Conti develops autonomous vehicle to test brake performance

HANOVER, Germany—Continental A.G. has developed a driverless and fully electric test vehicle designed for measuring the braking performance of passenger car tires.

The AVA—analytic vehicle AIBA—enables precise monitoring of the frictional properties of tires during braking maneuvers on dry and wet roads, Continental said in a May 2 news release.

The machine, the German tire maker said, combines the advantages of a model-independent test method with the controlled and reproducible test environment of its automated indoor braking analyzer (AIBA).

The AIBA has been in operation since 2012 and offers a 75-meter test track, in an air-conditioned area and up to five road surfaces for brake testing.

With the new vehicle, Continental said it can now perform tests regardless of vehicle specific characteristics.

"With this, Continental has one of the world's most advanced and precise tire braking test methods," it added.

Continental's flagship R&D center Contidrom near Hanover, Germany, currently houses the vehicle.

"Our analytic vehicle AVA helps us to analyze the performance of our premium tires in even greater detail and systematically develop them," said Boris Mergell, head of tire R&D.

For tire braking tests, the AVA is accelerated to a test speed of about 40 mph (65 kmh) with the aid of an electromagnetic linear drive, which is derived from roller coaster technology.

Then, several fully automated braking tests are carried out.

The AVA drive system is equipped with two electrically driven axles, which are powered by a high-performance battery.

The high maximum torque, Continental said, ensures that a constant speed can be maintained, while the test tires on the third axle can be systematically braked.

The integrated braking system of the AVA is equipped with "brake-by-wire technology" from Continental's automotive business sector.

Unlike conventional hydraulic braking systems, the technology transfers braking signal electronically.

Here, the brake response is "very quick and precise," which is essential for accurate testing or measuring, Continental said.

"Our AVA determines the transmission of forces between the tire and the road surface, while various slipping states, so-called "µ-slip curves," are precisely reproducible," said Meletis Xigakis, responsible for global tire testing.

"With the… technology we measure all of the forces which act between the tire and the road surface during braking," he added.

The data produced from the test will enable Continental to compare its tires and their various compound compositions "even more precisely" and help it optimize them for their special uses, Xigakis added.