The steering wheel is one of the most important control elements in a vehicle. The most common steering concept today is front-axle electric power steering (EPS), which involves an electric motor to support the driver during steering. In addition, innovative concepts such as rear-axle steering or complete steer-by-wire applications are increasingly being developed. Steer-by-wire systems no longer require a mechanical steering column. All system components are connected by electrical means. To meet your individual requirements, we offer scalable solutions for developing and testing your steering systems and related components. Benefit from our scalable prototyping solutions or our wide range of high-performance test systems.

When it comes to EPS, the assisting motor can be installed on the steering column (column EPS) or on the steering rack (rack EPS).

Challenges

Challenges

Today’s steering systems require electronic control units (ECUs) to manage the interaction between their mechanical, electrical, and electronic components and to ensure safe operation.

In early development stages, SIL testing helps to test new functions, such as lane keeping or automatic parking, and the control algorithms of the electric motor itself. To bring first ideas to life, prototyping platforms are required which provide the interfaces to control the electric motor and the vehicle communication. During HIL testing at the signal level, the ECU can be put to the test in every conceivable situation without real power components. Testing real power electronics requires power HIL systems, which supply real currents and real voltages to emulate the real motor. To achieve full test coverage, all real parts, including the motor or the complete steering mechanics, must be added to the test setup. Dynamic mechatronic test benches are used to apply mechanical load torques or forces.

Our Solutions for Steering Systems

For steering ECUs and steering systems, dSPACE offers a wide portfolio of systems that can be applied throughout the entire development process, from SIL testing and rapid prototyping to testing at the signal level and the power level. Our test systems range from small desktop real-time systems and low-voltage power HIL systems to compact rotary test benches and large, high-performance steering test benches using linear actuators for applications that require maximum dynamics and precision. 

Simulation Modeling

Mathematical real-time models

Mathematical real-time models

Use simulation modeling to create a digital twin of a physical system to predict its behavior in the real world under all circumstances.

More about Simulation Modeling

Rapid Prototyping

Function development from autonomous driving to zero emissions

Function development from autonomous driving to zero emissions

Our scalable and comprehensive dSPACE prototyping systems help to bring your ideas to life in mechatronic control design and data-driven development.

More about Rapid Prototyping

Production Software Development

Optimized Production Software Development

Optimized Production Software Development

The central challenges in production software development include the optimization of RAM resources, run time, and integration into the overall system. Furthermore, it must be possible to split the software in such a way that regular software updates are possible. And before the final software release, special validation and often a release process are required.

More about Production Software Development

SIL Testing

Software-in-the loop (SIL) testing with the powerful dSPACE solution for PC- and cloud-based simulation

Software-in-the loop (SIL) testing with the powerful dSPACE solution for PC- and cloud-based simulation

With the dSPACE solution for software-in-the loop (SIL) testing, you can significantly accelerate your software development process by testing and validating virtually. dSPACE offers you a complete, modular, scalable development and test solution. You can conveniently simulate a device-under-test on a PC, connect it to physics-based models, run scalable tests in the cloud, and then easily reuse test scripts on hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems.

More about SIL Testing

HIL Testing

Central Test Method for Validating ECUs

Central Test Method for Validating ECUs

The dSPACE HIL test systems provide a simulated environment for efficient and reproducible validation of real ECUs in the laboratory 24/7. This increases test coverage and shortens validation times significantly. Our HIL solutions cover all vehicle domains from autonomous driving to zero emissions – starting with component testing and up to virtual vehicle testing.

More about HIL Testing

Power HIL Testing

Closing the Gap Between HIL and Dynamometer Testing

Closing the Gap Between HIL and Dynamometer Testing

With our power HIL systems, we offer ready-to-use solutions for testing any kind of inverter, including the controller and power electronics, at full power. Using real voltages and currents, our systems enable you to complete exceptionally rigorous tests. Our systems behave like a digital twin of the real system and allow for easy configuration with just a few clicks, which significantly reduces setup times.

More about Power HIL Testing

Mechatronic Test Benches

Turn-key solutions – optimally adapted to your requirements

Turn-key solutions – optimally adapted to your requirements

ECUs that cannot be accessed by means of their electrical interfaces can be tested with the highly dynamic dSPACE test benches. The turn-key solutions can be optimally adapted to your specific requirements, letting you use highest performance and most complex control for electric drives providing ideal mechanical interfaces for testing. The mechatronic test benches allow for virtual test-drives including real components in real time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

More about Mechatronic Test Benches

Bus & Network Communication

Simulation, Logging, Replay, and Analysis

Simulation, Logging, Replay, and Analysis

dSPACE provides a comprehensive and complete tool chain for simulation, analyzation, and validation, supporting a wide range of bus systems and applications. Ready-to-use products and customer-specific solutions support you during your development process.

More about Bus & Network Communication

This sounds interesting. Get in touch:

Consulting & Engineering Services

Development support from start to finish

Development support from start to finish

Developing complex E/E systems and software with ever more safety-critical functions, especially in the area of autonomous systems, raises the question of guaranteeing function reliability. That's why dSPACE offers end-to-end expertise in functional safety, test strategy development as well as verification and validation in complex E/E processes - to support you from the earliest project stages to homologation.

dSPACE systems are easy to get up and running – however, if a project is more complex, if individual solutions are needed or if there is high time pressure, you can also trust dSPACE's fast, competent and reliable engineering services.

Drive innovation forward. Always on the pulse of technology development.

Subscribe to our expert knowledge. Learn from our successful project examples. Keep up to date on simulation and validation. Subscribe to/manage dSPACE direct and aerospace & defense now.

Enable form call

At this point, an input form from Click Dimensions is integrated. This enables us to process your newsletter subscription. The form is currently hidden due to your privacy settings for our website.

External input form

By activating the input form, you consent to personal data being transmitted to Click Dimensions within the EU, in the USA, Canada or Australia. More on this in our privacy policy.