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Day 2: Automotive Testing Technology International Awards presented live for the first time ever at Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2024
The Automotive Testing Technology International (ATTI) Awards
The Automotive Testing Technology International (ATTI) Awards were yesterday presented live for the first time at the Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany. Traditionally a magazine-based event, this year's ceremony marked a significant departure, celebrating outstanding innovations and personal achievements in the automotive industry over the past 18 months.
The awards, coordinated by Automotive Testing Technology International magazine, were decided by a panel of industry experts and technical writers. This year introduced two new categories reflecting the ongoing advancements in vehicle development, especially in automated driving and electrification. Rachel Evans, ATTI editor and chair of the awards, emphasized the innovative approaches and collaborations within the industry, saying, “Creating the shortlist for this year's awards proved to be challenging due to the abundance of entries worthy of recognition.”
In the new ADAS & AV Test Innovation of the Year category, Ansys and BMW were recognized for their AVxcelerate Autonomy platform, a digital testing solution that potentially reduces the cost and time-to-compliance for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle (AV) systems by a factor of 100,000. Awards juror Jahee Campbell-Brennan lauded the innovation, stating, “Enabling ADAS and AV testing to be performed digitally is a huge step forward for the industry.”
Secondmind won Alternative Powertrain Test Innovation of the Year for its Secondmind for Calibration technology for e-powertrains. This tool enhances calibration efficiency and accuracy through intelligent, automated experiments. Gary Brotman, CEO of Secondmind, expressed his gratitude, highlighting the company’s focus on creating significant development efficiencies with practical machine learning.
AB Dynamics won Software Innovation of the Year for its RC 9.4 driving robot software, which streamlines industry-standard ADAS tests. Andrew Pick, director of track test systems at AB Dynamics, noted, “It is fantastic to be recognized with this award and a great achievement by the team.”
In the Hardware Innovation of the Year category, VI-grade was honored for its DiM Full Spectrum Simulator (FSS), which integrates multiple vehicle attributes for a holistic evaluation of vehicle dynamics. Juror Mohammad Behroozi emphasized its impact, calling it a “game-changer” for the industry.
BMW's Future Mobility Development Center in Sokolov, Czech Republic, won Proving Ground of the Year. The center is designed exclusively for testing automated driving and parking up to Level 4. Martin Sautter, BMW’s vice president of validation, customer experience, and approval, praised the facility’s capability to flexibly test all driving situations.
Toyota received Crash Test Innovation of the Year for its THUMS Version 7 technology, which features more realistic geometry and new positions for connected and autonomous vehicles. Byron Bloch, an independent automotive safety expert, commented on the technology’s ability to enable more complex and accurate modeling of human responses in crash situations.
Volkswagen’s Marie Puhle was named Person of the Year for her work rejuvenating the ID. user interface system. Puhle reflected on her journey, stating, “It was our goal to create an easy, clear and consistent new system,” and expressed satisfaction with overcoming obstacles to significantly improve user experience.
JLR's Future Energy Lab won the Powertrain Test Facility of the Year award for its advanced resource supporting cutting-edge product developments. Alex Crawford, product engineering operations director at JLR, highlighted the facility’s role in JLR’s Reimagine strategy, essential for developing modern luxury vehicles.
Before the awards ceremony, the Automotive Testing Technology International Forum featured discussions on AI in testing, connectivity, software engineering and AV testing. The forum offered high-level content, including a panel discussion and fireside chats.
For detailed coverage and more on the winners, readers are directed to the September issue of Automotive Testing Technology International. More information can also be found on the Automotive Testing Expo Europe website.
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