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The SPMM Plus (Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine)

A class-leading vehicle kinematics and compliance (K&C) test machine that provides automotive innovators with the tools to develop the next generation of mobility solutions.

Designed around the core principle of faithfully simulating on-road vehicle behaviour, the SPMM Plus is the industry’s most technically advanced, reliable, and cost-effective K&C test machine.

Accommodating the smallest city cars up to light commercial vehicles, its unique moving body and fixed ground-plane design replicates a vehicle's interactions with the road surface with unrivalled precision, providing all the suspension and steering system data needed to develop vehicles that outperform the competition.

Moving body platform

At the heart of the SPMM Plus is the moving centre table, which is precisely controlled in six degrees of freedom by six precision electromechanical actuators, so that a combination of roll, pitch, bounce and yaw motion can be applied to the vehicle body during K&C and Moment of Inertia Measurement System (MIMS) testing. This design means the ground plane (road) remains fixed during vehicle cornering and braking simulations. Exactly as it does when driving on the road.

Wheel stations

The SPMM Plus is configured with either two- or four-wheel stations. These apply X, Y and Delta forces and displacements to each wheel and then measure the resultant wheel forces, moments, and displacements.
Piezoelectric load cell assemblies below each wheel provide high accuracy measurement of the 3 orthogonal wheel forces and the 3-wheel moments, whilst the wheel position measurement system accurately measures the X, Y, Z, steer, camber, and spin motion of the wheel centre.
During vehicle loading, the wheel stations also provide automatic adjustment for wheelbase and track.

Electrical actuators

All axes are driven by electromechanical actuators. This provides the operator with a safe, clean and quiet working environment where vehicle behaviour can be closely observed.

Electromechanical actuators apply precise inputs to the vehicle at frequencies up to 5Hz. The resultant wheel movement and force measurements are automatically processed using MATLAB scripts to produce an informative report and input files for either CarSim or CarMaker.

Unrivalled Measurement Accuracy

The SPMM Plus delivers unrivalled measurement accuracy. The Wheel Force measurement system uses the highest quality Kistler piezoelectric multi-component load cells to accurately measure the forces and moments applied to each wheel. Wheel displacements are measured using the Dynamic Arm WPMS (wheel position measurement system), a fully traceable calibration procedure is used to demonstrate the specified accuracies and cross talks, at frequencies up to 5Hz.

System configuration and options

The SPMM Plus can be configured according to budget and requirements. A comprehensive range of upgrades and options are available in to enhance its capacity and test capabilities. Available options include:

Powered steering wheel

Dynamic, up to 5Hz, testing capability

Automatic brake applicator

Wheel substitutes for wheel centre compliance measurement

Moments of Inertia and Centre of Gravity measurement capability

Vehicle model data generators

K&C Inspect deflection measurement system and body deflection measurement systems

Analogue and digital input and output capabilities

Hybrid simulation data pipe for HiL test capability

CAN input and output capabilities

Proven reliability and design

The SPMM has a reputation for outstanding reliability and robustness, with the first SPMM, installed at MIRA in 1995, still in regular use today.

The SPMM Plus uses the same proven design concept of the original machine, updated to improve functionality, usability, and capacity to make it suitable for developing the next generation of vehicles. The SPMM Plus has been developed for OEMs, Tier-1s, testing houses or motorsport race teams that want to:

· Generate accurate digital vehicle models
· Rapidly benchmark competitor vehicles
· Monitor early series production vehicles
· Extend measurement capability to Centre of Gravity (CoG) and Moment of Inertia (MoI)