Modular OEM integration of calibratable instruments takes green automotive testing to the next level

When AVL, the internationally renowned company providing some of the most sophisticated monitoring technology for measuring vehicle emissions, discovered Dracal Technologies, the Canadian Instrumentation specialist, little did they know that their discovery would not only bring customer satisfaction to the next level, but would end-up as being a complete game changer in term of operational efficiency.

In the quest for a Real Driving Emission (RDE) solution compliant with Euro 7 legislation, AVL faced challenges with their analog M.O.V.E system, leading to extended calibration periods and operational disruptions for customers.

That’s when they discovered Dracal’s Modular Instrument Integration (MII) Solution. AVL’s Automotive In-vehicle & Software Product Manager, Mirko Rossi describes how Dracal’s solution has taken the M.O.V.E system to the next level of precision and reliability.

″ The previous version of the M.O.V.E system control used two analog sensors for ambient condition measurements. We had an internal sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure and an external sensor for temperature and relative humidity. This sensor setup had two main issues. First, since the internal pressure sensor was hard-wired into the system, the periodic calibration task required customers to send the entire system control box to the calibration laboratory. This resulted in weeks of operational disruptions and downtime for our customers, which was a major inconvenience for them. Second, the analog nature of the internal pressure sensor made it difficult to obtain precise and consistent measurements. Calibration was a lengthy process that required significant effort and expertise, contributing to even longer downtime.

As customer experience is of paramount importance to AVL, we decided to address the situation and began exploring different ways to simplify our system, with the ultimate aim of enhancing customer satisfaction by simplifying the calibration task for them. It became clear that the Dracal sensor was actually working to solve our problem when we witnessed 1) the significant reduction in calibration time, 2) that measurements were more accurate and consistent, and 3) that our customers no longer had to send the entire system for calibration, which was actually a game-changer in terms of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The key differentiators were that the Dracal sensors are digital, interchangeable, and offer an easy calibration process for our customers, without any downtime at all. They can continue to use their M.O.V.E system control by simply swapping the sensor. As a bonus for us as integrators, the ability to combine all the necessary measurements into a single, reliable digital sensor that was remarkably easy to integrate into our existing system enabled us to deploy the solution much more quickly than we had anticipated.

With Dracal sensors as part of our M.O.V.E system control, our customers are no longer inconvenienced by the need to send their entire systems for calibration, which has improved their experience and reduced downtime. Overall, the adoption of the Dracal sensor has enhanced the reliability and ease of operation in our product, making it a more appealing and efficient solution for our customers. ″

AVL is one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies for development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry, and beyond. Drawing on its pioneering spirit, the company provides concepts, solutions, and methodologies for a greener, safer and better world of mobility. AVL’s M.O.V.E System Control Advanced module is a next-generation platform with enhanced capabilities that simplify calibration with integrated external ambient sensors. This robust, central device integration and data acquisition tool ensures valid measurements via automated checks and workflows for PEMS and in-vehicle tests.

Dracal's success extends beyond AVL, with notable clients like SpaceX, ABB, Teledyne FLIR and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Dracal Modular Instrument Integration (MII) Solution featuring all-in-one precision instruments with simplified calibration mechanism (-CAL option) and COM communication option (VCP option) enable the development of modular OEM products whose interchangeable components bring unrivaled value to the end-user in terms of simplicity and time savings.