Customer Projects
We have a wide variety of motorsport customers ranging from research companies and engineering centres to Formula One teams. Here, three of our partners explain how they have used our simulators.
Wirth Research
Wirth Research is an innovative engineering group specialising in research, development, design and manufacture for the motor racing industry and other high technology sectors. The company uses advances in virtual engineering technology to enable simulated testing and vehicle development, and has been a partner of Cruden's for more than three years. It is well-known for its work in the collaborative design, development and manufacture of the Acura ARX sports cars in partnership with Honda Performance Development Inc., a vehicle that was tested extensively at the company's Northamptonshire (UK) base before the car even turned a wheel, thanks to the simulator. International racing drivers know Wirth Research as a facility where they can learn new tracks, test car settings and undergo bespoke coaching programmes.
"Wirth Research has worked with Cruden for 3 years, and we have developed an excellent working relationship with them during this time. They are the only company that has the provision in-house for the full set of features we require - a full motion system and force feedback, image generation software and vehicle dynamics models. We stay in frequent touch and share ongoing developments. I am continually impressed by the Cruden team's flexibility and prompt response to our needs."
Nick Wirth FREng CEng FIMechE
Technical Director
Wirth Research, Banbury, UK
For further information, go to www.wirthresearch.com
Click here to see James Allen�s visit to the simulator at Wirth Research for the lgeracing1 channel.
Base Performance
Founded by Darren Turner, one the UK's most successful and experienced racing drivers, Base Performance delivers simulator, race and road car development and driver training programmes for the motorsport and automotive industries. The company works with race teams and vehicle manufacturers to quickly develop and optimise simulators into workable tools, in order to achieve better results, utilising its extensive experience of Formula One simulators and road and race car development. Base Performance also offers driver coaching services, either with or without the use of simulators.
"Race car simulators are becoming one of the most vital tools in vehicle and driver development. Cruden's equipment gives drivers the ability to be absorbed into virtual reality. Its clean and realistic motion rewards the driver with precision and feedback," says Base Performance director, Darren Turner.
Base Performance, Banbury, UK
For further information, go to www.baseperformance.net
The Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research
The Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (VIPER) is a unique collaborative venture which combines world class talent and state-of-the-art testing and development assets with the research capabilities of both Virginia Tech and Old Dominion. With facilities located at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) and NASA Langley, VIPER provides a full suite of performance engineering services, research opportunities and educational programmes. Its broad spectrum of customers - ranging from club racers and championship-winning works race teams, to cutting edge start-ups, the Department of Defense, and niche and multinational vehicle manufacturers - have access to the Cruden simulator for driver training and evaluation, virtual prototype testing, stochastic driver model development and entertainment uses.
"When VIPER began looking to source a full motion driving simulator, our requirements were quite lofty. VIPER as a blended service and research organisation wanted a system which not only provided a high fidelity driving simulation experience, but also one that had the versatility and flexibility to be used in a research environment. We not only found a system that met our requirements in the Hexatech, but we also found the perfect development partner in Cruden. The Hexatech has given us the ability to provide world-class driving simulation experiences to our customers, while also providing us the tools we need to push forward the state-of-the-art in vehicle dynamics simulation."
Steve C. Southward
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (0238) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Virginia Institute for Performance Research and Engineering (VIPER), Alton, VA, USA
For more information, go to www.viperservice.com
Astauto
Astauto Ltd was established in 1991 by Sergio Rinland as a Design, Engineering and Management consultancy specialising in Formula 1. It has since expanded into other forms of motorsport, ranging from Touring Cars, Indy Cars, GP2, Le Mans GT and Prototypes as well as providing consultancy to the motorsport and automotive sectors. Astauto provides services across a wide range of disciplines from the design and development of complete cars and/or components to aerodynamic, vehicle dynamics and structural analysis and development of existing vehicles using the latest technologies and simulation methods as well as managing whole projects.
"Driver-in-the-loop simulators today may be a commodity in motorsport, but Maarten van Donselaar and Cruden have been the pioneers of this technology and are today a leader in the Industry. We have worked with Maarten for a number of years on DIL simulators and I can count Cruden as a partner in all our simulation business."
Sergio Rinland
Founder, Astauto Ltd.
