Vehicle Testing in Realistic Conditions Made Easy

PAMI operates an extensive 80-acre all–terrain test track, with additional areas available for developmental durability testing. This expansive property features diverse terrain, including rolling hills with side slopes, cross-country trails, a fording pit, configurable test ramps, soft soil mobility areas, a gravel pit, and a sand course. These varied environments are designed to simulate real-world driving conditions, providing a comprehensive testing ground for vehicles.

Key benefits include:

Performance Evaluation: Simulates a wide variety of terrain types—mud, gravel, rocks, steep inclines, and water crossings—to test vehicle handling, traction, and power.

Durability and Reliability Testing: Identifies weaknesses and wear points in real-world scenarios, enabling comprehensive life-cycle assessments.

Environmental Condition Simulation: Allows testing under different weather and surface conditions for cold starts, overheating, and wet braking.

Trail and Rock Bed Testing

PAMI’s closed-loop course is characterized by grades of up to 29%. It consists of rough, dirt bush trails covered by prairie soil, clay and grass. Operating speeds of up to 32km/hr can be attained. The average speed attained on this section provides totally random suspension inputs caused by driving over rocks that range in size up to 50 mm in diameter. The rocks are arranged in a rock bed to allow for rock shifting.

Consistent Terrain: Enable repeated runs under the same conditions, critical for comparative testing and engineering validation.

Benchmarking: Support side-by-side testing of different models or competitor products under controlled, repeatable conditions.

Bump Track Testing

The configurable speed-bump obstacle course consists of five sections:

Bump Track: Steel bumps are placed in reverse curves to impact wheels at various frequencies. This track is 45.7 metres long.

Washboard Track: Support side-by-side testing of different models or competitor products under controlled, repeatable conditions.

Staggered Bumps: Steel speed bumps are placed out of sequence between each side of the vehicle on an 18-meter test strip. This section induces vehicle pitch and roll.

Variable Bump Course: Bumps range from 100 – 150 mm and are spaced far enough apart to allow the vehicle suspension to settle before the net bump is encountered. These bumps intersect the roadway at various angles. This section is used to impose shock and vibration stress on a vehicle in the form of irregular jolts.

Vehicle Testing to Support Research and Development

Prototype Validation:  Ideal for testing early-stage designs and experimental technologies before public release.

Innovation Testing: Facilitate the development of features like traction control systems, off-road ABS, autonomous driving components, or smart diagnostics.