Simulator shifts Hungary’s automotive engineering sector to a higher gear

For the first time, open access to driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulators is now available at the Bay Zoltán Research Centre in Hungary. Part of the expanding ZalaZONE automotive R&D park, it is the latest facility to acquire Ansible Motion’s Delta series S3 simulator. Alongside Bay Zoltán’s own growing number of research projects, external engineers and companies working on autonomous, human factors, driver assistance, vehicle dynamics, V2X, motorsports and electrification technologies now have flexible access to a high fidelity DIL simulator laboratory of a level that has previously been reserved for vehicle manufacturers and the largest Tier One suppliers.

Ansible Motion’s Delta series S3 will play a key role of the Bay Zoltán Research Centre in the ZalaZONE park. The automotive industry makes up a fifth of Hungary’s exports and eight per cent of its economic output with Bay Zoltán set to provide a crucial hub for the development and validation of automotive technology in the region. Located close to the Austrian, Slovenian and Croatian borders, it offers a convenient venue that is attracting many European automotive manufacturers and suppliers. Hungarian Minister of Technology and Industry László Palkovics has stated it is aiming for all German premium manufacturers to be developing their vehicles in Hungary by 2030.

Ansible Motion’s Delta series S3 simulator features an open and modular architecture which is software agnostic, allowing it to operate seamlessly with virtually every automotive software package a customer would need such as Hexagon VTD (environment and traffic scenarios), Cosworth Pi Toolbox (telemetry and data analysis), AVL VSM (vehicle modelling) and AVL Model.CONNECT (model integration and co-simulation). Project partner, AVL, provided key engineering services and software stacks that will directly support use cases ranging from ADAS and autonomous developments to high performance vehicle dynamics and chassis development work.

The infrastructure at Bay Zoltán will enable vehicle modelling, scenario generation and environment simulation for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motorsport applications, with options for customers to have bespoke cabins for a fully immersive experience. Now operational, the first projects include autonomous driving and ADAS developments.

“The automotive industry is advancing rapidly towards a digital transformation, having full systems designed and validated in simulated environments,” says Site Manager Márk Lelkes. “To promote digital twin development and complement our existing experience at Bay Zoltán, we invested in this highly sophisticated DIL simulator. For both our current and future requirements and the stringent demands of our customers, Ansible Motion’s Delta series S3 simulator was the perfect match.”

Launched in 2022, the Delta series S3 is Ansible Motion’s most sophisticated, high-performance, dynamic motion driving simulator for both road and motorsport applications. The appeal of a fully integrated virtual environment that provides everything needed to convincingly engage real people with the automotive product development process has led multiple OEMs, Tier Ones and research organisations to acquire Delta series S3 DIL simulators, making it Ansible Motion’s most successful product to date.

“Bay Zoltán Research Centre is a gateway to virtual product development, and it brings versatility and performance to key sectors of the automotive industry,” says Kia Cammaerts, Technical Director and Founder of Ansible Motion. “Staffed by a knowledgeable and experienced team, Bay Zoltán’s facility delivers flexible, turnkey access to world-leading simulation tools that is drawing interest from Europe and beyond. It’s a privilege to be involved with this truly world-class centre for automotive development.”