Ford Motor Group pride themselves on putting their vehicles through the most rigorous of conditions before releasing their cars to the market - but there are some scenarios that even the toughest humans can endure and for that the car company has invented a pair of robots to do the work.
The state-of-the art Weather Centre in Cologne, Germany is Ford’s secret weapon in creating a wide range of extreme weather conditions all under one roof. The Weather Centre allows the company to tests all temperatures and conditions without having to travel the globe as with real-world testing.
But the extreme weather conditions are so realistic that even the most experienced human test drivers can complain of tiredness or feel unwell, particularly when driving for long periods at altitude. So Ford have created two robot test drivers to take the strain to ensure that all test-driving done at the Weather Centre is done with the utmost safety.
The robots, nicknamed Shelby and Miles, after Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles the famous duo which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, don’t require extra oxygen, medical equipment or a paramedic, allowing Ford to push the vehicle to its extremes.
The robots leg extend to the accelerator, brake and clutch, one arm changes gear while the other is used to stop and start the engine.
“These two new drivers are fantastic additions to the team, as they can take on the challenging endurance tests at high altitudes and in hot temperatures,” said Frank Seelig, from the Ford Wind Tunnel Testing team. “Once the robot is in the driver’s seat, we can run tests through the night without ever having to worry that the driver will need a sandwich or a bathroom break.”