Thesis Work: Steering characteristics of a vehicle - Volvo Car Group i Borås

Background

Volvo Car Corporation owns and operates Hällered Proving Ground, a testing facility located 15 km from Borås / 70 km outside Gothenburg, and shared between Volvo Car Corporation and AB Volvo. Testing is an important part of Volvo's development. Durability, comfort, performance, reliability and safety are qualities that are constantly tested on our tracks, which we operate around the clock.

The group Vehicle & Rig Testing today includes 19 people, both engineers and rig operators. We perform objective testing according to the customer’s requirements in the area of active safety, vehicle dynamics, and clearance e.g. wheel, ground and engine.

For the thesis outlined here, you would be working with the vehicle dynamics testing team which has at its core the evaluation of ride, handling and steering characteristics, suspension kinematics and compliance and vehicle response to various disturbances as demanded by the customers.

Scope

Steering characteristics of a vehicle, Steering DNA as we like to call at Volvo, are a set of parameters that help us quantify the various aspects of interaction between the driver and the vehicle through the steering wheel and is without doubt critical in engineering cars with a specific and recognizable feel. It is hence crucial that these measurements made meet the required standards with a high degree of repeatability and reproducibility.

A study has revealed variations within the steering metrics calculated at multiple runs of the same test and we would like you to further investigate and evaluate the various possible reasons for this discrepancy and come up with a possible mitigation plan.

A proposed structure of work is 

• Literature study of the steering DNA measurement process and the standards to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility.
• Investigating and weighing the possible causes of variation in steering metrics
• Designing a test plan and performing the tests.
• Analyzing the data and evaluating the required parameters.
• If possible, presenting the vehicle motion and statistics in the form of an animation.

Your profile

• B.Sc Mechanical engineering students with an interest in testing, test method development and analysis. Studies in Vehicle dynamics is meritorious.
• B driver's license.

Application

• Please apply with: CV, cover letter, grades and references.

Duration

• 2017-04-01 to 2017-07-31, 10 Weeks/ 15 ECTS.
• 2 Persons
• Work to be done at dept. 91838, Volvo Car Corporation, Hällered
• Since Hällered is located at a place with bad public transportation, you need access to your own car.