Taking account of the customer's driving behavior

Although Volvo CE uses its own experienced test drivers to test the vehicles to the limit on its own test track, longer-term testing is also carried out under the customer's normal day-to-day conditions. "We do this as a way of verifying our own test facilities but also to find out more about different driving behavior," explains Lennart Skogh. Customer testing is based on an eDAQ installed in the customer's cab with a direct CAN bus link so it can obtain a range of readings from the vehicle components. We can process the data back at base because the eDAQ is connected by modem. That way, we can switch the system off and on and schedule various short tests." Lennart Skogh predicts that field testing will become even more important in future. "Data simulations are all very well but it is only when we test for real that we can be sure we get the right information about how our machines behave in different situations. Understanding how our customers drive is becoming increasingly important in product development, so I'm convinced we'll see even more field measurements in future," he says.

Keeping track

It can be a challenge to keep track of the thousands of measurements. According to Volvo CE, one of the strengths of eDAQ is that each test setup is saved in the measured data file. This means that the data and the setup can be used to recreate an identical test in future using the same calibration values, or to verify that the calibration values were correct if there was an unexpected result.

HBM SoMat eDAQ rugged mobile data acquisition system

The customer

Volvo Construction Equipment

The challenge

To test advanced construction equipment under real-life conditions as part of the product development process, exposing the vehicle to the real rough stuff, for example in a quarry. The test system not only has to cope with extreme conditions – it also has to handle a large number of test parameters while remaining easy to calibrate. And the entire system has to occupy a small footprint in the driver's cab.

The solution

Volvo Construction Equipment uses HBM's SoMat eDAQ test system as the basis for its field measurements. This robust system is installed in prototypes of construction equipment and operates out in the field, acquiring data like pressure, strain, temperature, position and acceleration as the vehicle is loaded and unloaded and moved around. Around ten channels are used for testing, but as many as 200 may be needed in some cases.

The result

The SoMat eDAQ used by Volvo CE is a robust, reliable and flexible test system that sits unobtrusively in the driver's cab while loaders are being tested. The system can obtain data from a large number of channels, and the integrated modem means they can be remotely operated in order to analyze the customer's day-to-day driving. Once the large volume of data has been analyzed, the results are used as a basis for developing the fuel-efficient loaders of the future, with improved driving characteristics and greater sustainability.

Loaders tackling the rough stuff for Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) testing -Robust and flexible data acquisition in the field, using eDAQ

Margins are being squeezed as competition intensifies in the construction equipment market. That's why vehicle manufacturers have turned product development into a finely-tuned process, building on precise and advanced measurements and tests. Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) uses HBM's SoMat eDAQ test system to help it test loader prototypes under extreme conditions. With its proud pedigree in Sweden, Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) is renowned for its engineering expertise and the excellent driving characteristics of its loaders and dumpers. And they're working hard to stay out in front. The large development and testing center near Eskilstuna is an example of how they intend to do this.