Humanetics has launched the DrivingRobot modular (DRm), an advanced driving robot designed to streamline testing across multiple vehicle types – passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, vans, buses and heavy goods vehicles. The DRm will “redefine ADAS and vehicle testing, offering precision, flexibility and cost efficiency for OEMs and testing facilities”, the company said.
Truck testing has emerged as a critical area of focus due to the high risk posed by heavy vehicles, and the NHTSA recently finalized a new safety standard that will require automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, to be standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029. Euro NCAP is also developing protocols for heavy-duty truck testing, with the first set of results expected in winter 2024-2025.
The DRm’s modular design is perfectly suited to meet these growing demands of ADAS testing, particularly for heavy trucks. Its high torque and precise control make it ideal for simulating real driving conditions, including emergency maneuvers enabling it to fit a broader range of vehicle geometries. This modular design solves the challenge of testing a wide variety of vehicles, from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks, with a single system.
The DRm’s components, including the SteeringRobot modular (SRm), PedalRobot modular (PRm) and Steering Wheel Adapter, can also be deployed individually or as complete packages – DRm150 for HGVs and the soon-to-be-released DRm60 for passenger vehicles.
Mark Westen, president of Humanetics Safety, said, “With its modular system, it provides unparalleled flexibility for ADAS testing across multiple vehicle types. This means faster test preparations and, ultimately, safer roads as we advance toward the Vision Zero goal of eliminating road fatalities.”