A new compact and self-contained cube simulator, powerful enough to validate driver assistance and autonomous technologies in today’s vehicles, has been unveiled by Ansible Motion. Thanks to its small footprint and sophisticated computational architecture, the new Theta C driving simulator is said to offer a more immersive and car-like environment than is currently available from other compact simulators. It also avoids the complexity and facility challenges typically associated with automotive test equipment of this accuracy and caliber.
Ansible Motion’s principle of clean-sheet design and innovation has fueled the introduction of the most immersive environment ever for a compact driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulator, while making the practical operation much easier. The key componentry required for human immersion is presented inside an approximately 2 x 2 x 2m cube. The Theta C brings a higher quality of simulation to those who have been restricted by space or cost.
The system incorporates a panoramic projection system, detailed vehicle interior, Ansible Motion’s immersion technologies for driver touchpoints, active steering torque and seat loading systems, foot pedal and gear select emulation, along with a surround-sound audio system. Its integrated form and internal sound isolation mean it can be used in standard office spaces.
“Vehicle complexity continues to increase, putting pressure on development timescales and resources. More companies and departments now need access to human-in-the-loop simulation technologies to validate hardware and software solutions,” said Kia Cammaerts, founder of Ansible Motion.
“As the most innovative driving simulator company in the market, we identified that some current DIL simulators offer the required fidelity, but also require permanent installations. This means a high capital expenditure to cover the simulator itself as well as the facility. Theta C is different. The cube analogy is apt as Theta C is a fundamental building block for connecting real people with automotive simulations, anywhere in the world. We have optimized complexity, quality, and time-to-deploy. You can wheel it in, plug in and start work. It can be operated standalone, or it can connect with external software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop systems.”
Theta C is compatible with all leading vehicle modeling and scenario tools, including those from Dassault, MSC, AVL, Mechanical Simulation, and more. Complex traffic and actor scripting, together with sensor integration, make Theta C ideal for validating scenarios for ADAS, active safety and autonomy.
“The Theta C simulator is a direct response to our interactions with OEMs and Tier 1s, who are seeking dependable, rapid, and powerful validation tools. There is an unprecedented demand being driven by megatrends in autonomy, electrification, connectivity, and driver assistance,” added Cammaerts.