METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TESTING COUPLED HYBRID DYNAMIC SYSTEMS

• US 20150134291A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Fricke, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,371,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/113
• 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: G01M 17/0074 Details, e.g. roller construction, vehicle restraining devices

Abstract

A test system and method for testing a coupled hybrid dynamic system in simulated motion along a path (242) includes a physical test rig (206) configured to test a physical component (208). A processor (30) is configured with modeled test data (218), a first virtual model portion and a second virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, the first virtual model portion (204), the second virtual model (202) portion and the physical component (80) comprising the coupled hybrid dynamic system. The processor (30) is configured to control the test rig (206) such that the component under test (208) responds to the second virtual model portion (202), that in turn receives a first input (272) comprising the modeled test data (218), a second input (216) being motion of the first virtual model portion (204) of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, a third input (214) being a control mode response from the test rig having (206) the physical component (208) under test and a fourth input (272) comprising guidance controls for the coupled hybrid dynamic system.

Claims

1. A test system for testing a coupled hybrid dynamic system, the test system comprising:

a physical test rig configured to test a physical component;

a non-transitory computer storage device storing modeled test data, a first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system and a second virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, the first virtual model portion, the second virtual model portion and the physical component comprising the coupled hybrid dynamic system; and

a processor operable with the storage device and configured to execute instructions comprising operating the physical test rig such that the physical component under test responds to the second virtual model portion of the system, that in turn receives a first input comprising the modeled test data, a second input being a response of the first virtual model portion and a third input being a control mode response from the test rig having the physical component under test.

2. The test system of claim 1 and wherein the instructions comprise the first virtual model portion responding to a response from the test rig having the physical structural component.

3. The test system of claim 2 and wherein the response from the test rig having the physical structural component corresponds to a plurality of defined attachment points between the physical structural component and the first virtual model portion.

4. The test system of claim 3 and wherein the response from the test rig having the physical structural component comprise coupling forces at the plurality of defined attachment points.

5. The test system of claim 4 and wherein the response of the first virtual model portion comprises motion.

6. The test system of claim 5 wherein the coupled hybrid dynamic system comprises a moving body.

7. The test system of claim 6 wherein the moving body comprises a vehicle and the modeled test data comprises a road upon which the vehicle travels.

8. The test system of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to have guidance control inputs for the second virtual model portion corresponding to a driver of the vehicle.

9. The test system of claim 8 wherein the first virtual model portion comprises a vehicle body.

10. A test system for testing a coupled hybrid dynamic system in simulated motion along a path, the test system comprising:

a physical test rig configured to test a physical component;

a processor configured with modeled test data, a first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system and a second virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, the first virtual model portion, the second virtual model portion and the physical component comprising the coupled hybrid dynamic system, the processor being configured to control the physical test rig such that the physical component under test responds to the second virtual model portion, that in turn receives a first input comprising the modeled test data, a second input being motion of the first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, a third input being a control mode response from the test rig having the physical component under test and a fourth input comprising guidance controls for the coupled hybrid dynamic system.

11. The test system of claim 10 and wherein the first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system responds to a response from the test rig having the physical structural component.

12. The test system of claim 11 and wherein the response from the test rig having the physical structural component corresponds to a plurality of defined attachment points between the physical structural component and the first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system.

13. The test system of claim 12 and wherein the response from the test rig having the physical structural component comprise coupling forces at the plurality of defined attachment points.

14. The test system of claim 13 wherein the coupled hybrid dynamic system comprises a vehicle and the guidance controls correspond to a driver of the vehicle.

15. The test system of claim 14 wherein the modeled test data comprises a road upon which the vehicle travels.

16. The test system of claim 13 wherein the coupled hybrid dynamic system comprises a vehicle and the first virtual model portion comprises a body of the vehicle.

17. A test system for testing a coupled hybrid dynamic system in simulated motion along a path, the test system comprising:

a physical test rig configured to test a physical component;

a processor configured with a first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system and a second virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, the first virtual model portion, the second virtual model portion and the physical component comprising the coupled hybrid dynamic system wherein a plurality of attachment points define connection between the physical structural component and the first virtual model portion of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, wherein the processor is configured with virtual guidance control for the first virtual model portion, and wherein the processor is configured such that a drive for the physical test rig that corresponds to the first virtual model portion, the second virtual model portion and the physical component moving together along the path is obtained by iteratively applying drives until virtual guidance control for the first virtual model portion is at least negligible when inputs into the first virtual model corresponding to the attachment points from a response of the physical test rig to a drive cause the first virtual model portion to move with the second virtual model portion along the path.

18. The test system of claim 17 wherein the drives are based on guidance inputs for the second virtual model portion, the second virtual model portion further responding to motion of the first virtual model portion and a response from the physical test rig.

19. The test system of claim 18 wherein the guidance inputs for the second virtual model portion are iteratively corrected.

20. The test system of claim 17 wherein the inputs into the first virtual model corresponding to the attachment points comprise forces.

21. The test system of claim 17 wherein the coupled hybrid dynamic system comprises a vehicle and the first virtual model portion comprises a body of the vehicle.