Testing Services

Environmental tests and simulations can be performed on different types of vehicles, from cars to tractors to industrial vehicles and vans as well as on single components. The following list is non-exhaustive and is provided only for the purposes of illustration:

Cold Start Test

This test analyses engine performance during cold starts. The minimum temperature that can be reached is -40°C, and the exposure to cold can last up to several days.

Windshield Defrost Test

What is the duration and efficiency of a vehicle’s window defrosting system? How can this defrosting process be optimised according to external environmental conditions?

Cabin Air Conditioning

How does conditioned air (hot or cold) distribute inside the cabin of different types of vehicles, depending on the weather conditions? How do factors such as outdoor humidity, for instance, affect distribution? What is the resulting effect on people’s comfort inside the vehicle?

Testing on Components

These tests are useful to assess the response of single automotive components to frequent and prolonged thermal stress. What elastic and plastic deformations of a tank occur after prolonged use? How do the joints behave? To what extent is the functionality of an electronic control unit affected by its operation?

A drone’s ability to contribute to the development of various economic sectors will increasingly depend on their ability to operate in difficult environments; thus the ability to flight-test drones under controlled conditions that simulate hostile environments is an important contribution to the industry’s progress.

The European Union and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen have awarded funding through the European Regional Development Fund, acknowledging the importance of environmental testing in this industry, and allowing terraXcube to open a drone testing service (see the project sections under “DronEx” for more information). Among the possible tests are:

High Altitude Flight Testing

How do the technical characteristics of the flight, including the payload, vary depending on the altitude at which the operation is carried out? Does air density affect the flight?

Flight Testing in Hot or Cold Conditions

How does outdoor temperature affect wear and tear on the system’s electromechanical components? Is it possible to optimise battery use according to environmental parameters?

In the textile sector, various types of garments can be tested through environmental tests and simulations, including tests with users, to assess comfort and technical specifications of interest.

Comfort Testing

The quality of specific technical garments is also measured through the sensation of comfort they generate in the wearer. Qualitative tests can be performed with users who report on their experience wearing specific garments under different environmental conditions.

Function Testing

Realistic outdoor simulations can be set up in terraXcube to evaluate the performance of garments, including physical activities such as bicycle riding, hiking or racing. A series of ad hoc sensors provide objective and replicable information about garment specifications.

Climate change is bringing substantial changes to the agricultural landscape. Crops that were once considered unable to grow in certain areas are now viable and, in some cases, may pose potential hazards to indigenous species. The Small Cube climatic chamber can be used, for example, to compare the growth of different species under controlled environmental conditions to inform the agricultural sector on the best crop to choose with respect to the specific environmental characteristics of a given area.

Growth Test

What effect do specific environmental conditions produce on the growth and productivity of different plant types? Which procedures can be developed to maximise the harvest?

In this sector, different electrical devices are subjected to environmental testing -such as vehicle charging systems and displays to telecommunication devices and environmental data acquisition systems.

Testing the operation of electronic equipment in extreme climatic conditions

The aim of this category of tests is to assess the operation capability of electrical equipment in extreme environmental conditions (low temperatures or hot and humid environments). The offered services can include but are not limited to, cold start tests, temperature mapping and analysis of the resistance to thermal shock.

The use of renewable and clean sources of energy – especially solar – is crucial in the mitigation of global warming. Within this sector, we perform climatic tests to support manufacturers and stakeholders in the development of innovative products, as well as in the assessment of the performance and reliability of products already on the market.

Thermal and climatic cycles on photovoltaic modules

The capacity of a photovoltaic module to withstand real life conditions for a suitable number of years is assessed with specific thermal and climatic tests according to the IEC 61215 standard, these include thermal cycling tests, damp heat tests and humidity freeze tests.

Performance of a PV module at extreme temperatures

The test investigates the electrical performance of a photovoltaic module when subjected to extreme winter/summer temperatures typical of a specific climate zone. The aim of the test is to correctly size the components of a PV system during the design phase.

Large Cube – Impermeability of a technical garment

Large Cube – Breathability of technical fabrics

Large Cube – Education/Training on the effects of exposure to high altitudes on human physiology

Large Cube – Operation of a medical device at very high altitude

Large Cube – Testing for heavy industry

Large Cube – Drone

Mini Cube – Testing of automotive components

Mini Cube – Testing the operation of electronic equipment
in extreme climatic conditions

Mini Cube – Testing the performance of photovoltaic modules
at low temperatures

Mini Cube – Thermal cycles on photovoltaic modules