AUTOMOTIVE

The work involves testing applications in durability and reliability, noise and vibration, and ride and handling. MAZDA plans to adopt the new virtual testing capability to achieve a competitive advantage in the automotive market. Since the inception of the MAZDA Digital Innovation project in 1996, MTS has delivered to MAZDA 18 advanced mechanical test systems for evaluating durability, reliability, NVH, and ride and handling. MTS also provided technology that allows test data acquired from mechanical testing systems to be used in computer simulation, modeling, and model correlation techniques, many of which had never been previously achieved. The result is development of a virtual testing toolbox that enhances the efficiency of vehicle development. The MTS Noise and Vibration Division engineering services group took a leading role in this project and provided high-level techniques in cooperation with the MTS SmartSim partners MSC.Software (NYSE: MNS) and nCode International. MAZDA selected MTS, MSC.Software and nCode as partners to develop and provide new techniques for state-of-the-art virtual simulation technology in an open software environment. "Our achievements in this project prove that MTS is up to the challenge of providing a wide range of technology solutions, from physical testing to CAE," said Sidney W. Emery, Jr., chairman and CEO of MTS. "New techniques and technologies developed through our advanced consulting services will be implemented in the next generation of MTS software products." "We will continue to shorten our vehicle development times by using the latest technologies from MTS," said Akito Nishiyama, general manager of the MAZDA Digital Innovation project promotion office. "In partnership with MTS and MSC.Software, we have seen real innovations in the product development process, which bring us much nearer to our development goals."