Powersoft joined forces with VI-grade

Florence, Italy 29th February 2024 - Powersoft, the Italian pro-audio technologist and global leader in energy-efficient amplification, has joined forces with VI-grade, the leading provider of real-time simulation and professional driving simulator solutions. This collaboration introduces the integration of Powersoft’s pioneering haptic transducer, MOVER, into VI-grade’s COMPACT FSS simulator.

VI-grade is a provider of software products and services, professional driving simulators, and hardware-in-the-loop solutions that accelerate product development across the transportation industry. The company needed to upgrade the existing technology in its COMPACT FSS simulator with one that would be both more effective, powerful, and realistic. The COMPACT FSS simulator, tailored for automotive OEMs, replicates a real-life car behavior and provides a full-spectrum simulator from 0.5Hz to 20kHz, making it ideal for ride comfort, overall vehicle refinement characterisation, and evaluating a wide range of vehicle attributes simultaneously.

“The haptic feedback element provided by MOVER is fundamental to completing the simulation experience, blending its vibrational contributions with those of the other shakers to cover the full range of frequencies, in all depths of field, at which the vehicle is moving,” explains Gabriele Ferrarotti, marketing director for VI-grade.

Powersoft’s MOVER was chosen for its compact yet robust design, ensuring optimal performance when mounted on moving/vibrating supports within the simulator. Its high force density, surpassing that of bulkier traditional shakers, and its price-to-quality ratio made it the ideal solution for the COMPACT FSS simulator.

The compact nature and power-to-size prowess mean that MOVER can be easily integrated into limited spaces, without orientation limits, and to provide a very high ratio between moving mass and total mass which greatly improves the overall efficiency and real-life haptic feedback of the final product.

VI-grade’s internal technical team, responsible for designing, testing, and certifying the simulators, first tested Powersoft’s MOVER on a static version of the simulator. Their positive experience during this phase solidified their decision to integrate MOVER into the new simulator model.

“We are thrilled with the finished product and the feedback from users during our demos has been overwhelmingly positive,” states Ferrarotti. “The integration of MOVER onto our COMPACT FSS simulator allows to evaluate the entire frequency spectrum on a single simulator from handling to noise.”

“The COMPACT FSS excels in assessing ride comfort by combining motion, vibration, and sound to create an overall driver and passenger experience. It is also suitable for seat evaluations, as any seat can be placed on the COMPACT FSS, with motion and vibration delivered to the seat’s rail attachment points.”

The partnership between Powersoft and VI-grade involved dedicated support from Powersoft’s team, who addressed challenges including space constraints in integrating MOVER into COMPACT FSS. Along with the integration of MOVER, the simulator now also benefits from two new energy-efficient Powersoft MEZZO amplifiers, replacing an old eight-channel amplifier.

“We are particularly thrilled about this collaboration with VI-grade,” says Francesca Cenni, key account professional leader at Powersoft. “We have taken innovative steps in partnering with automotive manufacturers, and we’re rapidly solidifying our commitment to this sector. This partnership has been an exciting journey, showcasing MOVER’s relevance within the automotive industry and the capabilities it brings to our partners.”