Ground-breaking Testing Technology for Off-highway Vehicles

Danfoss Power Solutions is investing in new facilities that will globally impact testing and simulation activities. The new chassis dynamometer for off-highway vehicles is an example. The equipment can test vehicles up to 350 kW (70 km/h), and offers independent monitoring and loading of each wheel.

by Alma Castiglioni

Danfoss Power Solutions has partnered with Iowa State University to install a new state-of-the-art off-road vehicle chassis dynamometer near their North American location in Ames, Iowa. The new chassis dynamometer will provide the research and educational facilities necessary to foster breakthroughs in new engineering technologies for Danfoss.
System design, simulation and real-world testing are pillars of the Danfoss Power Solutions engineering process, carried out in part at industry-exclusive Danfoss Application Development Centers (ADCs). At an ADC, Danfoss engineers work directly with customers to develop, test, prove, demonstrate and refine a machine’s key systems to improve equipment design and production. Partnering with Iowa State University allows Danfoss to expand its research and testing capabilities in North America. Insights gained on the Iowa State campus with this new technology will complement field testing conducted at the Ames, Iowa, ADC, allowing Danfoss the opportunity to implement industry-leading solutions at a faster rate for its customers. Testing and simulation is an important part of the engineering and development process – whether for a new component or a revamped machine design. Comprehensive testing can reduce design cycles and speed up research and development, which translates to saved time and money for customers.

Diversified testing facilities
Along with the ADCs, the state-of-the-art dynamometer will allow for controlled, dynamic testing of complete off-highway vehicles with advanced traction control systems. The facility is designed to test vehicles up to 350 kW (70 km/h), and offers independent monitoring and loading of each wheel. No other laboratory is built to handle tests of this power and speed. Danfoss and Iowa State will officially break ground on a new state-of-the-art testing facility in October 2018 with a target completion date in summer 2019. The facility will be available for use by Danfoss, machinery OEMs, students and researchers.