Morris Commercial returns with all-electric Morris JE van

The Morris JE features a state-of-the-art, all-electric powertrain and a lightweight modular skateboard chassis developed for electric LCVs where battery packs form part of the chassis. Its ultra-lightweight fully recycled carbon fibre monocoque body provides optimal body strength, integrity and sustainability. In addition, the 2.5-ton segment low carbon vehicle boasts a 1-ton (1000 kg) payload, a 6.5 m³ carrying capacity and 200–250 miles driving range.

The iconic 1950's British Morris J-type van has made an exciting return to the UK’s roads. The all-electric, retrostyled vehicle has been reimagined for the 21st century and heralds a sustainable future for the historic British brand. Fully designed and engineered in Britain, where it will also be produced, the striking delivery van is unique, highly stylish and sure to turn heads.

The van will be brought to market by Morris Commercial Ltd, an automotive engineering and manufacturing start up with the objective of creating desirable carbon-neutral transport. The company aims to revive the historic British Morris brand with innovative technology, zero-emission, newly designed vehicles that have the timeless, iconic Morris styling cues and beautiful British craftmanship. The van will be launched first, with pickup and minibus models to follow later.

The Morris JE will be on display at this year’s Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition outside the entrance to the Silverstone Wing.

New miniature pressure scanner launches with zero offsetting capability

Evolution Measurement are excited to present Scanivalve’s brand-new product: the MPS4232 –Miniature Pressure Scanner.

The MPS4232 miniature pressure scanner represents the forefront of pressure measurement technology. It has been designed from the ground up with size, accuracy, speed and functionality in mind. This new scanner boasts 32 discrete pressure channels, a small footprint, TCP/IP Ethernet connectivity, an A/D per channel, synchronous scanning and a wealth of other innovative features.

The MPS4232 electronics are designed around a highperformance dual-core processor which can produce engineering unit data for 32 pressure channels synchronously at rates in excess of 1000Hz (samples per channel per second). Onboard flash memory stores the pressure-temperature matrix that allows for the conversion of RAW 24-bit A/D counts to precise engineering unit data over a wide operating temperature (0-70°C).

The goal of the MPS4232 was the provide a highchannel, accurate, all-in-one data acquisition system in the smallest footprint possible. Using the legacy ZOC22b as a starting point, the MPS4232 includes many additional features that make it superior to the legacy ZOC style scanners, including built-in electronics with a dual-core processor, one 24-bit A/D per transducer, Ethernet connectivity and removeable input headers.

The MPS4232 is easy to use and will quickly integrate into your system. There is an integrated web server allowing the user to configure and operate the unit(s) from any device on the network.

Paul Crowhurst, Managing Director at Evolution Measurement said, “The MPS 4232 is an exciting development in Scanivalve’s miniature pressure scanner range. It offers greater accuracy, synchronous measurement reading from each sensor and features the dynamic zero capability, which effectively zero offsets every measurement.

This pressure scanner is ideal for wind tunnel testing environments and flight-testing applications.”

For more details on the MPS 4232, full details are available at www.evolutionmeasurement.com or call +44 (0)1264 316470.

Test and measurement expert, Hottinger Brüel & Kjær launches new V8800 + XPA-K air-cooled medium-force shaker system

To help automotive companies and test houses cope with increasing demand for high vibration and shock testing, while keeping expenses low, Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK) has created its new medium-force, air-cooled LDS V8800 shaker system which provides a comprehensive and reliable solution, with everything that is needed for accurate and high-performance vibration tests, along with an efficiency that goes far beyond saving time.

The LDS V8800 series shaker system was developed for a variety of R&D, testing and production scenarios, such as component and subsystem durability tests, general load testing, or product qualification and packaging testing within the automotive, aerospace and defence, transport and packaging industries. It is suitable for high-acceleration shock tests and has an internal load support capability of 700 kg.

The system features a maintenance-free Inductive Centring System (ICS), leading to increased reliability due to being unaffected by unfavourable environmental conditions such as dust or heat.

The COOL and QUIET modes, which automatically adjust system settings to reduce the energy consumption required for a test, or, if possible, operate the shaker without a fan, save costs and reduce the noise associated with standard tests. Remote service capabilities ensure low inspection risks, maximum availability, and a long-term return on investment of the V8800 + XPA-K shaker system.

