Applus+

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Applus+ is a Spanish corporation and a worldwide leader in the testing, inspection and certification (TIC). It is a trusted partner, enhancing the quality and safety of its client’s assets and infrastructures while safeguarding their operations. Its innovative approach, technical capabilities and highly-skilled and motivated workforce assure operational excellence across multiple sectors in more than 70 countries. The Group, which has over 25,000 employees, is committed to sustainability.

We have the accreditations and recognition of the main control bodies of the countries in which we operate, which certify our operational excellence and independence. Our services and business strategy are aligned with the significant global megatrends of energy transition, electrification, and connectivity. We are strongly committed to innovation and digitalisation, which has resulted in 151 current patents from 34 different families and more than 210 research projects, some of which were developed under the umbrella of Applus+ Ventures, our corporate venturing programme.

Our digital transformation processes have received prestigious international awards, such as the AVA Digital Awards, Globee Awards and SAP Quality Awards. We have renowned talent development programmes, including the Global Management Development Programme (GMDP), designed exclusively for Applus+ by the Instituto de Empresa (IE Business School). Health and safety in the workplace is the main focus of Safety Day, our biggest annual corporate event.

Applus+ helps clients reduce their environmental impact, improving the safety and sustainability of their products and assets. The company sets ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) targets every year and monitors their fulfilment. These actions have attracted external recognition: above-average scores by S&P Global (54, 81% percentile), Sustainalytics (15.6, “Low risk”), MSCI ESG Ratings (AA), from the CDP (B), from Gaïa (71/100), from Standard Ethics (EE+, “Very Strong”), and the inclusion of Applus+ within the FTSE4Good Index Series of Ibex. We are also part of the Ibex Gender Equality Index, and we have joined the UN Global Compact and the international Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce global warming and fight climate change.

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16 July 2021

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Artificial Intelligence-Driven Optimization of Resource Management in Automotive Engineering.

FWC2023-PMG-001

Mr. Sudip Chandratre, CAE- Head of Department at IDIADA Automotive Technology, Pune, India, Applus+ IDIADA India

Detail

Research and Engineering Objective: Efficient management of resources is crucial for businesses to maintain their competitive edge in the market. However, due to the dynamic nature of the industry, resource management is often challenging. To address this, Applus+ IDIADA has developed a web-based software tool called the IDIADA Resource Portal (i-RP). The software aims to assist project leaders in managing resource allocation efficiently by providing real-time resource utilization predictions. Methodology: 1. Carried out an in-depth examination of the resource management hurdles in the industry. 2. Recognized the necessity for a web-based software solution to overcome these obstacles. 3. Created the IDIADA Resource Portal (i-RP) utilizing the Django framework and Python programming language for the backend and HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend. 4. Incorporated advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to establish a predictive model that recommends the most suitable candidates for each project or job. 5. Conducted testing and optimization of the RMP to ensure its efficacy in enhancing resource utilization and project efficiency. Results: The initial versions of the IDIADA Resource Portal (i-RP) deployed at IDIADA demonstrated improved project planning and resource allocation, resulting in maximized resource utilization and increased project efficiency, as evidenced by the findings. Limitations: The IDIADA Resource Portal (i-RP) offers a sophisticated means of managing resource allocation, including advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to establish a predictive model that recommends the most suitable candidates for each project or job. However, there is a scope for further development to enhance the real-time indication of a person's overloading status. This is currently addressed by creating an advanced algorithm that accurately predicts an employee's availability based on their skill set and other relevant factors, thereby ensuring optimal resource utilization and efficient project management. New Solution in the Field: The IDIADA Resource Portal (i-RP) provides a streamlined and efficient means for engineers to manage human resources across various locations with a top-down planning approach. This web-based tool eliminates the need for manual resource allocation and offers intelligent options to choose from. Essentially, the i-RP utilizes advanced algorithms and machine learning to predict employees with appropriate skill sets for specific projects, resulting in optimized resource utilization and improved project efficiency. Conclusion: The significance of effective resource management in the Automotive Engineering sector is emphasized in this paper, and a potential solution for the industry's challenges is suggested through the use of the "i-RP".

