This holiday season, spare a thought for Rudy the Robot, JLR’s tireless automated colleague working in extreme conditions to ensure the quality and durability of vehicle doors for Range Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar models.
Housed in a £2.1 million testing chamber at JLR’s Gaydon Engineering Centre, Rudy opens and closes a test vehicle door 84,000 times over 12 weeks, enduring temperatures from -40°C to 82°C. Over Christmas alone, Rudy will open a Range Rover door more than 14,000 times.
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This grueling cycle, equivalent to 17 years of human gym workouts three times a week, tests key factors such as sound, vibration, panel alignment, hinge rigidity, and locking mechanisms.
Rudy even chats with the car to monitor critical features like flush deployable door handles under harsh conditions, ensuring they perform seamlessly in both Arctic and desert climates.
Thomas Mueller, JLR Executive Director, Product Engineering, emphasized the importance of first impressions:
“A door is the first attribute of a vehicle a client engages with, so it’s vital this experience reflects our modern luxury standards. From handle deployment to the sound of closure, every element must remain refined and dependable throughout a vehicle’s lifetime.”
JLR’s Gaydon facility is a cornerstone of its £18 billion Reimagine strategy, blending cutting-edge virtual and physical testing environments. It includes state-of-the-art simulators, climate chambers, and a 32-mile test track with varied terrain, enabling comprehensive real-world testing. Rudy’s efforts embody JLR’s commitment to delivering luxury, durability, and reliability to its customers worldwide.
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