INTERROB – INTERopeRable cOllaBorative testing for sustainable and energy efficient power trains

Mobile machinery represents the fourth most significant export industry in Finland. Machine manufacturers must replace fossil fuels with electric powertrain solutions. The increasing use of sensor technology and the growing software intensity of vehicles demand new software solutions for both vehicles and the interoperable digital twins and cyber-physical test platforms required for their testing.

The INTERROB co-innovation project encompasses the fields of mobile machinery, electric powertrains, and software production. The University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences (NUVE-LAB), and LUT University collaborate in connection with Danfoss Editron’s Veturi program and company-specific projects from Kalmar Cargotec, Arctic Drilling Company, Treon, and Wapice. The project is also supported by the expertise of Horiba and Danfoss Drives.

INTERROB develops solutions to enhance the energy efficiency of mobile machinery powertrains and the testing required for demanding work cycle scenarios. The project aims for radically reduced testing costs and significantly shorter time-to-market through virtualized and optimized testing processes. It utilizes the unique NUVE laboratory in the Nordic region and LUT University’s laboratories in collaboration with industry partners. Cyber-physical vehicle- and software-in-the-loop testing activities cover powertrain systems and components, work cycle scenarios, virtual environments, and solutions for creating, processing, and analyzing test data. The results will include energy-efficient powertrain solutions and components.

In the project, Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk):

• D1.1 Develops and evaluates a process model for defining and implementing HIL/VIL testing setups within the NUVE-LAB environment.
• D1.2 Defines and designs test setup-specific visualizations in collaboration with consortium partners.
• D1.3 Maintains the INTERROB project’s scheduled testing plan, including objectives for specific testing setups, in cooperation with the consortium.
• D1.4 Produces evaluation reports on the achievement of visualization and goal-related outcomes for specific testing setups in collaboration with the involved parties.
• D2.1 Builds a methodological description for validating and calibrating digital twins using measurements conducted in NUVE-LAB.
• D2.2 Prepares implementation and equipment plans for specific testing setups in cooperation with participating stakeholders.
• D2.3 Produces 3–6 efficiency maps for the electric powertrains of partner companies’ devices and creates a methodological description based on drive batteries, electric powertrain control, economic implementation, final use cases, and work cycles. Additionally, Oamk will prepare an evaluation report on the usability of the digital twin for optimizing electric powertrains.

The project will provide the necessary research outcomes to initiate commercialization projects for products and service innovations in electric machinery, powertrains, and components. Furthermore, the NUVE-LAB environment will be enhanced with capabilities for cyber-physical vehicle testing, along with related software products and services that will benefit Finland’s entire mobile machinery sector. In addition to research findings, the participating companies’ combined export value is estimated to increase by over 300 million euros during 2030–2035.

The project is funded by Business Finland.

The project involves the University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences (NUVE-LAB), LUT University, and the companies Kalmar Cargotec, Arctic Drilling Company, Danfoss Editron, Treon, Wapice, HORIBA Europe GmbH, and HORIBA MIRA Ltd.