QinetiQ and automotive engineering company AVL have agreed to develop a digital twin of the Hurn Proving Ground in the UK to accelerate testing of defense and commercial vehicles.
Located near Ringwood in the New Forest, southern England, Hurn Proving Ground was established in the 1950s and has since been expanded for vehicle testing and evaluation.
Under a memorandum of understanding, AVL will create a virtual model of the 632-acre (256-hectare) facility and provide vehicle modeling and simulation technology.
The system will allow developers to assess vehicle designs and analyze performance data before building full prototypes.
Vehicle Testing
Findings from these simulations can then inform physical trials at Hurn, helping identify potential problems earlier and reduce the number and cost of live tests.
Digital testing could also support procurement decisions by enabling customers to compare competing designs before selecting vehicles for further development.
Once designs progress to physical evaluation, vehicles will undergo trials across the site’s different terrain types, test tracks, and tilt platform.
The facility can assess multiple vehicles and replicate conditions of military, emergency, and rescue operations.
QinetiQ and AVL also plan to use the combined virtual and physical testing data to monitor vehicle performance and support upgrades throughout their operational lives.
“Not only will the companies’ combined engineering approach speed up the procurement process, it will also support vehicles’ lifecycle management to maximise value throughout their operational life,” stated QinetiQ.
