McLaren Automotive has installed a Dynisma Motion Generator (DMG) at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK. The DMG-1 simulator, which has already been integrated into McLaren W1 development program, marks the expansion of the auto maker’s virtual development capabilities, enabling the acceleration of prototype programs and improving vehicle performance.
The partnership with Dynisma brings Formula 1-level simulation capabilities with ultra-low latency and high bandwidth to McLaren Automotive. The DMG-1 enables engineers and test drivers to virtually experience the same scenarios they would face on proving grounds and circuits worldwide.
Revolutionizing development
McLaren has used the DMG-1 in the final development phases of its McLaren W1 supercar, validating its active aerodynamic systems, suspension setup and damper controls through a combination of simulator-based and physical testing.
By replicating the data signatures behind real-world dynamic behavior, the simulator gives engineers greater clarity on how cars perform and why they feel a certain way.
“The accuracy and representativeness of the Dynisma Motion Simulator allows us to extract a new level of detail and data from virtual development activity,” said Emmanuele Raveglia, chief vehicle program officer, McLaren Automotive.
“We can explore a wider range of dynamic possibilities and behaviors in a virtual environment. The fidelity of road texture and ride inputs is so precise that we can simulate standard road conditions at lower speeds, alongside high-load scenarios on test tracks or race circuits, with remarkable realism.”
McLaren’s use of Dynisma’s DMG-1 enables correlation across computational fluid dynamics (CFD), wind tunnel, simulator and track testing, creating a more efficient and seamless link between virtual and real-world development.
For the W1, engineers used DMG-1 to deliver precise, real-time simulations of downforce, aerodynamic load and suspension interaction, enabling robust and efficient optimization of active aero systems.
Ash Warne, founder and CTO of Dynisma, added, “We are proud that McLaren Automotive has chosen Dynisma to power its virtual development with our DMG-1 simulator. This installation is a milestone for McLaren’s future automotive development. Our technology enables manufacturers to replicate reality with exceptional precision, accelerating innovation, reducing dependence on prototypes, and helping deliver cars that are more finely tuned than ever before.”
“A simulator of this fidelity is not just a tool for drivers – it allows engineers to integrate and analyze systems across the car,” noted Mark Salmon, principal engineer at McLaren Automotive. “We can assess tire and suspension behavior, develop control strategies and predict duty cycles before a single part is manufactured.”
Christopher Harrison, vehicle integration director and deputy CTO at McLaren Automotive, said, “The simulator is an incredibly critical tool in terms of helping us bring together the soul of the car. One of the biggest technical challenges with the W1 is how we bring together the performance to a car that is capable on the road, and this is a tool that enables us to build on our world-class virtual methodologies in terms of designing and delivering cars to meet our customers’ expectations.”
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