HIL simulation and EV BMS test rig demo from Pickering

Automotive Testing Expo is an international event series dedicated to automotive testing, development, and validation, taking place annually in Michigan, Shanghai, and Stuttgart, plus alternate years in Chennai and Seoul. In North America, it’s one of the leading events for technologies in ADAS and autonomous vehicle testing, EV, and hybrid powertrain testing, hot and cold climate testing, aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing, EMI and NVH test and analysis, and the full spectrum of vehicle, component, and systems test and validation technologies – everything you need to build better cars and accelerate testing and development programmes.

With more than 250 exhibitors, visitors can expect to see the most up-to-date technologies in test rigs, end-of-line testing, simulation packages, durability testing, crash testing, dynamometers, emission measurement systems, and data analytics, as well as service providers such as proving grounds and test facilities.

Outlining the EV BMS test rig demo, Paul Bovingdon, Simulation Product Manager at Pickering, explains: “With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), one significant challenge to be tackled is the effective testing and validation of battery management systems (BMS). Using modular, PXI-based switch and simulation modules offers many advantages for BMS HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) test, including flexibility to optimise the test system to meet exact requirements; simple modification to address evolving needs; and an open, industry-standard architecture that promotes system longevity and mitigates obsolescence, while providing seamless integration of multi-vendor instrumentation modules.”

The BMS HIL test demo includes the following Pickering products:

• PXI battery simulator module – to simulate batteries in a stacked architecture
• PXI fault insertion module – to simulate cell shorts and broken wires
• High power, high voltage, and high current PXI switching modules
• Modules housed in an LXI chassis with supporting cables and connectors

Pickering is focused on ways to make automotive ECU/VCU and BMS testing easier, faster, and more reliable. Alongside its BMS demo, Pickering will also showcase its range of modular signal switching, sensor simulation and HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) systems, optimised for functional test and validation of automotive electronics.

Free to attend in the Innovation Showcase seminar programme, at 14:10 on Wednesday 23^rd October, Mitchell Kelley, Field Sales Engineer at Pickering Interfaces, will present his session, ‘Millivolt to microvolt: how your BMS can enable more miles.’ This session focuses on BMS accuracy improvements that can extend the range of battery packs.