Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has inaugurated a new Mechatronics lab within its Oragadam facility, aimed at transforming the efficiency of software architecture verification and validation. This advanced lab promises cost efficiencies of 70-80% compared to traditional methods and drastically reduces the time required for testing and verification processes from weeks and months to mere days.
The Mechatronics Lab ensures that the software feature functionality of Daimler trucks and buses meets current safety standards while preparing for future global safety regulations. Agile methodologies implemented in the lab allow for the rapid identification and resolution of software bugs through a closed-loop feedback system, which enhances the efficacy of quality and testing processes.
Pradeep Kumar Thimmaiyan, President of Product Engineering & Chief Technology Officer at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, expressed the significance of the lab. “Our new Mechatronics Lab signals a transformative phase in our Research and Development operations, ushering us into an era that underscores enhanced agility and breakthrough innovations. Beyond validation, our Mechatronics Lab stands as a hub for innovation, positioning us uniquely on the global stage. Already, the lab is the core of our future electrical and electronic architectures. The DICV Mechatronics Lab complements the company's long-term vision, positioning it at the forefront of technological advancements in the commercial vehicle sector. It underscores our commitment to 'Make and Develop in India, for India and the World’, embodying our vision to not only cater to domestic needs but also to set new benchmarks internationally.”
The lab’s capacities are highlighted by its ability to verify and validate around 300 features and over a thousand signals within 10 days, and to verify 600 fault codes in a developing product in just a few weeks. Dilip Shrivastava, Head of Mechatronics and Software Technology at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, explained the lab's capabilities and its impact. “Our Lab can verify and validate around 300 features, encompassing over a thousand signals within 10 days, and can verify 600 fault codes in a developing product in just a few weeks, which otherwise would have taken months."
"Our aim is to ensure our software architecture gets verified and validated before it gets embedded in our trucks and buses as early identification of software bugs which saves enormous developmental cost. Keeping our long-term vision in mind we are bringing such efficiencies that can accelerate product development cycles for which our Mechatronics Lab will play a lead role. By establishing the lab, evaluation of diverse vehicle architectures has become seamless, eliminating the need for multiple test vehicles while enhancing the overall efficiency,” he added.
The lab’s infrastructure includes a flashing station for pre-production verification of all electronic control units (ECUs), ensuring hardware and software compatibility before production, thus minimizing errors and reducing the need for re-releases. The Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) setup allows on-road data to be reproduced in the lab, aiding initial software modifications and reducing vehicle dependency, thus saving time and cost. Additionally, the lab facilitates the safe verification of Driver State Monitoring (DSM), eliminating the necessity of risky in-vehicle trials.
DICV's research and development efforts will greatly benefit from the Mechatronics Lab, particularly in enhancing the efficiency, safety, and performance of its trucks and buses and in expediting the development time of new generations of vehicles. The lab also enables the simulation and confirmation of rare fault cases that are challenging to reproduce in real-world conditions, ensuring comprehensive verification and validation.
Over the last decade, DICV has set high standards for safety and efficiency in the commercial vehicle industry. Recognized for industry-leading total cost of ownership, DICV trucks provide lower operational costs and increased productivity. The new Mechatronics Lab is poised to drive this legacy of innovation forward by introducing advanced safety features like Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Blind Spot Assist, Driver Drowsiness Alert, and Lane Departure Warning.
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