Further information is available on HBK’s website: https://www.bksv.com/en/instruments/vibrationtesting-equipment/lds-shakers/medium-force-shakers/ lds-v8800.

VBOX launch new software

VBOX Automotive has launched the all-new VBOX 3i ADAS, designed exclusively to make ADAS testing easier. The latest addition to the stable of VBOX test and validation solutions, VBOX 3i ADAS features a new 100 Hz GNSS multi-constellation and dual frequency engine. This delivers outstanding RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) signal resilience and reacquisition, allowing for RTK accuracy when testing on the track or open road, even in challenging GNSS conditions. www.vboxautomotive.co.uk/3iadas

Additionally, accuracy of speed and position measurement are maintained when routes include potential satellite obstructions such as driving through a tunnel, under a bridge, or on roads with heavy tree cover. In these conditions, VBOX 3i ADAS combines wheel speed data from the vehicle’s CAN bus with GNSS and inertial data from a VBOX IMU to prevent drift in the data.

Even the most complex ADAS scenarios can be evaluated with full flexibility to customise the test setup, including multi-target and multi-lane configurations, in accordance with Euro NCAP requirements. The vehicle under test can simultaneously reference any combination of up to three moving targets, two static targets, three road-lines and 99 signposts with the flexibility to switch test setups in minutes.

J, N, R, S, and T). Operating in ambient temperatures of -40 °C up to +125 °C, the device can directly be mounted on the test object. Each channel is freely selectable and measures with the highest precision thanks to a 24-bit sigma–delta converter and a cold-junction compensation per channel. Unwanted interference, e.g. by external thermal influence or ambient temperature fluctuation, is reduced to an absolute minimum.

As with all VBOX products, it comes with free lifetime support and no on-going, costly support contracts. Owners benefit from free access to future updates to firmware and software, a comprehensive online support centre, and technical support from VBOX engineers.

New temperature measurement device M-THERMO3 16 with 16 freely selectable channels

With the M-THERMO3 16, IPETRONIK introduces their latest temperature measurement device. As the first module of a new device generation, it sets standards in modular measuring technology. The 16 channels with freely selectable thermocouple types and a highresolution 24-bit ADC offer maximum precision and flexibility. Thanks to its extremely fast boot time – 0.8 seconds from switching-on to measuring – the data can be recorded without waiting. The M-THERMO3 16 is highly compact and rugged. Its new wireless magnetic connection technology saves time during set-up and provides a highly safe data connection.

Meets Extreme Requirements

The M-THERMO3 16 boots in just 0.8 seconds and supports all common thermocouples (types K, B, C, E,

New Intelligent Contacting System

The new contacting system reduces installation and start-up time. The wireless magnetic module connection and the controllable multicolor LED per channel facilitate setup and configuration. With the wireless device chain, several measurement modules (up to 64!) can easily be connected and integrated into one system. The intelligent CAN bus termination automatically activates the bus terminator.

HIGHLY COMPACT, WIRELESS, AND RUGGED www.ipetronik.com

The design of the M-THERMO3 16 is highly compact. Compared to the previous model, the volume has been reduced by 30 percent and the power consumption by 50 percent. In addition, it only weighs 415 grams. With their decentralized architecture, the modules can be installed in close proximity to the measuring point, reducing thermo cabling and improving data quality as well as measurement precision.

New high-compact torque vectoring EDU delivers double the power in the smallest package

The new EDU from the engineering partner and system supplier hofer powertrain reaches new levels of compactness and brings installation possibilities that were not possible before. It enables elegant integration, significantly saves space, and offers maximum flexibility in designing new EV drivetrains.