DOI

FISITA World Congress 2023

Planning and Management

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Artificial Intelligence-Driven Optimization of Resource Management in Automotive Engineering., FWC2023-PMG-001, FISITA World Congress 2023

Comparison of CFD methods with air drag test values for commercial vehicles

F2020-EPV-041

Paper + Video

Ing. Albert Gascón-Vallbona, Applus+ IDIADA, SPAIN
Ing. Marc Soler Aldea, Applus+ IDIADA, SPAIN

Detail

This paper presents the work carried out by Applus+ IDIADA on the effect that trailer drag reducing devices have on the overall truck aerodynamic performance, as well as proving the applicability and feasibility of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as alternative approach to Constant Speed Testing (CST) when predicting the changes in CDxA [m2]. Out of all possible solutions for reducing aerodynamic resistance on semitrailers, boat tails and side skirts seem to be the most popular devices nowadays. Other potential drag reduction devices such as vortex generators, trailer diffusers or trailer undertrays have also been identified and are not rare in other markets with a more mature regulation regarding CO2 emissions, such as the United States. For starters, simple and non-commercial shapes mimicking a 400mm boat tail and a short version of trailer side skirts, covering only the side ride protection bars, were manufactured and tested at the IDIADA Proving Ground facilities according to the test procedure described in Annex 8 of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 of 12 December 2017. The vehicle configuration consisted of an IVECO Stralis equipped with their Hi-Way Cabin from 2016 and a standard semitrailer “ST1” manufactured by Schmitz Cargobull. In total, four different configurations were tested, consisting of the standard configuration (C00) and its variants: Boat tail (C01), side skirts (C02) and both devices mounted together (C03). This later configuration was also used to identify potential effects when mounting more than one device at a time. Parallel to the experimental approach, the corresponding virtual 3D models were built and simulated with the commercial code STAR-CCM+® by SIEMENS following two different strategies: steady-state and transient approaches. This work shows the potential of virtual tools, such as CFD, proving the accuracy in which not only changes in aerodynamic resistance are predicted, but also absolute drag coefficient values and, as a consequence, opening the door to potential future virtual homologation processes.

DOI

FISITA World Congress 2021

EPV - Emissions and Pollutants Caused by Vehicles

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Comparison of CFD methods with air drag test values for commercial vehicles, F2020-EPV-041, FISITA World Congress 2021

Implementation of Regenerative Brake Testing on Dynamometer

EB2020-EBS-026

Full Paper + Poster

Fabio Squadrani, Senior Manager, Applus IDIADA; Mr. Kenneth Mendoza, Applus IDIADA; Mr. Carlos Sierra, Applus IDIADA; Mr. John O'Leary, Applus IDIADA; Mr. Chris Robbins, Applus IDIADA; Mr. Bernat Ferrer, Applus IDIADA

Detail

Research and/or Engineering Questions/Objective:

One of the key technologies used in electrified vehicles is regenerative braking, which allows recovering energy during braking phases by using the electric motor as a generator. In this function mode, energy is transferred from the motion of the wheels to an energy storage device such as a battery and hence the vehicle is decelerated. Regenerative braking has notoriously changed the design, integration and testing of braking systems. The development and integration of new testing tools oriented towards the new technology trends emerging is key.

Methodology:

The main objective of this project is the development of a control module to simulate hybrid braking on a brake dynamometer. This control module must provide the core functionalities that allow performing brake applications containing regenerative component.

To achieve the main objective of this project, several specific objectives need to be accomplished:

- Regenerative Braking Capabilities: adapt the Inertia Simulation module to simulate hybrid braking on brake dynamometer.

- Vehicle Testing: obtain relevant regenerative braking data from vehicle testing.

- Validation Tests: validate the developed modules throughout the usage of the data obtained from vehicle testing.

All the stated developments are to be integrated into Applus+ IDIADA's dbDyno brake dynamometer control system.

Results:

The regenerative braking concept to be implemented in brake is based in importing vehicle data and using it as a demand for the brake dynamometers. Additionally, artificial manually generated profiles can also be used.

Having previously developed the Inertia Simulation module simplifies the task of implementing the regenerative capabilities concept. In order to implement regenerative braking capabilities into dbDyno - Control System it is necessary to perform the following steps:

- Integrate Inertia Simulation and Regenerative Braking functionalities within Labview software architecture of dbDyno control system.

- Integrate the developed functionalities into dbDyno's control tasks, more specifically in the brake control phase.

- Modify dbDyno's user interface to incorporate the set of parameters to configure the Inertia Simulation and Regenerative Braking behaviour. These parameters need to be distributed in different parts of the dbDyno software.

- Add the necessary modifications in the physical layer in order to allow communicating dbDyno and the drive units of the electric motors regarding torque control.

To use the regenerative capabilities in a manner that its results are the closest to reality as possible, some regenerative braking characterization data from vehicle testing is obtained. The data is consequently used for validation purposes.

Limitations of this study:

It is important to note that this objective does not include the simulation of regenerative brake logics, as this is not the primary goal for brake dynamometer testing at this stage.

Conclusion:

The project has been successfully concluded, validating brake dynamometer regenerative testing capabilities, using vehicle data testing on proving ground.

Together with that, dynamics of the electric motor must be evaluated in a passenger car brake dynamometer to confirm that the torque profiles obtained from the motor fully match with vehicle profiles. Further tests must be performed but the solutions obtained up to date look promising for current and future applications.

DOI

EuroBrake 2020

Braking Systems: Emerging Vehicle Concepts

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