Page 29 - Remembering ISTEL
P. 29

Remembering ISTEL




       The results of each test are automatically stored by the computer on magnetic
       tapes. At the conclusion of the test a printed summary is produced identifying
       the tests which are outside limits for that vehicle. This print out, which also
       contains details of the vehicle identification number, date and time of the test

       and the number of tests carried out, is then put into the car for rectification
       staff to use to correct the faults. Information on all tests for each vehicle, which

       is stored on tape in the computer can be analysed to determine the typical
       current  values  drawn  by  a  single  circuit  in  a  number  of  similar  cars  or  to
       analyse the range of current values obtained in similar circuits across a range



       The computer in the design process



       In  common  with  all  major  car  manufacturers  across  the  world,  BL  Cars  is
       making  increasing  use  of  computers  in  its  engineering  design  process.  The

       principle  applications  in  Engineering  for  computer  aided  design  are  to  the
       mathematical modelling of the structural and dynamic behaviour of vehicles,

       the  automatic  control  of  test  equipment  and  the  automated  production  of
       drawings.


       As     one       example         of
       developments in this field,
       a  computer  aided  design
       system  was  introduced

       into      the       Longbridge
       Drawing  Office  in  June

       1978. The system consists
       of  a  small  dedicated
       computer         attached        to
       which are 3 visual display

       terminals  and  a  plotter,
       with  which  Engineers  ca

       very easily construct new
       drawings or modify existing ones held in computer files. High quality drawings
       for distribution can be produced automatically and quickly by the plotter. In

       addition,  data  describing  an  object  in  tl^!  dimensions  can  be  stored  in  the
       computer  and  used  to  produce  isometric  and  cross  sectional  views  in  any
       direction. These data are also used as an input to the mathematical models

       mentioned earlier and to numerically controlled machine tools.





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