Continental has announced the debut of a new driving simulator that will be used for the development of new tires, especially in original equipment.
The brand has revealed that virtual tire tests will allow for cost savings, raw material savings, and reduced development times. The highly technological system is known as the «driver-in-the-loop» (DIL) simulator and has the ability to calculate the exact parameters of tire driving dynamics in the corresponding test vehicle.
Thanks to its high maneuverability, the simulator can provide professional test drivers with driving sensations comparable to those of tire tests on a real track.
«Virtual development methods allow us to provide even more efficient solutions tailored to the needs and requirements of our customers. Virtual kilometers also play an important role in preserving valuable resources,» revealed Bernd Korte, head of light tire development at Continental.
With the new driving simulator, Continental will reduce development times and minimize costs and the use of raw materials. «With this driving technology, we evaluate and optimize a tire before physically building it for the first time,» explained Julian Kroeber, responsible for the tire simulator. «This allows us to further optimize our development process.»
The simulator is prepared to evaluate all types of tires, and the «crucial advantage is that tire parameters can be digitally adjusted at any time. This means that driving tests can be repeated at short intervals and driving impressions can be directly compared,» adds Continental in a statement.
