Supporting research

IHA has also several supporting research groups like Diesel engine hydraulics, Water hydraulics, Virtual technologies and Aircraft hydraulics research groups. IHA is also part of multidisciplinary research group Smart Simulators.

In the diesel engine hydraulics research the electro-hydraulic valve actuator (EHVA) has been studied. EHVA system of a diesel engine has a fully adjustable gas exchange valve lift and valve timing. The EHVA system can be utilized to follow existing valve lift profiles and provides the possibility for utilization of modified valve lift profiles. Fast testing of different camshaft profiles is beneficial when new combustion concepts are tested or when new specifications are affecting existing technologies.

Water hydraulics has been a research area in IHA since 1980's. Today the research is focused on motion control, pumps, water quality, condition monitoring and water jet cutting. Water hydraulic research platforms are water hydraulic forklift, Stewart platform, one piston pump test rig and water jet cutting environment. At the moment the applications of the water hydraulic systems are mainly in energy production, steel and food processing and packaging industry.

Use of virtual technologies in machine automation gives benefits for research and development, prototyping and education activities. By combining dynamic simulation models, 3D-graphics and motion platform, simulator systems with immersive experience can be achieved. IHA is part of multidisciplinary Smart Simulators research group, which is researching and developing intelligent virtual machine laboratory and simulator system technologies.