One of the most eye-catching stands at last week’s Automotive Testing Expo at Messe Stuttgart, Germany, belonged to BIA, which brought along the just-finished prototype of its replacement for the highly successful Universal Impact Simulator. The new BHIA 150-VC is said to be ideal for head impact simulations, either when conducting US occupant safety tests inside a vehicle, or for the pedestrian impact tests that have come to prominence in Europe.
The newcomer is still hydraulically actuated, but via a closed-loop system for high-accuracy acceleration and deceleration. For simplified test setup and operation, there are fewer cables and hoses than before. One notable innovation is the optical link between the accelerometer and the impactor for both data transmission and sensor configuration; a magnetic charging system for the accelerometer completes the wireless setup. This cable-free technology is to be rolled out to other BIA products, too.
A major advantage of the new device is that it can be mounted to a standard industrial robot, as was the case at the company’s booth in Stuttgart. This, combined with the lower cost of the BHIA 150-VC itself compared with its predecessor, should broaden its market to include suppliers as well as OEMs, according to Fayçal Namoun, BIA’s president and CEO. The first deliveries are scheduled for the end of 2015.
June 24, 2015