Cruden BV, a leading manufacturer of interactive motion-based simulators, has developed a new generic tyre model for its “driver-in-the-loop vehicle simulators.” According to the company, the main benefit of the generic tyre model is that it makes full motion simulation more affordable to tyre manufacturers. And of course the key selling point associated with virtual tyre testing – as opposed to physical tyre testing – is that it allows for unlimited evaluation of multiple tyre models by test drivers in a perfectly repeatable environment. Which in simple terms means reduced tyre testing costs (both in terms of time and money.

Cruden’s tyre model, developed using the Magic Formula 6.1., is designed to allow engineers to measure, test and adjust tyre properties such as cornering stiffness and maximum peak friction values, and to perform sensitivity studies towards inflation pressure or thermal effects. And now the company has added a new external physics plug-in, so engineers can “seamlessly and automatically integrate their MATLAB Simulink-based tyre models with the Cruden simulator.” The system offers real time data logging and parameter tuning on-the-fly via Real Time Workshop which means engineers can change parameters and monitor signals constantly throughout the simulation.