At the PMW Expo earlier this month, we set ourselves a challenge: to validate a virtual vehicle, using a Cruden M646-D3 driving simulator, in two days, from scratch. Starting with guestimated parameters, we asked race engineers from Van Amersfoort Racing and F1 simulator driver, Nick Yelloly, to demonstrate to show-goers how this is done in real life. Check out our video.

Initial validation was done in several steps, comparing data from Nick's simulator runs with data from the real vehicle. We did data analysis with the tools used by the race team in its F3 program, changing parameters on-the-fly and with help from Cruden’s expert engineers. Once we got closer to the real car, subjective driver feedback and simulator feel became increasingly important; brake pedal behavior and motion cueing were fine-tuned to enable Nick to get the optimum feel from the car. By the end of day two, the vehicle model was fine-tuned to an advanced state of validation, where the driver was happy that realistic car behavior had been achieved. The virtual car is now at a level where it can be used for driver training purposes.

If you are looking to activate or upgrade a simulator program in 2017 and are interested to learn how we can help you get there with simulators, software, vehicle models and content, then write to Martijn de Mooij via info@cruden.com or call +31 20 707 4668.

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