Test field for gasoline engines

For a German OEM, JW Froehlich developed a highly flexible test field with seven cold test stands for the functional and quality testing of internal combustion engines. The objective was to accommodate a wide variety of engine typeswhile ensuring the system could seamlessly adapt to demand-driven engine production. 

Autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) transport the engines to the test stands with the shortest waiting time and automatically hand them over for testing. An optical system detects the position of the crankshaft, ensuring precise alignment of the drivetrain before the engine is pulled into the test stand and bolted to the crankshaft. A cross-box systemstandardizes the various engine wiring harnesses into a universal interface, eliminating the need for different setup adapters. 

Once the oil pressure and structure-borne noise measurement units are positioned, the automated test cycle begins. A robot places engine-specific connection and sealing units for the turbocharger and throttle valve onto the test object. This fully automated test field combines maximum engine type flexibility with an optimized cycle time, ensuring efficient operating and investment costs.