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SearchAutomotive Dynamometer Control Software
Our Client Moves Beyond Just Spinning Their Wheels in Traditional Development
Challenge
A machine company’s product lacks an interface to accomplish all that customers need. They lack software development capacity. And, they are uninterested in spinning their wheels with traditional approaches for building software.
Project Overview
BepCo sought AO’s product development for a controller interface to million dollar test machines.
Industry
Vehicle Research & Development
Project Type
Desktop Application
Project Size
- 9 Months
- 6 Developers (4 Atoms)
Services
- Software Development
- Project Management
- Agile Software Training
Technical Nitty Gritty
- C# / .Net
- Multi-threaded Messaging
- Network Communication
- PresenterFirst Design
- Test-Driven Development
Background
Burke E. Porter (BepCo) is our oldest client. BepCo produces advanced automotive testing machines – some the size of rooms. The first software we developed for BepCo is in use in a dozen factories around the world; since 2002 that original AO software has yet to stall a production line.
Driving Vehicle Test Curves
An entire automobile can drive onto a chassis dynamometer (dyno) to be tested with wheels spinning in-place on the machine’s rollers. Testing happens by way of a drive curve, a series of acceleration and braking scenarios. Dyno drive curves allow wear testing; emissions monitoring; speed, torque, and power measurement; mileage accumulation; and drivetrain R&D – all without expensive and difficult-to-instrument test tracks.
Existing and potential customers of Burke Porter’s dynos asked for more from these machines. What was lacking was an interface to create and manage sophisticated drive curves and make full use of the network-available command set of dyno controllers. BepCo approached Atomic Object to lead a full software product development effort to create such an application – ultimately operating not only the dyno but also a large airflow fan and optional driver robot. Additionally, BepCo looked to us to train their people in Agile project management and software development.
Product Development Done Right
Atomic Object lead the software development and project management. We ran the development “skunkworks” style as a priority project moved to our office. BepCo domain experts and developers joined the project with us away from the demands of their office. BepCo’s director of new product development served as the team’s customer representative for iteration planning; feature prioritization; and technical and user interface issue resolution. Full test suites were created. Iteration planning happened each week. Pair programming was employed. Heavy upfront design was eschewed in favor of iteratively discovering and implementing the user interface.
Results
- Agile release planning allowed sales to commence 6 months prior to traditional approach
- Early and regular user feedback
- Proficiency in Agile development acquired by BepCo employees
- 99% Estimation accuracy achieved over development cycle
- 5200+ Automated unit tests
Customer Experiences
“Although the agile approach has many strengths, there were two specific practices that had a major impact on our projects success. The first was pair programming. Pairing enabled us to combine our domain expertise with Atomic Object’s software methodology and C# experience to accelerate the delivery of the product. The second practice that significantly impacted the project was the short iterations. This allowed the team to quickly refine their processes and complemented our NPD approach of developing the simplest thing that can generate revenue. Within three months, we were able to release the initial version and begin selling it to our customers.”
- Kevin Hykin, Director of New Product Development
“Atomic’s agile development process and design expertise were key factors in our selection process. Their approach reduced our risk and let us explore more design and interface possibilities.”
- Ralph Palmer, Director of Engineering
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