The Vehicle Production Group LLC (commonly referred as VPG) [2] was an American automobile manufacturer. Based in Miami, Florida , it made the wheelchair-accessible taxicabs , the "MV-1" (Mobility Vehicle-1), which was built in Mishawaka, Indiana at an AM General plant.

between the road surface and the vehicle, it is a vital component for performing VPG simulations. Efficient and accurate models of tires must be implemented that have the ability to accurately transmit the road profiles with the correct amplitude and frequency content.

Virtual Proving Ground (eta/VPGTM) is a unique and integrated computer aided engineering (CAE) technology to conduct full vehicle real time, nonlinear dynamic analyses and simulations. The utilization of this new technology can greatly improve the analytical results as compared with other conventional CAE tools.

The methodology presented here includes the vehicle system components such as bushings, springs, and tires to allow for the interaction of the tire and road surface. The VPG method, while developed by the author and colleagues, has been subsequently presented independently as an “Analytical Proving Ground”.

This streamlined CAE software provides an event-based simulation solution of nonlinear, dynamic problems. Integrated at an earlier stage of the design process, eta/VPG is proven to reduce time, reduce cost, and improve quality.

Apr 11, 2005 · The CAE technology Virtual Proving Ground (eta/VPG ® *) was used to model the full system and the 4-Post test fixtures. The nonlinear dynamic FE solver LS-DYNA ** was used in this analysis.

Oct 29, 2004 · Virtual Proving Ground (eta/VPGTM) is a unique and integrated computer aided engineering (CAE) technology to conduct full vehicle real time, nonlinear dynamic analyses and simulations. The utilisation of this new technology can greatly improve the analytical results as compared with other conventional CAE tools.

A crash/safety environment for virtual test has been developed under eta/VPG software, providing procedures and processes that can be used to streamline and standardized the analytical process. 3.0 VPG Crash/ Safety Environment Benefits

Jul 1, 2003 · In this study, we used the virtual proving ground (VPG) approach for obtaining the dynamic characteristics. The VPG approach uses a nonlinear dynamic finite element code (LS-DYNA3D) which expands the application boundary outside the classic linear static assumptions.

Simulation through the VPG is being increasingly used for life prediction. The present work shows a methodology that uses a Finite Element Model (FEM) that runs on a proving ground. In this case, no MBS (multi-body software) model is used to obtain the loads on the structure.