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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