Understanding the behavior of active and semi-active damper systems poses unique challenges to vehicle developers. Using proven MTS hybrid simulation technology, the mHIL Damper Test System creates a real-time, vehicle-level simulation environment for performing meaningful evaluation of active and semi-active systems earlier in development – well before the availability of pre-production prototypes.
Ford Boone - Vehicle Dynamics Product Manager explores how MTS' proven mechanical Hardware-in-the-Loop (mHIL) technology combines computational vehicle models and physical damper test rigs in real-time to enhance CAE , provide accurate, meaningful, vehicle-level evaluation earlier in development, streamline proving ground validation and reduce the need for prototypes.
![mHIL Damper schematic and benefits](/-/media/ground_vehicles/industry/article-graphics/mHIL-Damper-diagram9.jpg?as=1&hash=F0DBC7FDB54BA931F8B91C583110BB31)
mHIL Damper Test System: Exploration & Demo
Ford Boone, Dr. Juan Garcia – Senior Staff Software Engineer, and Tom Stachel – Senior Staff Engineer provide an in-depth examination of the modeled and physical components of the mHIL Damper Test System, demonstrating how they combine to create a high-fidelity vehicle-level simulation environment.
![mHIL Damper Lab](/-/media/ground_vehicles/industry/article-graphics/Image-1C-361940_2.jpg?as=1&hash=7C6EB48A065D70EFF002B8B7CF307EC9)
![MTS EMA & Model 849 Damper Frames](/-/media/ground_vehicles/industry/article-graphics/EMA-849b.jpg?as=1&h=1370&w=1200&la=en&hash=5D2FD5F2511345A644C80F712169A91E)
![mHIL Supervisor](/-/media/ground_vehicles/industry/article-graphics/mHIL_Supervisor2.jpg?as=1&h=1542&w=2284&la=en&hash=A1929E19EA1F99D3B5D0DE698CDF3757)
![FlexTest and HIL](/-/media/ground_vehicles/industry/article-graphics/FlexTest-HIL.jpg?as=1&h=301&w=611&la=en&hash=52FD02F83E3F30971EABE890A6109BBB)
The MTS mHIL Damper Test System enables meaningful evaluation of active and semi-active damper, suspension and body control systems earlier in development - well before the availability of pre-production prototypes and track validation.