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Over the past years, AVL has developed the concept of Target Setting
that allows a detailed analysis of vehicle attributes.
F O C U S 1 9
The commercial vehicle industry
is under great pressure to reduce
emissions further and comply with
the stringent upcoming CO2 legislation.
Apart from that, in urban areas
there is a demand for lower noise impact
and zero-emission driving. This
is making commercial vehicle systems
and their control mechanisms
more and more complex. As a result,
it is becoming increasingly crucial for
OEMs to assess their vehicle not just
at the component level, but as a complete
vehicle in view of its target attributes
and criteria. A significant step
in this direction is benchmarking
to assess the position of one‘s own
product against those of competitors.
“Of course the manufacturers
are already aware of how their product
differs from the rest of their portfolio
or from a competitor‘s product.
This is based on their own benchmarks
or publications in the relevant
media. Frequently, though, they lack
the required database or methodology
to investigate the reasons in detail,“
explains Lukas Walter, AVL
Vice President Commercial Powertrain
Systems. “With our truck and
benchmark know-how, which forms
part of the Target Setting method,
we can assess trucks based on several
hundred criteria. This means we
can perform an in-depth analysis on
which product attributes and criteria
in which products differ from those
of another product. We have defined
a whole series of overarching attributes
including efficiency, emissions,
performance, noise, drivability, costs
and weight. With the help of Target
Setting, which consists of a combination
of exact test procedures and
analyses, criteria undergo evaluation
resulting in an objective assessment
of attributes. This ensures an objective
comparison of different products.
Based on this methodology, we
can additionally give targeted recommendations
for optimizing not only
the entire system but also individual
components,“ adds Gernot Hasenbichler,
Product Manager Commercial
Powertrain Systems On-road.
TARGET SETTING TO MEET YOUR
REQUIREMENTS
For conducting an integrated, objective
vehicle analysis, AVL has developed
exact measuring methods for
road, test track, the available chassis
dynamometer and component testbeds.
A smart combination of these
methods is used to adjust the Target
Setting according to the required
information depth and costs. “The
designated methods and state-of-theart
tools deliver measurements with
the high level of precision needed for
commercial vehicles. Adapted to the
customer‘s exact specifications, AVL
offers various benchmark packages
representing varying quantities of criteria
and attributes,“ Lukas Walter a
dds. The obtained data can be used
for further simulations in order to
evaluate different technologies in
view of their effects on the main criteria
and attributes. With this product,
AVL delivers not only clear suggestions
on how to set products apart
from the competition, but also recommendations
on how to improve
individual components and their
integration. “Our goal is an excellently
positioned commercial vehicle
that meets all of the customer‘s main
requirements within the specific market,“
Lukas Walter says, emphasizing
AVL‘s high standards.
From target-setting benchmarking to
attribute engineering and integration
into the complete system: AVL delivers
solutions that provide the best
possible support to OEMs in the development
and improvement of commercial
vehicles. <