Dynamics : Major new automotive proving ground adopts AB Dynamics' products

ZalaZone, a state-of-the-art test facility located in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, has selected AB Dynamics as the exclusive supplier of automotive testing equipment for use at the 265-hectare site.

The company placed a substantial order of test equipment from AB Dynamics including driving robots, ADAS platforms and a drive-by-wire system which will facilitate the creation of complex testing scenarios for the validation of safety systems, including those used on autonomous vehicles.

ZalaZone will be the largest urban proving ground in Europe and features a highway, high-speed oval track, Smart City Zone along with a 1.2-mile handling course for testing stability, steering and lane-keeping assist functions.

The test facility selected AB Dynamics' SR60 Orbit steering robots and combined brake and accelerator robot (CBAR) so that vehicles can be controlled to drive accurately and repeatedly to create desired scenarios. ADAS targets included AB Dynamics' Guided Soft Target (GST) for representing real vehicles along with Soft Pedestrian Target (SPT) and LaunchPad platforms for representing Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) in test scenarios. The Flex-0 drive-by-wire control system was selected as a cost and time-effective solution for populating regular cars as other 'background' traffic with minimal risk of collision.

The equipment will allow ZalaZone to achieve their mission of creating an all-round test environment focussing on connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), but also including electric vehicles testing and vehicle dynamics testing of conventional vehicles. AB Dynamics is one of the few companies with the technology that enables customers to progress from virtual laboratory-based evaluation to real-world track testing in a single digital environment.

Zoltán Hamar, CEO of ZalaZone explained: 'We chose AB Dynamics as our sole supplier as we were impressed by their technical knowledge and expertise. This, combined with their comprehensive suite of test equipment which met all our current and future requirements, made it a clear choice. We look forward to working together and exploring their lab-based products in the future.'

Jeremy Ash, Sales Director at AB Dynamics commented: 'ZalaZone will play a vital role in the testing of active safety systems and CAVs, and we are delighted to be contributing key technologies which will broaden its vehicle testing capabilities. We look forward to a long relationship with ZalaZone as we continue to develop technologies to suit future testing requirements.'