The concept of Driving Simulation

With DYNAMIC SELECT, the handling characteristics of the new-generation A-Class can be altered instantaneously at the push of a button. DYNAMIC SELECT allows a particularly broad range of setting options in combination with the new suspension featuring the Adaptive Damping System. The suspension experts at Mercedes-Benz were already experimenting with the variance of the damping characteristics before an operational prototype was available: the so-called ride simulator at the development centre in Sindelfingen enabled virtual test drives to be carried out with the new suspension right from an early phase of the development process.

For the purposes of these early suspension tests, the engineers fed the so-called ride simulator at the development centre in Sindelfingen with the surface data from real-life test stretches and the corresponding suspension data of the Adaptive Damping System on the A-Class. In this way, it was possible to carry out virtual test drives with the new suspension using the two seats on the test rig right from an early phase of the development process.

Numerous simulators are employed as standard practice in the development and testing of new vehicles at Mercedes-Benz. "Digital prototypes" of a vehicle which are created with the aid of high-performance computers enable comprehensive testing of a new model in many driving situations before the actual vehicle exists in real life. As a result, the actual prototypes attain a higher maturity level more quickly, enabling even more detailed testing.

The best possible development results are obtained by intelligently combining state-of-the-art simulation methods with highly intensive practical trials covering many millions of kilometres. The latter remain an indispensable part of the development process. As such, simulation and simulators are no substitute for real-life tests, but rather serve to supplement these tests.

As a safety pioneer, Mercedes-Benz has always been a trailblazer in simulator technology. It was 30 years ago, on 10 May 1985, that the first driving simulator, developed in-house, was commissioned at the Daimler-Benz research centre in Berlin-Marienfelde. The motion system was unique in the automotive industry at the time. And Mercedes-Benz continues to lead the way in the field of simulators:

 

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