ASM Truck simulates the driving dynamics of trucks for the development and testing of control units such as ESP, ABS, and steering systems. Together with ASM Trailer, it can simulate tractor-trailer combinations.
What is ASM Truck?
ASM Truck is used together with ASM Trailer to simulate a truck (tractor with dolly) or a tractor-semitrailer combination. The models contain more than 30 degrees of freedom (DoF) in multibody dynamics and more than 25 DoF in the powertrain, depending on the configuration. The truck model features a torsional frame and a truck cabin. The entire vehicle model can have an arbitrary number of axles, each of which can be steered, driven, and equipped with twin tires. Even road trains with multiple trailers can be simulated. The configuration can be easily modified, even during run time, without manipulating the model. For example, during a simulation, axles can be activated and deactivated, and trailers can be hitched and unhitched.
Typical Application Areas
- ADAS & automated driving development: simulation and validation of driver assistance and automated driving functions with realistic vehicle dynamics behavior.
- Chassis & vehicle dynamics control: development and tuning of braking, steering, and suspension systems.
- Vehicle concepts & variants: virtual test driving and early validation of truck and trailer configurations before physical prototypes are available.
- Realistic function development: simulation of complex roads, driving maneuvers, and environmental conditions for safety‑relevant scenarios.
Technical Details
Vehicle Characteristics
For realistic vehicle simulation, the vehicle model is designed as a multibody system. The model consists of elements such as a drivetrain with elastic shafts, a table-based engine, two semi-empirical tire models, a nonlinear table-based vehicle suspension model with kinematics and compliance, a steering model, and aerodynamics. An environment with a road, maneuvers, and an open- and closed-loop driver is included as well. All parameters can be altered during run time. To simulate brake systems, models of a dual-circuit hydraulics system and a pneumatics system are available as add-ons.
Components and Characteristics
- Multibody dynamics with up to 36 DoF (depends on truck configuration)
- Powertrain with 25 DoF (depends on truck configuration)
- Truck body based on a torsional frame
- Tractor with up to 4 steerable axles plus trailer with up to 4 steerable axles
- Hydraulic or pneumatic brake system (ASM Brake Hydraulics, ASM Pneumatics)
- Each wheel can be equipped with a brake
- Examples of trailer and axle variants supported by ASM Truck and ASM Trailer
- Table-based axles with 3 DoF
- Twin tires as an option on all axles
- Axles can be activated and deactivated during simulation
- Trailers can be hitched and unhitched during simulation
- Dolly extension for road train simulation
- Vehicle configurations with arbitrary numbers of axles available on request
- Truck cabin with additional DoFs
- Tractor and trailer with an arbitrary number of axles, each of which can be steered
- Each axle can be driven
Required Products
Optional Products
Support for ASM Users
Links to detailed technical information and customer service. Access may require registration.