Mercedes has unveiled a hyper-realistic simulator for testing upcoming technologies in all stages of production.
The simulator is located at the Mercedes Benz Technology Centre, at the Sindelfingen plant in Stuttgart, Germany. A special pod houses a complete vehicle, which is mounted on a hexagonal platform.
Each corner of the pod is mounted on a hydraulic 'leg', while the walls are made of up projector screens that provide a 360-degree simulated view. Pedestrians, scenery, buildings, traffic and the road are all visible.
All of this is linked up to the car's drive systems, so turning the steering wheel in the car will be simulated on-screen and through the platform. The software is able to simulate drive-under-braking or body-roll during cornering, complete with real-life movement.
Physics calculations take place 1 000 times a second, and at its extreme, the platform can move transversely by 12 metres at a speed of 36KMph, a function Mercedes engineers say can be used to simulate double-lane changes.
Dr Thomas Weber, head of development at Mercedes Benz, explains that the simulator allows Mercedes to test automotive drive systems and components at all stages of development.
While the simulator isn't meant to replace actual on-road test drives, it provides a risk-free environment for test drivers to approach physical limits, and perform even more complex manoeuvres than previously possible.
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