Ahead of expected updates of European regulation and the Euro NCAP protocols, which will require increasing levels of virtual assessment, two automotive development and validation companies are joining forces. IPG Automotive, a simulation expert, and UTAC, an accredited laboratory for assessment and technical service, have started a collaboration to create a joint solution that offers simulation and assessment from a single source.
The aim of the partnership is to improve the efficiency of vehicle development processes, jointly developing a simulation and validation solution that will be distributed by IPG Automotive.
The solution will include catalogues of the required scenarios that can be tested in IPG’s CarMaker simulation software and evaluated using the UTAC score. The partners are focusing on realistic virtual test environments such as test tracks, targets and driving robots, as well as on the correlation of simulation and physical testing. The solution will be adapted continuously according to the latest requirements.
“With this partnership, we support our customers to prepare vehicles and vehicle components more efficiently and precisely to meet the ambitious safety requirements of the upcoming Euro NCAP evaluations,” stated Steffen Schmidt, president & CEO of IPG Automotive.
“With our simulation solutions and based on UTAC’s expertise, manufacturers can perform and validate an extensive number of required tests already in early development stages. This does not only save costs and time, but it also offers an ideal basis to achieve outstanding results in future Euro NCAP evaluations – which in turn increases trust with consumers and improves the manufacturer’s market position,” he added.
Laurent Midrier, UTAC’s VP of strategy & expertise added, “UTAC believes that digital simulation, track and open road testing are tools that combine to improve vehicle reliability and safety, which is why we have been conducting R&D work for several years. This partnership will also enable us to share the results of this work with the customers of IPG Automotive.”
