A British firm is digitally recreating Italy’s famous Nardò test track, to “accelerate development” of the next generation of electric vehicles.
The project, headed by software specialists rFpro, will see the famous Nardò Technical Centre’s test circuit created in the virtual world, to allow carmakers to test the performance of new platforms before physically building them.
This, the firm says, will allow engineers to assess their vehicle’s benchmark performance at the start of the design cycle, saving both time and money.
“As the industry moves from ICE to electrification, vehicle dynamicists are having to re-write their rule book,” says Matt Daley, operations director at rFpro.
“The way an electrified powertrain interacts with the chassis is significantly different to that of a traditional engine. As a result, vehicle dynamic engineers want to accelerate their understanding of this change to prevent issues arising later in the development cycle.”
Owned by Porsche, the Nardò venue is one of the leading proving grounds in the world and is a go-to resource for major automotive manufacturers. Its 3.9-mile handling track features a 1000m straight and 16 corners of varying radius and speed. Its renowned layout, which includes crests, bumps and kerbs, makes it ideal for developing new chassis technologies, firms who have used it say.
Managing director of the track Antonio Gratis also backed the plans, adding: “By creating a digital twin of our handling track, we will enable manufacturers to speed up their chassis development programs for systems such as suspension, steering and braking.”
rFpro says that for the digital version to be effective as a development tool, it must be as accurate as the real thing. To achieve this, phase-based laser scanning is being used to create models with an accuracy of around 1mm.