Ford's new system takes wind tunnel testing on tour - https://t.co/K020WdSF5i pic.twitter.com/zvVNKaiyqD
— Gizmag (@gizmag) May 9, 2016
Shipping containers are useful for many things... like shipping stuff. That one may be obvious.
Apart from helping transport goods across oceans and continents, these 53-foot long corrugated metal boxes have been used to create modern modular houses. From what we've seen in movies, they're also a great place for zombies to hide, and for action heroes to have fight scenes in and around.
Ford is jumping on the trend of making creative use out of these multi-purpose containers by building a portable wind tunnel inside of one.
The wind tunnel contains two 6-foot diameter fans, each powered by a 250-horsepower motor. They are powerful enough to sustain wind speeds of 80mph -- enough to simulate highway speeds.
"This project was born from a desire to be the best when it comes to controlling and limiting the cabin noise customers are so sensitive to, and our new mobile wind tunnel saves our engineers time and increases productivity," said Bill Gulker, wind noise supervisor at Ford Motor Company. "It's a fine example of the innovation mindset we're trying to incorporate into everything we do."
Prior to inventing a mobile wind tunnel, Ford assembly plants around the country all had to ship vehicles away to one of Ford's stationary aeroacoustic laboratories for testing. The process could take weeks.
"Now, we're able to detect even the most subtle noises," says Gulker. "We can identify an area in need of improvement, have key people gather, communicate quickly, and resolve the issue without delay."
Does cabin noise bother you? Visit Gillie Hyde Ford Lincoln Inc. to test drive new Ford vehicles in Glasgow, and be sure to listen closely on the highway.