The new High-Compact Torque Vectoring EDU (HC TorVec EDU) consists of two combined EDUs, where each EDU can be controlled separately. Active torque vectoring enables better control of the power the car's e-motors send to each wheel, allowing a more agile response to the different surfaces and driving conditions. Each wheel can, therefore, precisely accelerate and slow down independently, improving overall vehicle dynamics, handling, and stability by distributing additional torque in only fractions of a second. The improved reaction time and accurate response bring driving safety and feel to an entirely new level. In addition to the torque vectoring functionality, a clever combination of gears allowed the realization of this very compact design and a highpower density. metallic surfaces which the electricity from the sensor must pass through. www.bournemouth.ac.uk

Leclanché achieves breakthrough in environmentally friendly production of high-performance lithium-ion batteries www.hofer.de

A leading global provider of energy storage solutions, has achieved a breakthrough in the environmentally friendly production of modern G/NMCA cells: As the first manufacturer worldwide, Leclanché is able to reduce the cobalt content in NMCA as a cathode material from 20 to 5 percent and manufacture electrodes using an environmentally friendly water-based process. In doing so, Leclanché completely dispenses with the use of the highly toxic organic solvents (NMP) that are otherwise common in the production process. The new G/NMCA cells from Leclanché have a 20 percent higher energy density – with the same size, weight and performance level. Water binder-based NMCA cathodes are easier to dispose of and are also recyclable.

After introducing the previous High-Performance TorqueVectoring e-axle from hofer powertrain in several highperformance sports cars, the engineers searched for new ways to optimize the successful architecture regarding power density and package. This goal was achieved using a new side-by-side architecture. In the architecture of the new HC TorVec EDU, the two powerful, modular, and scalable motors are arranged axis-parallel to each other and in axial prolongation to the side shafts. Besides the architectural changes, the electric axle's performance has been raised to over 800 kW, consisting of 2 electric motors with more than 400 kW and a torque of 2 x 4500 Nm in the modular system. These performance levels are further extendable if required.

New sensor can prevent defects in major structures reaching costly and dangerous levels

Researchers at Bournemouth University have developed and patented a new corrosion sensor that could improve safety and reliability of large structures such as bridges, aircraft, military vehicles and gas pipelines. The device can detect defects and risks in major infrastructure at a much earlier stage than the methods that are currently used. As well as improving safety, it could reduce the need for time-consuming repairs which can come at significant cost and inconvenience to industries and the public.

Whilst other corrosion sensors are used by industry –and some can even be bought on eBay – they all require cables to be plugged in to a computer. This means that maintenance must take place with a worker present at the site. On the other hand, Professor Khan’s device is wireless so it can be attached to a structure and its readings could be continuously monitored off-site. As a further benefit, the sensor can be used on any kind of surface, whereas most current devices only work on www.leclanche.com

Leclanché is the first company in the world to implement the environmentally friendly process in the production of Li-ion cells: The newly developed G/NMCA cell has a nickel content of around 90 per cent, which increases the energy density and enables the significant reduction of the cobalt content by 15 per cent. At the same time, it offers a longer service life, high cycle stability and good chargeability. Thanks to the high-volume energy density and high cycle stability, the new cells are particularly well-suited for electric cars and heavy-duty applications such as ships, buses and trucks.

Piezoelectric accelerometer with mounting block for precise modal analysis

Correctly measuring acceleration on angled surfaces is one of the major challenges of modal analysis. With the accelerometer type 8775A, Kistler presents a new piezoelectric sensor solution that has been especially designed for angled structures such as airplane wings. Thanks to its cylindrical shape, it is freely orientable while meeting all other key requirements for accelerometers used in aerospace applications such as low weight, high sensitivity and low noise threshold.

During starts and airborne maneuvers, an airplane’s wings and corpus experience acceleration from different angles. Modal analysis simulates the impact that acceleration has on an airplane in ground vibration tests. Choosing the right accelerometers is crucial for achieving precise test results. Working closely with clients, Kistler has recently developed the cylindrical accelerometer 8775A. Used either on its own or mounted into a Delrin mounting block, the accelerometer can be oriented freely in any direction perpendicular to the coaxial connector. It then measures vibration in the direction of the arrow etched onto the surface of the sensor. “The structure of an airplane impacts the direction in which acceleration hits specific parts,” explains Joshua Kasprzyk, Product Manager Acceleration at Kistler. “When you take a wing, for instance, the curved structure affects the angles in which vibration will be seen. When using standard accelerometers with a square package for modal analysis, they can only be oriented towards angled accelerations to a limited extent. Our new sensor offers an optimal solution for this issue.” www.kistler.com

Introducing the new Sound Scanner From Seven Bel

The latest addition to AcSoft’s solutions for noise source location and acoustic imaging is the radically different, Sound Scanner from SevenBel. It’s incredibly portable and quick to set up, and operates from a mobile app with a super intuitive workflow. It takes the user from measurement and analysis, to report in less than 3 minutes!

