Inverter Test Systems for Remote and Unattended Function Testing

The trend towards e-mobility means that at least one inverter is part of the drive system in every vehicle. Software is a crucial component for the function of the inverter in vehicles and significantly determines the vehicle behavior. To shorten development times, an efficient software release process is essential. Since in-vehicle tests are very time-consuming and cost-intensive as well as poorly reproducible, a large part of the tests is already performed on an inverter test system where the characteristics of the electric motor are emulated. Due to limited test capacities, there is a need to distribute tests worldwide and to perform some of them unmanned. Inverter test systems offer good conditions for worldwide testing, since the characteristics of the electric motor can be mapped in software and parameters and thus distributed as data around the world. In order to implement safe unmanned operation, door monitoring, additional smoke and temperature sensors, and a thermal imaging camera were added to the test benches. These components were incorporated into the test stand automation and security system. With this setup, a 30 % increase in available test capacity is planned.