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In order to attend the more demanding expectations of the commercial vehicles customers, it is being looked for improvements in order to reach better comfort on driving. Among the systems that interact with the driver, the shifting system can be distinguished. The development of a commercial vehicle shifting system is getting complex, because besides making possible the gear changes, it should follow comfort, ergonomics and durability parameters, balancing the necessary robustness for heavy applications with the shift smoothness desired by the user. At the start of the development of commercial vehicles shifting systems, the concept to be applied is analyzed, defining the model. Then it starts the study of the system construction, according to layout parameters of the vehicle project. This stage is predominantly accomplished by computer models. Then the prototypes are manufactured, in which functional tests are made for refinement.

This paper discusses some aspects of durability tests in laboratory, justifying the necessity of a new procedure for data compression. Attention is paid to dynamic tests, with the presence of inertia forces. The new procedure is introduced, which uses concepts of fatigue due to vibration and signal analysis. The compression procedure is applied to generate a synthetic signal for the experimental stress test of an automotive component.

Competition in Automotive Market is driving the need for more time - and cost - effective testing methods. In the fatigue life analysis of new passenger and commercial vehicle designs, laboratory testing through servohydraulic equipment plays a very important role. In DaimlerChrysler do Brasil, the Durability Test Laboratory represents an important basis to assure high endurance reliability for all kinds of our commercial vehicle applications. In order to respond to the above mentioned testing tasks, this paper will focuse what we call our “New Policy of Durability Tests for Commercial Vehicles”, based on development of simple and low cost Road Simulators, fully dedicated and customized to testing of vehicle components and chassis. Experimental results as well as other data related to consumption of laboratory's: area, utilityes, pressurized hoses and test time, will be used in order to illustrate advantages and disadvantages of the new testing resource.

During the last years, DaimlerChrysler do Brasil (DCBR) has been moving ahead in order to research and to develop an Automatic Vehicular Location System (AVL System) due to the increase of the security through blocking and tracking devices, monitoring and mainly, logistic solutions that includes maintenance and fleet management. DaimlerChrysler do Brasil faced the necessity to prepare a test that could reflect a real situation, not only to try the system's features regardless communication and management of transmitted data, also however, to ensure the durability and reliability of the on-board vehicles equipment focusing on Brazilian Infrastructure. The objective of this paper is to describe the methodology, used tools and acquired results obtained by DCBR improvement test of his AVL System, throughout the “9o Rally Internacional dos Sertões - 2001”.

Since the rising of the automotive industry, the concern with the driving itself has been the main task of the developments, which have improved the safety-related vehicle systems, such as headlamps and signalling devices that have received significant investments in technology. The paper deals with some functional and durability tests applied to illumination and signalling devices used in the automotive industry. We describe some durability tests like: vibrations, sealing tests, vehicles tests, …… emphasizing the research regarding headlights internal pressure variations relative to the protection against adverse environmental conditions. Concerning functional tests we focus those related to Photometry and Colorimetry, using Psychophysical parameters and the CIE International System XYZ (Commission International de l'Eclairage).