Development, testing, improvements: making automobility more inclusive and safer

Many of the latest trends and developments in the assistive technology realm have started and evolved through the automotive industry. Hardly any other sector features research and development departments as big and state-of-the-art as this segment. Whether it’s an in-house test center or a visionary campus – people are hard at work to shape the future of automobility.

Perhaps no other sector has progress written in its genes like the automotive industry. The industry’s creative minds are currently focused on electric mobility and autonomous driving. The PARAVAN company has made great strides in the latter. The PARAVAN Space Drive drive-by-wire system has become a key technology. The vehicle conversion expert is presently working on a next generation system and tackles electromobility at the same time. Most experts agree that the combination of both is set to have a lasting impact on the future of mobility. "Autonomous driving and electromobility will create new opportunities and mobility solutions for people with disabilities but will also entail challenges," says Roland Arnold, managing director and founder of PARAVAN GmbH. He adds that this will make access to self-determined mobility easier. "However, electromobility and a subsequent charging infrastructure require innovative and inclusive solutions and we will rise to the challenge," he promises.

Product development at the mobility specialist always takes its cues from the latest trends and developments in the automotive industry, but the company’s innovative minds also never lose sight of the needs of their customers. The "development process can take different forms. Designs are either conceived, developed, tested and taken to the road in-house, or we look for competent development partnerships," says Arnold.

Founder Arnold also makes collaboration his mission. He plans to create an interdisciplinary development platform that focuses on inclusion. Along with research facilities, partners, policymakers, federal and state governments, the goal is to shape the future of mobility at a site in Hohentengen, Germany. The New Mobility Innovation Campus is designed to be a place for practice driving for learners with disabilities, allowing them to conquer the maiden voyage with a converted vehicle in a safe environment. Yet it is also intended to be a center for driving safety. It goes without saying that PARAVAN also keeps a close eye on automobility developments. "The location opens opportunities for us as it pertains to the mobility for people with disabilities, and especially when it comes to networking with other developers or research facilities," explains Arnold but points out that the project is still in the early stages. “Last year, we obtained the premises and leased buildings that already accommodated the first events and workshops. However, our plans are getting more concrete this year and the vision behind it should become more of a reality," says the managing director.

AMF-Bruns GmbH & Co. KG made an investment that is not quite as extensive, though it still causes a big bang in a manner of speaking. In 2019, the company started building the competence center of the research and development company ("Forschungs-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH") which was newly founded for this purpose. The new factory building opened its doors last spring, featuring nearly 20,000 square feet (1,800 square meters). Since then, the facility has been host to dynamic crash and tensile tests. The test center aims to improve the safety of products and vehicle components made by AMF-Bruns and other clients. During the sled test, seated dummies on a sled are accelerated on the rail until they reach target speed, at which point braking pressure is applied. The unit tests the crash safety of car seats for children, and primary and secondary restraint systems, for example. Previously, these tests were conducted by an outside facility, which includes the German TÜV. The tensile testing lab has been in operation since 2009 and is now located in the new building. This unit tests the reliability of vehicle components, as well as passenger and wheelchair securement and occupant restraint systems. The setup uses special cylinders, which apply safety-related, requisite tension to a product within milliseconds and test its quality and durability.

These tests can now be conducted near the company’s own facility, which makes it easier to build prototypes and create new products. It also simplifies defect detection. The product quality can be improved directly without the need to wait a long time for external test results.

Q'STRAINT also has its own test and development center based in Whitstable, southeastern England. The manufacturer of wheelchair securement systems has created the Q'STRAINT ONE, a platform that makes passenger transport more intuitive, safer, and more comfortable. The platform features clear visual indicators integrated into the platform to help guide the wheelchair into place for maximum safety. An innovative occupant belt system maximizes personal space for passengers. The system locks and unlocks at the push of a button. The platform is interlocked with the vehicle and locks automatically once the vehicle starts moving – similar to the door lock mechanism in most modern vehicles.

The product development team had to be creative to meet the multifaceted needs and requirements of passengers and passenger transportation companies. The results are worth the effort: the Q'STRAINT ONE is a compact platform that maximizes space while reducing wheelchair position weight yet is comfortable for passengers thanks to a clever design that enables an easy installation and fast securement that keeps passengers safe.