GM Powertrain Revolutionizes Transmission Design Process Using RT-LAB and AMEsim

RT-LAB Engineering Simulators and AMEsim modeling environment enable GM Powertrain design engineers to link mechanical system and control system CAE tools

Global Powertrain Congress, Booth #16 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ann Arbor, MI

MONTREAL, and ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 23 -- Opal-RT Technologies Inc. (www.opal-rt.com ), the world leader in distributed simulation on PC-based platforms, today announced that General Motors Powertrain has selected RT-LAB Engineering Simulators for facilitating an automotive engineering design process that enables analytical models of both mechanical and control systems to be transitioned directly into Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) models, eliminating the need for custom HIL model development and tools.

In partnership with IMAGINE Software, Opal-RT has successfully demonstrated to GM Powertrain a proof-of-concept process that shows how models created using IMAGINE's AMEsim modeling environment can be successfully evolved into HIL models. Traditionally, such models were not designed to run in real-time -- a requirement for HIL testing and correlation. Hence, model conversion has needed to first take place, requiring specialized tools and skills, and further lengthening the overall design process. Utilizing Opal- RT's flagship product RT-LAB and additional tools built in to the AMEsim environment, model conversion can now follow a defined process that can be executed by the automotive engineers responsible for the initial physical model design.

The Opal-RT/IMAGINE process provides a number of immediate benefits. First, deriving physical and HIL models from the same basis streamlines the design process and enhances consistency. Secondly, there is an order of magnitude of savings in the time and effort required to obtain a correlated HIL model using the Opal-RT/IMAGINE process. In addition, traditional processes have dictated that HIL models be developed in an environment such as Simulink, C, or FORTRAN, requiring specialized skills that will now no longer be necessary. With the Opal-RT/IMAGINE process, the same blue print, namely the physical model, flows from the design of a mechanical system such as an automatic transmission to the test of control system such as the transmission ECU.

"For many years GM Powertrain has developed models for HIL simulation from the ground up. While HIL has represented an important last step of testing during the overall design process, technology limitations and the requirement for specialized skills and custom tools have not allowed us to fully exploit the benefits of HIL -- until now," said Craig Brown, Manager, Electronics Integration & Software, GM Powertrain. "Opal-RT and IMAGINE have successfully demonstrated to us how modeling tools can now be used to successfully link mechanical models with control system models early in the design process. This successful proof of concept takes GM Powertrain in the right engineering direction, and will also lead us to renew the requirements of the suppliers that contribute to our overall automotive design efforts."

"Automotive engineers continue to face the challenge of designing new and better products within shortened development cycles and under strict budgetary pressures. This challenge has been particularly difficult for engineers developing custom HIL models," said Paul Goossens, Vice President of Marketing, Opal-RT Technologies. "The lengthy time required for model development and correlation time before development engineers can make use of an HIL simulator is no longer acceptable. GM's acceptance of the Opal- RT/IMAGINE proof of concept demonstrates how HIL can play a more significant role in the overall design process, while saving time and money."

About General Motors Corporation

General Motors Corp. , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs 342,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in more than 190 countries. In 2002, GM sold more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer website at www.gm.com .

About Opal-RT Technologies Inc.

Opal-RT provides software, hardware, and related solutions for real-time simulation applications, with the aim of enabling real-time parallel processing through flexible and affordable technologies.

The company offers a full range of engineering simulation products -- from enabling technologies to turnkey engineering simulators -- and consulting services that include systems integration, software development, simulation and modeling, problem-solving, and training. Opal-RT's core expertise is in distributed hard-real-time simulation, with experienced engineers designing real-time simulators for automotive, electrical power, aerospace, robotics, and other industries where fidelity and fault tolerance requirements push rapid prototyping and hardware-in-the-loop testing to their limits. Opal-RT's unique approach integrates parallel, distributed computing with commercial- off-the-shelf technologies. The resulting RT-LAB product range enables customers to develop simulations quickly, easily, affordably, and competitively. For more information about Opal-RT's range of Engineering Simulators and Distributed Processing Tools, see www.opal-rt.com .

About RT-LAB

RT-LAB is the real-time technology that revolutionizes the way model-based design is performed within the engineering organization. Through its openness, RT-LAB has the flexibility to be applied to any simulation and control problem, and scalability to provide a low-risk entry point for any application, allowing the developer to add computation power where and when needed -- whether to dramatically speed up simulations or for real-time hardware-in-the-loop applications.