Hybrid Dynamic System Testing via Virtual-Physical Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for testing coupled hybrid dynamic systems, such as those found in vehicles, face challenges in accurately simulating the dynamic responses of these systems, particularly in replicating the interactions between physical and virtual components.

Innovation Solution

A test system that incorporates a physical test rig with actuators and a virtual model of the coupled hybrid dynamic system, where the processor derives a drive signal to operate the actuator, allowing the physical and virtual components to move together along a virtual path, and iteratively corrects the driver guidance control to minimize simulation errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a physical test rig is used to test vehicle components, then the testing can be performed without physical tires and wheels, but the accuracy of simulating dynamic responses deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting setup simplicityVSAvoiddynamic response simulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges physical test rig components with virtual model components to create a hybrid testing system. The physical test rig includes a vehicle body model coupled to a virtual tire and wheel assembly, allowing the physical structure to be tested while the virtual components provide accurate dynamic response simulation that would be difficult to achieve with purely physical setups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a virtual model to replicate the dynamic behavior of physical tire and wheel assemblies. The virtual model receives inputs from the physical test rig and generates responses that mirror the actual physical components, enabling accurate simulation without requiring physical tires and wheels in the test setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Device complexity

If a virtual model is used to simulate the coupled hybrid dynamic system, then the complexity of physical testing is reduced, but the accuracy of replicating physical interactions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting system complexityVSAvoidsimulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines virtual model components with physical test rig components in a coupled hybrid configuration. The virtual tire and wheel assembly is dynamically coupled to the physical vehicle body model, allowing the system to leverage the simplicity of virtual modeling while maintaining the reliability of physical testing through the hybrid architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the virtual model responds to inputs from the physical test rig and vice versa. The virtual model receives inputs from the physical test rig, processes them through the virtual components, and generates responses that are fed back to the physical system, continuously improving simulation accuracy through iterative refinement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If iterative correction is applied to improve simulation accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the testing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation accuracyVSAvoidtesting duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the virtual model with the vehicle body model and pre-establishing the coupling mechanisms before actual testing begins. This allows the system to reach accurate simulations more quickly during actual testing by starting from a pre-prepared state, reducing the number of iterations needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from comparing virtual model responses with physical test rig responses to iteratively refine the simulation. The virtual model is updated based on the differences between simulated and actual responses, progressively improving accuracy while the feedback loop efficiently guides the correction process to converge on accurate results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4556880A1Methods and systems for testing coupled hybrid dynamic systems
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP4556880A1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

A test system and method for testing a coupled hybrid dynamic system in simulated motion along a path includes a physical test rig configured to test a physical component. A processor is configured with at least one virtual model portion and a physical component comprising the coupled hybrid dynamic system. The processor is configured to control the test rig such that the component under test and the at least one virtual model portion travel along a path. A method is provided for generating an initial input to begin with in an iterative process to obtain a suitable input for the at least one virtual portion.