Bridgestone adds driver-in-the-loop tire simulator in Italy

Rome – Bridgestone has brought a driver-in-the-loop (DiL) simulator into operation at its research and development centre near Rome to help expand virtual tire development programme.

The VI-grade DiM500 simulator enables assessing the tire performance in a “fully virtual environment,” integrating driver input into the digital development process, said Bridgestone 25 Feb.

The system features a mobile platform with a five-metre range of motion and a carbon-fibre cockpit designed to replicate real-world driving conditions.

According to Bridgestone, the motion capability enables reproduction of forces comparable to physical testing.

Bridgestone said the simulator combines high-fidelity modelling with subjective driver feedback, historical data and artificial intelligence tools to support earlier design decisions.

The technology allows engineers to evaluate a larger number of tire specifications under a broader range of simulated conditions than would be possible through physical testing alone.

Physical testing will continue to form part of the development process, Bridgestone noted, but can now be focused on 'final validation stages.'

According to Mattia Giustiniano, R&D senior vice president at Bridgestone West, the Japanese group has been using virtual tire development for more than a decade.

“By integrating the driver into the digital development cycle, this investment adds a crucial new piece to our evolving ecosystem,” he said.

The simulator Giustiniano added, represents “a significant step in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of our R&D processes.”