Bendix presents on braking performance using HIL simulation at SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress

During the SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress, Bendix's Paul Niglas presented his paper on using Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation for braking performance.

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC contributed to the SAE 2013 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress (COMVEC) with a technical session October 1. Paul Niglas, a controls engineer who is part of Bendix’s Engineering Development Program (EDP), presented his paper on braking performance using Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation.

The SAE 2013 COMVEC took place October 1 to 3 and provided on- and off-road commercial vehicle engineering professionals with technical presentations, forums and other activities.

Niglas studied the effect of brake torque and vehicle configuration on a vehicle’s performance in stopping tests. The simulation showed that there is an optimal amount of torque a specific vehicle can have. Too little torque will not stop the vehicle, while too much torque will cause unnecessary ABS interventions. By using HIL simulation, Bendix was able to perform the tests without the time, expense, and inconsistency of initial on-road tests.

“It’s rewarding to have a hand in Bendix’s work on braking performance,” Niglas said. “I’m part of a team – and a company – whose passion is developing technologies to improve the safety of our highways. I was honored to represent Bendix and report the HIL results to our SAE peers.”

Niglas has been with Bendix since July 2012 as part of the Engineering Development Program. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Niglas is currently working with Bendix’s electronic engineering group, focusing on stability control.

Bendix, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies, established the Engineering Development Program in 2011. The program takes a two-pronged approach to sharpening the skills of engineers in the early stages of their careers. It guides college recruits through a three-year, full-time rotational employment within the Knorr-Bremse Group, Bendix’s parent company based in Munich, Germany. The rotational assignments expose the engineers to a range of dynamic engineering challenges at a variety of Bendix North American facilities, select Knorr-Bremse global locations, and opportunities at the New York Air Brake headquarters in Watertown, NY, and its Train Dynamic Systems (TDS) division in Irving, TX. New York Air Brake – a Bendix sister company in the Knorr-Bremse Group – has a focus on braking systems and technologies for the rail industry.

The Engineering Development Program includes a robust Technical Skills Enhancement program, a contemporary engineering curriculum that caters specifically to the current group of product engineers. Specialized certification opportunities, distance learning and in-person workshops are part of the program.

“We’re very proud to have one of our EDP members present at such a prestigious event,” says Raymundo Garza, Manager of Organizational Learning at Bendix. “Paul’s work reflects the depth and strength of all of our EDP program participants while, at the same time, it once again demonstrates our desire to provide the commercial vehicle industry with the most advanced solutions possible.”

Latest