The automotive industry in particular tests both function and the haptic, visual and acoustic qualities of control elements, switches and knobs. Cockpit components such as touch panels, navigation systems, HMIs and air vents are also tested under all the climatic conditions that can occur on our planet. The combination of temperature, function and haptics is also exciting for medical equipment, electric and electronic products, IT and domestic appliances. Real environment conditions are simulated in the climate chamber and their influence on the product is monitored, measured and analysed. The functional reliability and quality of vehicle components or other control elements can thus be tested under extreme environmental conditions.
The measuring robot is completely integrated in the climate chamber and delivers measuring values for the specimen inside the chamber. It automatically operates the functional elements to be tested while the climatic conditions at the North Pole or in the Sahara are simulated in the test chamber, where the robot arm is protected by an air-conditioned sleeve so that re- liable function is always guaranteed through a cooling/heating unit. The integrated measuring platform allows the fast set-up of single components through to complete cockpits and central consoles. Specific sensors, grippers or tactile tools are used to measure, document and evaluate characteristics such as force, displacement, torques, angles, offsets on surfaces or colour accuracy. Programming of the entire test procedures including the required climate profiles is performed by means of the measuring robotic software RobFlow®. The range of uses goes far beyond long-term testing of simple switching and lever functions but includes even the complex operation of a navigation system. The whole measuring system can be customised to match the task on hand. Additional tools are available for the robot for a wide range of different measuring jobs, and further optional monitoring and control functions can be integrated in the climate chamber. All measured values are recorded for subsequent analysis. The results are transparent, reproducible and enable location- independent comparison. This allows test and quality features to be standardised, not only for comparable quality analysis but also for systematic detection and reduction of quality faults throughout the product value chain.
The climate chamber has a temperature range of –40 to +85 °C at relative air humidity values from 5 to 95 %, making it suitable for all the necessary climate zones. Temperatures can be changed at a rate of up to 5.0 K/min so that the whole temperature range can be covered within about half an hour. The actual test chamber has a volume of around 1000 l, with outer dimensions of 2300 x 1600 x 2500 mm for the whole unit.