The system consists of a tablet or smartphone that connects wirelessly to the Sound Scanner sensor arm. The arm consists of a number of microphones in an array, and the longer the sensor arm, the lower the frequency the Sound Scanner can detect. Sensor arms are interchangeable – it’s modular by design.

Furthermore, the hundreds of virtual microphones created by the rotating array, results in a measurement surface with dimensions double the sensor length. Not only does that mean low-frequency performance is remarkable for its size and weight, but also that spatial resolution and dynamic range performance is significantly better than a typical acoustic camera. www.acsoft.co.uk

It is an “acoustic camera”, but it’s not beamforming! The Sound Scanner employs its patented Coherence Scanning Holography method to calculate the acoustic heatmap, that is then overlaid onto the optical image of the measurement scene. Applications areas are many, including building acoustics, environmental noise, machinery diagnostics, product R & D, automotive and more. Get in touch to find out more about how the Sound Scanner could work for you.

eVTOL innovator launches sustainable passenger aircraft to address challenges of regional air mobility

The ARC LINX P9 is the latest in a successful line-up of eVTOL aircraft from ARC’s team. It’s designed to carry 9 passengers as a cost-effective, low-carbon solution to intercity travel. Using Vertical Take-Off and Landing technology, the LINX P9 has the flexibility of a helicopter, with the performance of a fixed-wing utility aircraft, designed to address the challenging needs of regional air mobility.

The LINX P9 is a full-composite structure aircraft, with two variants of hybrid electric and twin turbo-prop power train both running on SAF/hydrogen in future, a high wing configuration, and is unpressurized and equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It’s able to perform a jump take-off and no-roll landing without the need of a runway, making it a highly versatile passenger and cargo craft, fit for a wide range of use cases. Sustainability and efficient transport have become key focus points across the globe, as has the ever-growing population. This has resulted in a shift in perspective towards addressing these challenges, including reducing urban traffic, improving safety and reliability and shifting away from fossil fuels. The LINX P9 has been created in direct response to these requirements. www.arcaerosystems.com

There have been a number of innovators looking to make waves in this field, but ARC have set themselves apart from many of their competitors, having successfully carried out test flights for their cargo models, C-150 and C-600.

Dewetron Oxygen efficiency mapping

When focusing on drivetrain testing, the efficiency analysis of the powertrain components plays a crucial role and is highly important for the overall efficiency analysis of the drivetrain. An efficiency map is a convenient solution to precisely visualize the efficiency of the drivetrain directly in OXYGEN, DEWETRON’s measurement and analysis software from StrainSense. It displays the relation between speed and torque for the X-and Y-axis and the mechanical efficiency as the input channel for the Z-axis. The efficiency is displayed in a color-coded map with several areas for different values. This map gives a good overview over the whole measurement range and for all load steps for the analysis of the efficiency for any combination of speed and torque compared to single values at different measurement points. Consequently, it can be used to design components in a way to maximize the total efficiency for the regular working areas. Different trigger options are available for different operation modes, like testbed-controlled or manual use.

DEWETRON’s mixed-signal Power Analyzer from StrainSense is the future-proof solution for any power application. Mixed signal inputs are the basis to capture not only voltage and current signals but also all relevant mechanical and environmental parameters to gain a complete picture of your DUT. Time synchronous measurement of mechanical efficiency along with power values is a crucial factor to get significant results.

The Efficiency Map precisely displays the mechanical efficiency in relation to the speed and torque in a colorcoded map, which facilitates the analysis and describes the efficiency over a defined range of operating points of the drivetrain. A fast conclusion can be drawn from the efficiency map since it fills up online during a measurement. Multiple trigger options allow the use of different operation modes, which makes this a perfect feature for multiple application measurements. For further information visit our website https://www.strainsense. co.uk/sensors/power-analyzers/ or contact our sales team to discuss your requirements at sales@strainsense.co.uk.

Contributions to Product News may be emailed to managingeditor@e-i-s.org.uk. The nominal limit for entry is 200 words.

Rob Duncan was the lucky winner of the ‘Headto-Head Driving Experience’ from the prize draw held at the 2022 Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition. In November, Rob returned to the Silverstone Circuit and we were keen to find out about his exciting day.