Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
As with the test drive, the car builder testing approaches can be described by common
testing terminology.
•
Examine
Static testing
(
observe, read, or review without actually building the car
)
Perform
•
Functional and structural testing
(
work different features of the car models, mock-ups, and manufactured
subassemblies
)
Drive
•
Performance testing
(
work different features of the car in the prototypes
)
Because you have probably not built a car, it might be helpful to fi nd examples from
a topic that details the car-building steps and the manner in which those steps are
tested during real car development. [8]
Example of static testing
Read the description of wind tunnel testing that showed changing shapes on the
wheel wells would allow the car to achieve 180 mph which became the target
speed for road tests later.
Example of test planning
Read the estimate of the number of prototypes to be built for testing the C5,
around one hundred, compared with the 300 or more expected to be built for
normal car pre-production testing. These prototypes were expected to be used
for all static and dynamic (road) testing prior to the start of assembly line
production. In fact, some of the prototypes were used to plan and calibrate
assembly line production steps.
Read the description of fi nal prototype endurance tests that include driving the
test car on a closed track at full throttle for a full 24 hours, stopping only for gas
and driver changes.
Examples of functional and structural testing
Read the description of heater and air conditioner testing in which drivers
would see how soon the heater made things comfortable in freezing weather.
In summer, one internal environment test would let a Corvette sit under the
desert sun for 3 hours, then the test driver would get in, close the doors, start
the car and air-conditioning to monitor the system until the driver stopped
sweating.
Read the description of body surface durability testing which involved driving
into a car-wash solution of corrosive salt and chemicals that caused the car to
experience the equivalent of a decade of corrosion exposure.
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