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MIRA’s system works by seeding the wind tunnel airflow with the tiny helium bubbles that serve as targets to be tracked by a 12 camera array. Providing a minimum of two calibrated cameras see a bubble, a three-dimensional fix is obtained using stereo-photogrammetry. The neutrally buoyant 3mm bubbles are injected into the flow in areas under investigation. Each bubble is tracked, revealing where flows originate and how they interact with the bodywork and other structures within the flow field. The system is capable of tracking hundreds of bubbles in real time, giving a much greater understanding of how a vehicle’s aerodynamic properties are generated.
An in-house code then converts the motion capture data into the format required by commercial post processing software. This vital step unlocked the capability to compare virtual and experimental data sets simultaneously in the same software environment.
Improvements in wind tunnel measurement techniques can have a wider impact on aerodynamic development, as Lock explains: “Often CFD results are validated against the force data generated by a Wind Tunnel balance, which could be just a small contact point under each wheel. When there are discrepancies between the two sets of results, it is difficult to tell where the differences lie, as the CFD data may have 100 million discreet data points, and the wind tunnel only 4. Comparing only the global forces is a blunt tool, now we can really understand the wider flow field and superimpose this data on the CFD predictions to see how the two compare.”
The recently announced EU 130g/Km fleet average CO2 legislation combined with the current global economic crisis places renewed pressure on automotive development budgets, so the announcement couldn’t come at a better time for the industry. MIRA’s technique allows automakers to extract maximum efficiency from their vehicle’s styling & return maximum value for their development spend.

r Gillespie's appointment will continue to take the company forward with clear direction, augmenting MIRA's traditionally strong UK customer base in automotive, commercial vehicles, defence, aerospace and advanced technology sectors, with a parallel strategy of growing the international side
of the business.
Dr Gillespie enthused: “I am passionate about the challenge ahead. Thanks to years of strategic investment and a talented workforce, MIRA is well placed to build on the existing strategy of extending its strong brand of engineering excellence allied to a comprehensive testing infrastructure, into new business sectors and growing our international business in developing markets such as Russia, India and SE Asia.”
Dr Gillespie will join MIRA on Jan 1st 2009 replacing John Wood, whose leadership over the past 17 years transformed MIRA from a UK based automotive test house, to a globally recognised design and development partner for leading motoring brands. Mr Wood is looking forward to an active retirement and will remain involved
with the activities of the SMMT, AIRTO and MSA.
He has just been appointed to chair the Industry Advisory Panel for the Technical Strategy Board's new Low Carbon Vehicle Integrated Delivery Programme and has recently been elected Deputy President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Dr Gillespie brings 20 years of international experience in the automotive and marine engine sectors, drawn from his role as VP of Strategic Business Development at HORIBA Europe GmbH and previous senior roles with Ricardo plc and Schenck AG. Having worked extensively in Germany, USA, Japan and China, Dr Gillespie will add significant international automotive experience to the management team at MIRA.
Dr Gillespie, who is 45 and married with 2 children, gained his PhD from Queen's University Belfast for his research into GDI applied to two-stroke cycle engines.