Applied Dynamics Goes Live with Online Community for System Integration and Real-time Simulation Technology

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--March 9, 2006--Applied Dynamics International (ADI) today announced the launch of an online community for system integration and real-time simulation technology. System integration and real-time simulation play a major role in advanced aerospace and defense development programs. As suppliers progress through technology development and demonstration, a System Integration Lab (SIL) is the tool that brings the pieces together. SILs are risk reduction facilities where software and hardware can be integrated, tested, and evaluated for both stand alone functionality and/or interoperability prior to being fielded or moving to flight test. This cutting-edge approach to aerospace and defense product development significantly reduces development cost and program risk. In order to support the collaborative communication requirements associated with SIL activities, ADI has launched the online community Forums.adi.com. Using forums.adi.com, technology developers working for different program partners can collaboratively solve technical problems in a more efficient and less costly manner.

"We're seeing ADI's ADvantage Framework become the infrastructure that enables simulation to be used throughout the program in a manner that dramatically shortens development schedules and reduces program costs." said Melissa Wright, president of ADI. "Major programs are now beginning to effectively and successfully implement a simulation-centric development process."

In a simulation-centric development process, the use of simulation begins during the requirements definition stage of the program. The old paper requirements specification is augmented with a collection of simulation models. Suppliers work together with the lead integrator to develop a complete set of simulation models accurately demonstrating the functional requirements of each subsystem. Each subsystem development team and supplier then takes ownership over the simulation-based functional subsystem specifications. Teams develop the detailed design for their subsystem and feed this detail back into the subsystem simulation. At several points during the detailed design phase of the program, development teams and suppliers deliver current revisions of the detailed simulation. The integrator assembles the complete collection of subsystem simulations to create an accurate system simulation. This activity is referred to as co-simulation and is the point where ADI's ADvantage Framework comes into the picture. The integrator gets an accurate assessment of how the complete system, be it an aircraft, ground vehicle, weapon system, etc. will perform. Using this approach to design, the integrator is able to find design flaws and functional requirement shortcomings very early in the program. As the program transitions from co-simulation to integration, the subsystem simulation models make the transition from non-real-time simulation to real-time simulation.

"Significant program cost savings are realized as the program begins to build up the System Integration Lab." said Scott James, Vice President of ADI. "The SIL is the place where you've got to make it all play nice together. The integration phase can make or break a program. By starting with ADvantage in the co-simulation phase of the program you achieve two things. First, you reduce the chance of hiccups during integration by performing a thorough simulation-based assessment of the complete system design. Second, you dramatically reduce the time required to commission the SIL because the non-real-time co-simulation projects can be re-targeted to real-time sims with the click of a mouse button. These cost savings quickly add up because you move risk to the front end of the program when it's less costly and where it can be mitigated. This is what we call 'Intelligent Integration'."

ADI's online user community for real-time simulation and system integration technology can be found at http://forums.adi.com.