Enhanced Emissions and Powertrain Testing

Compliance with emissions standards is a central issue in vehicle certification globally. As most automotive OEMs produce vehicles for global clientele, compliance with different standards in each region creates burdens from an administrative and design standpoint. Vehicle makers have a strong interest in harmonizing emissions test procedures and performance requirements on a global scale. As such, stakeholders launched an initiative for a new global technical regulation on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) that aims to harmonize emissions-related test procedures for light-duty vehicles around the world.

Burke E. Porter Machinery Company (BEP), a member of the Burke Porter Group, actively participates on global automotive emissions standards committees and conferences and is well versed in the mandated EPA, SAE, and WLTP procedures. BEP’s global customer base relies on the company’s expertise in emissions testing regulations to ensure that they are meeting all standards and specifications worldwide.

CONTACT US

BEP has been working with the WLTP in mind to create the latest technology, its Dyno Controller – generation 4 (D4). D4 is capable of light-duty vehicle certified emissions testing. It integrates and automates the new WLTP, SAE and EPA 1066 test procedures and dynamometer performance evaluations. With automated WLTP test procedures in place, risk for the customer is reduced and manufacturers can be assured that regulatory test requirements are met, wherever their cars are sold.

Today’s vehicles are equipped with multiple electronic control units throughout the engine and powertrain systems. The new BEP D4 Controller and Cell Controller platform are capable of interfacing directly with the vehicle’s computer system for vehicle troubleshooting, diagnostics and development. The D4 CAN bus interface is seamlessly built into the latest BEP Cell Controller software suite and test sequencer.

The new CAN bus interface can monitor values, setup faults and warnings based on internal control signals in the vehicle, as well as logging multiple channels of vehicle data. The D4 cell controller simplifies and automates the process of connecting to the vehicle and setting up the OBD2 communication strings and replies.

Vehicle testing needs are changing rapidly, and the D4 Cell Controller platform is designed to grow as testing needs evolve. New displays, controls, graphs and widgets can easily be added and configured by the operator at any time. Test sequences can be added or modified simply by dragging and dropping blocks using a flowchart-based design tool.

At the heart of the D4 Cell Controller platform is a Quad core industrial PC running the latest QNX real-time operating system. This is a mission-critical computer that runs a real-time test execution engine. This engine provides deterministic control of the test sequencing, displays, dynamometer, fan, driver’s aid, grade profile, robot, vehicle communications, logging and more. It also manages the easily configurable and extendable data acquisition and vehicle communications hardware.

The advanced D4 Cell Controller platform is designed to simplify certified emissions testing and improve powertrain development efficiency. Since 1953, BEP has continued to help automakers meet global regulatory standards and quality assurance in production. BEP’s state-of-the-art technology is offered around the globe, along with customer support. As an expert in the design and manufacture of intelligent machinery, BEP continues to develop new concepts to better cater to customer needs. For more information on our D4 Technology, please reach out to the BEP team below.

CONTACT US

Originally published within Automotive Testing Technology International magazine here.