BMW sets new standards for driving simulation

The BMW Group  is creating every opportunity for its vehicle research and development engineers to simulate and test the product requirements of the future in realistic conditions with its new Driving Simulation Center.

With 14 simulators and usability labs covering an area of ​​11,400 square meters, it is the most advanced and diversified simulation center in the automotive industry.

Michael Brachvogel, Head of Interior Research, User Interaction, User Experience and Driving Simulation at the BMW Group, commented that the aim of the center is to provide the ideal simulation tool for every area and every phase of the vehicle development process . 

From the concept creation phase to the final function validation stage, it provides the various specialized areas with an ideal simulation tool. 

The installations range from static simulators without a motion system to the high fidelity simulator , which transports the road to the laboratory to a remarkably realistic effect with its nearly 400 square meters of motion area. 

Whether it is innovative entertainment technologies and display and operating concepts, multimodal interaction between occupants and the vehicle, fine tuning of the chassis or powerful driver assistance functions to scenarios for automated driving, all these aspects of vehicle development are they can try there.

Virtual testing is performed regularly by external people and not only by engineers from the German company, but they can integrate direct customer feedback into the development process at any given time.

For years, driving simulation has played a key role in the development of driving dynamics at the BMW Group . The new Driving Simulation Center will further expand the virtual development process , reducing the number of prototypes to be built, as well as the duration of the development cycle. Entire tires or axles can be swapped in seconds and test routes from around the world selected at the push of a button in the driving simulator.

The new Driving Simulation Center is the answer to the demands in the development of intelligent and highly connected vehicles. New display and operating concepts can be intensively tested to analyze the risk of driver distraction or the effectiveness of multimodal control methods. The driving simulation offers advantages for the development of future systems assist the driver and automation capabilities. 

Furthermore, all simulators can be used on the same day with different vehicle models if required. In this way, the center offers a high level of flexibility for all specialized areas of development.

Experts driving simulation  of BMW Group devised a simulator experience without limits in order to provide people involved in testing a more realistic experience and thereby increase the validity of the results. 

The high - fidelity simulators and high dynamics are the highlights of the new Simulation Center Driving , both visually and technologically. In addition to specific optimization of innovative user functions, laboratory tests have the advantage of making it possible to reproduce specific driving situations as often as necessary, increasing the validity of the evaluated test results. 

They can also be used for test scenarios that rarely occur in real life driving or that involve an element of danger, and therefore cannot be re-created for testing purposes.

Notably, the construction of the facilities to simulate real-life driving situations was launched at the Center for Research and Innovation (FIZ) in mid-August 2018. Despite extensive global restrictions imposed as a result of contingency, construction work was completed as planned in May 2020.