is performed. The data processor calculates a target value for controlling the actual machine based on an output acquired by inputting the acquired data to the model, and the control device controls the actual machine based on the target value.

Claims

1. A test system comprising:

an actual machine including a test piece that is a mechanical element of a vehicle, the actual machine being installed in a first location;

a control device that is installed in the first location, and controls the actual machine;

a model installed in a second location away from the first location; and

a data processor that is installed in the second location, and is connected to the actual machine or the control device via a communication line so that data communication is performed, the data processor acquiring data from the actual machine via the communication line so that an operation test is performed, wherein

the data processor calculates a target value for controlling the actual machine based on an output acquired by inputting the acquired data to the model, and the control device controls the actual machine based on the target value.

2. The test system according to claim 1, wherein:

a first actual machine that is the actual machine and a first simulated machine that simulates an operation of a second actual machine that is another mechanical element coupled to the first actual machine are installed in the first location;

the second actual machine and a second simulated machine that simulates an operation of the first actual machine are installed in the second location;

the second actual machine and the second simulated machine are mechanically coupled to each other, and the first simulated machine and the first actual machine are mechanically coupled to each other;

the first simulated machine, the second actual machine, the second simulated machine, and the first actual machine are connected to a network so that data communication is performed and the operation test is performed;

the test system includes a first data processor that is connected to the first simulated machine and acquires data from the second actual machine via the network in each communication cycle, and a second data processor that is the data processor, and that is connected to the second simulated machine and acquires data from the first actual machine via the network in each communication cycle; and

the first data processor calculates an estimated value used for performing interpolation on the data acquired in each communication cycle, and the second data processor calculates an estimated value used for performing interpolation on the data acquired in each communication cycle.

3. The test system according to claim 2, wherein:

the first data processor calculates a control target value for the first simulated machine using the data on the second actual machine on which the interpolation has been performed using the estimated value, and controls the first simulated machine using the calculated control target value; and

the second data processor calculates a control target value for the second simulated machine using the data on the first actual machine on which the interpolation has been performed using the estimated value, and controls the second simulated machine using the calculated control target value.

4. The test system according to claim 3, wherein when the data acquired from the second actual machine is different from the estimated value by a threshold value or greater, the first data processor calculates the control target value using only the data acquired from the second actual machine.

5. The test system according to claim 4, wherein the first data processor transmits the calculated control target value to the second data processor and the second data processor controls the second simulated machine using the received control target value.

6. The test system according to claim 5, wherein the first data processor transmits a flag indicating an abnormal state together with the calculated control target value, to the second data processor.

7. The test system according to claim 1, wherein

the test system is a vehicle test system;

the vehicle test system includes a driving simulator, and a vehicle test apparatus which is connected with the driving simulator via the communication line, and in which a test piece is mounted, the test piece being a mechanical element of the vehicle;

the driving simulator includes a transmitter unit that transmits a vehicle operation signal to the vehicle test apparatus;

the vehicle test apparatus includes a receiver unit that receives the vehicle operation signal, a vehicle behavior calculating unit that is the processor, and that operates the test piece based on a content of the received vehicle operation signal so as to input measurement data, which is obtained by measuring a motion of the test piece, to a vehicle model that is the model, and to acquire output data, and a vehicle behavior database that stores vehicle behavior data including operation data indicating the content of the vehicle operation signal and the output data corresponding to the operation data;

the vehicle test apparatus transmits the vehicle behavior data stored in the vehicle behavior database to the driving simulator; and

the driving simulator is operated using the transmitted vehicle behavior data in response to a driver'"'"'s vehicle operation.

8. A test system comprising:

a first actual machine that is installed in a first location, and that is a mechanical element of a vehicle;

a second actual machine that is another mechanical element coupled to the first actual machine, the second actual machine being installed in a second location away from the first location;

a first simulated machine that is installed in the first location, and simulates an operation of the second actual machine;

a second simulated machine that is installed in the second location, and simulates an operation of the first actual machine, the second actual machine and the second simulated machine being mechanically coupled to each other, the first simulated machine and the first actual machine being mechanically coupled to each other, and the first simulated machine, the second actual machine, the second simulated machine, and the first actual machine being connected to a network so that data communication is performed and an operation test is performed;

a first data processor that is connected to the first simulated machine and acquires data from the second actual machine via the network in each communication cycle; and

a second data processor that is connected to the second simulated machine and acquires data from the first actual machine via the network in each communication cycle,

wherein the first data processor calculates an estimated value used for performing interpolation on the data acquired in each communication cycle, and

wherein the second data processor calculates an estimated value used for performing interpolation on the data acquired in each communication cycle.

9. A vehicle test system comprising:

a driving simulator; and

a vehicle test apparatus which is connected with the driving simulator via a communication line, and in which a test piece is mounted, the test piece being a mechanical element of a vehicle, wherein;

the driving simulator includes a transmitter unit that transmits a vehicle operation signal to the vehicle test apparatus;

the vehicle test apparatus includes a receiver unit that receives the vehicle operation signal, a vehicle behavior calculating unit that operates the test piece based on a content of the received vehicle operation signal so as to input measurement data, which is obtained by measuring a motion of the test piece, to a vehicle model, and to acquire output data, and a vehicle behavior database that stores vehicle behavior data including operation data indicating the content of the vehicle operation signal and the output data corresponding to the operation data;

the vehicle test apparatus transmits the vehicle behavior data stored in the vehicle behavior database to the driving simulator; and

the driving simulator is operated using the transmitted vehicle behavior data in response to a driver'"'"'s vehicle operation.

10. A motion control method for a driving simulator, comprising:

connecting the driving simulator to a vehicle test apparatus in which a test piece is mounted, via a communication line, the test piece being a mechanical element of a vehicle;

transmitting a vehicle operation signal, by the driving simulator, to the vehicle test apparatus;

operating the test piece, by the vehicle test apparatus, based on a content of the vehicle operation signal so as to input measurement data, which is obtained by measuring a motion of the test piece, to a vehicle model, and to acquire output data;

creating, by the vehicle test apparatus, a vehicle behavior database that stores vehicle behavior data including operation data indicating the content of the vehicle operation signal and the output data corresponding to the operation data;

transmitting, by the vehicle test apparatus, the vehicle behavior data stored in the vehicle behavior database to the driving simulator; and

operating the driving simulator using the transmitted vehicle behavior data in response to a driver'"'"'s vehicle operation.

11. The motion control method according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle behavior database is created by performing a preliminary behavior estimating test so as to estimate a vehicle behavior in a steering input pattern.