IAB Report - ABS test facility inaugurated at VRDE (DRDO) Ahmednagar

19/07/2014 - 14:19 | ,   | Nithyanandh K

Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) Ahmednagar, a unit of Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has inaugurated its new ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) testing facility which is jointly funded by the ministries of Defense and Heavy Industries.

The new test track which can be accessed by OEMs, auto component and tyre manufacturers, simulates the varied conditions that a vehicle encounters during its lifetime. The facility features surfaces of varying traction levels (low and high friction surfaces), wet and dry patches, etc. to aid in development of ABS.

Continental MiniMAB One-Channel ABS system showcased at EICMA 2013
The new facility will reduce development and testing costs of ABS in India. (Image: Continental MiniMAB One-Channel motorcycle ABS)

The new test track encourages indigenous development of ABS by Indian automakers by reducing the development and testing costs. Various vehicle types including cars, trucks, tractor trailers and two wheelers can be tested at VRDE's ABS test track.

Primarily set up to develop defense vehicles, VRDE also caters to the auto industry and is used for performance endurance evaluation, Central Motor Vehicle Regulations (CMVR) certification and export homologation.

ABS is an important safety equipment of an automobile, irrespective of the type. The local development and testing of the system would result in making the technology affordable and hence much more accessible to customers. A cost-effect ABS system would enable the government to make the feature mandatory on all vehicles.

The government of India recently issued a notification making ABS mandatory on all commercial vehicles in the country starting from next fiscal year.

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