Driving safety: Automotive testing and the sensors that make it possible
When you think about the journey from concept car to the vehicle in your driveway, a hidden world of rigorous testing comes to life behind the scenes. Automotive testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that every car on the road is safe, reliable and ready for the demands of modern mobility.
From evaluating the smoothness of your ride to ensuring that life-saving systems like airbags and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) function perfectly, sensors are the unsung heroes powering it all.
What is automotive testing and why does it matter?
Before a vehicle rolls off the production line, it undergoes an extensive series of tests: from component level to full system integration. These tests evaluate functionality, performance, safety, durability, emissions and ride comfort. With cars becoming smarter and more connected, modern automotive testing has evolved to include software validation, sensor integration and electromagnetic compatibility.
And at the core of every test? Sensors: collecting data, detecting anomalies and helping engineers refine every detail of vehicle behavior.
1. Quiet, smooth, comfortable: The role of NVH testing
NVH stands for Noise, Vibration and Harshness, a discipline focused on how the vehicle feels and sounds. Whether it's engine rumble, road noise or brake squeal, NVH testing ensures that the driving experience is not only safe but also pleasant. Common NVH testing applications in the automotive industry include analyzing engine and powertrain vibrations, identifying brake noise and squeal, optimizing cabin acoustic comfort and measuring wind and road noise. Additionally, NVH tests help detect unwanted buzz, squeak and rattle (BSR) sounds that affect perceived vehicle quality.
Sensors that make NVH testing possible
To capture the subtle nuances of vehicle noise and vibration, highly sensitive and specialized sensors are used:
- Accelerometers measure vibration in a single axis or up to three axes. They are critical for analyzing powertrain, chassis and structural resonance
- MEMS capacitive accelerometers are ideal for low-frequency NVH analysis, particularly in vehicle durability testing
- Measuring microphones capture in-cabin and external noise under various driving conditions, while probe microphones are used for exhaust noise evaluation
- Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) combine acceleration and rotation data for in-depth analysis of how a vehicle responds dynamically
- Laser vibrometers: Provide non-contact vibration measurements, perfect for hard-to-reach areas or delicate components
Looking to ensure the accuracy of your NVH measurements? SPEKTRA LABS offer a wide range of services to verify and calibrate your sensors.
Test and calibration services: Precision without compromise
We calibrate and test your measuring equipment quickly, reliably and individually - worldwide and at the highest level.
Our accredited laboratories in Germany and the USA guarantee correct measurement results and smooth processes.
For a broader overview, we have published our own website:
2. Why crash tests are critical: Engineering for the unexpected
Crash tests simulate real-world collision scenarios to validate vehicle safety systems and structural integrity. Whether it’s a frontal impact, side collision or rollover event, precision sensor data is essential to understand what happens in milliseconds — and how to improve safety outcomes.
Sensors that drive crash test insights
Crash test sensors are strategically placed to capture detailed impact data. Crash test dummies are equipped with numerous sensors in the head, chest, limbs and pelvis to simulate human injury responses. Additional sensors are mounted on the vehicle frame, particularly in critical impact zones, seatbelts, steering columns and airbags, while the test facility itself is outfitted with environmental sensors to ensure consistent and reliable test conditions.
Typical sensors involved in crash tests include:
- High-G accelerometers to capture acceleration/deceleration forces on vehicle and dummies with millisecond precision
- Gyroscopes and IMUs measuring rotational dynamics (yaw, pitch, roll) of vehicle and occupant movements
- Force sensors are used to monitor force distribution in dummy body parts (neck, chest, legs) and structural points such as seat belts and airbags
- Pressure sensors assess airbag deployment dynamics and pressure changes inside the dummy or vehicle compartments, while current sensors monitor electrical activations like airbag ignition or seatbelt pretensioner firing
- Acoustic sensors, on the other hand, record the timing and sound of explosive safety systems like airbags
- Finally, laser displacement sensors measure structural deformation during and after impact while 3D imaging and high-speed cameras provide a visual and spatial record of vehicle behavior during crashes
Learn more about our comprehensive solutions for crash test equipment and sensors testing.
3. ADAS and vehicle dynamics: The brain and reflexes of the modern car
Today’s vehicles don’t just react, they anticipate. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and vehicle dynamics control help cars stay in lanes, avoid obstacles and remain stable in emergency situations. Testing these features requires a robust mix of environmental perception sensors and motion analysis tools.
For reliable ADAS, precise vehicle positioning is essential. This is where GNSS and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) come into play. Our solutions focus on verifying and calibrating these critical GPS-based sensors to ensure accurate localization and high-definition map matching. While other key ADAS sensors such as cameras, radar, LiDAR, ultrasonic and infrared systems support functions like lane keeping, object detection and night vision, all of them rely on a solid spatial reference - something GNSS and INS are uniquely equipped to provide.
Key sensors for vehicle dynamics testing
- MEMS accelerometers: Detect rapid changes in motion and direction
- Gyroscopes: Track angular velocity for stability and control systems
- Inertial Measurement Units: Merge acceleration and rotational data for comprehensive motion analysis
- Yaw rate sensors: Monitor rotation around the vehicle’s vertical axis
- Wheel speed sensors: Essential for ABS and traction control
- Steering angle sensors: Measure driver input and help coordinate dynamic stability systems
- Optical sensors: Used for measuring speed, distance and displacement in real time
When it comes to ADAS and vehicle dynamics sensors, trust your measurements and rely on SPEKTRA. Whether you need systems to verify and calibrate your equipment or prefer to send your sensors to our accredited labs — we’ve got you covered, worldwide.
Why sensor testing matters - and how SPEKTRA supports the automotive industry
In an industry where precision and safety are paramount, the reliability of test data is everything. At SPEKTRA, we ensure that your sensors and measuring equipment perform with the utmost accuracy, from prototype to production. Our test and calibration systems, accredited laboratories and software solutions are trusted by automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide.
Whether you are validating NVH comfort, fine-tuning crash safety or ensuring that your ADAS systems respond in real-time, SPEKTRA provides the tools and expertise to verify your measurements with TESTelligence.
What can we do for you?
Visit our SPEKTRA Labs website or contact our experts directly.
Phone: +49 351 400 24 0 | Email: sales@spektra-labs.com
