Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) testing plays a pivotal role in assessing the performance and quality of automotive components and machinery. Traditional manual methods often suffer from inconsistency, inefficiency, and a high dependency on operator skill, leading to challenges in ensuring precise impact force, accurate targeting, and optimal impact angles. This thesis introduces an integrated framework that automates NVH testing through the synergistic use of advanced normal vector extraction and multi-objective path planning techniques.

The first contribution of this work is a novel normal vector extraction method grounded in advanced 3D signal processing—a fundamental component of systems and control. This approach robustly computes surface orientations from noisy point cloud data while significantly reducing computational overhead and minimizing data requirements. By leveraging these core 3D signal processing techniques, the method ensures precise alignment of the robotic arm’s end effector, enabling impacts to be delivered perpendicularly to the target surface and thereby enhancing the reliability of vibration measurements.

Complementing this, the thesis proposes a multi-objective path planning framework that employs rigorous optimization techniques—another cornerstone of systems and control curricula—to navigate complex, dynamic, and obstacle-rich environments. By simultaneously addressing factors such as collision avoidance, accessibility, troubleshooting minimization, and targeting accuracy, the framework optimally selects trajectories for the robotic arm, ensuring consistent and repeatable testing even in the presence of irregular component geometries.

Extensive simulations and real-world experiments demonstrate that the integrated approach not only enhances the precision of NVH measurements but also reduces testing time and operational costs. Overall, this research paves the way for more intelligent, efficient, and adaptable automated NVH testing systems suitable for a wide range of industrial applications.