Mechanical Dynamics' Functional Digital Car Drives Change
16 November 2000
Mechanical Dynamics' Functional Digital Car(TM) Drives Change In the Automotive Industry
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 15 Building on more than 20 years
of automotive experience and the power of its market-leading ADAMS(R)
functional virtual prototyping software, Mechanical Dynamics, Inc.
has developed the Functional Digital Car(TM) concept, offering
automotive manufacturers and suppliers the ability to reduce the costs, time,
and risks associated with vehicle product development.
The Functional Digital Car is a virtual prototype of a complete vehicle,
combining accurate mathematical model representations of chassis subsystems,
engine and driveline subsystems, and body to create a full virtual vehicle.
Vehicle performance can then be simulated in a virtual test lab environment or
on a virtual test track to replicate real-world behavior. The vehicle can
also be integrated with hardware-in-the-loop simulations to investigate the
real-time behavior of the vehicle with real subsystems such as anti-lock
brakes and traction control systems. Design attributes can be evaluated and
optimized, and the results shared among engineering teams globally.
"This is the technology that will drive the improvements all vehicle
manufacturers are striving to meet -- shorter development cycles, enhanced
performance, innovation, managed risk, and lower costs," said Robert R. Ryan,
president of Mechanical Dynamics. "We see the Functional Digital Car as the
common framework for integrating various computer-aided engineering
technologies across the development process at all levels of management,
within both the OEM and the supply chain. We've taken Mechanical Dynamics'
expertise in automotive functional virtual prototyping, partnered with
industry leaders in other areas of computer-aided design, and developed a
technological approach that stands ready to meet the challenges of this
rapidly changing industry."
Using the current BMW 3 series as an example, Ryan pointed out that this
much-heralded car required five-and-a-half years, 2.6 million man-hours, 130
handmade system-level prototypes created at a cost of roughly $350,000 per
vehicle, and some 2,400 new components.
"But with the pace of change in this industry, most people believe the
standard of excellence set by the BMW 3 series will be surpassed in just a few
years," Ryan said. "Vehicles will ride smoother, handle better, operate with
less noise, and offer more comfort and safety. And yet industry experts say
that these upcoming vehicles will be produced to meet those requirements in
roughly half the time. How can this be accomplished? It can only be done
with functional virtual prototyping at the core of vehicle development."
Ryan noted that ADAMS is already the de facto standard for functional
virtual prototyping in the automotive industry, used by every major automotive
manufacturer and an increasing number of their suppliers. "Bringing OEMs and
suppliers together to work from a common model and shared data is a critical
component of the Functional Digital Car concept," he said. "Integrating the
technology used by both groups is absolutely necessary to speed development
while gaining improvements in the quality of the finished product."
At a recent "Smarter to Market" Executive Forum sponsored by Mechanical
Dynamics in Novi, Mich., representatives from OEMs and suppliers discussed the
role of functional virtual prototyping in their companies and the industry.
Glen Moore, supervisor of CAE methods at Ford Motor Company, Advanced
Engineering Center, said, "The development process needs to be retooled. It
needs to be re-outfitted and focused more toward the virtual prototype instead
of a hardware-based system. Physical prototypes must be replaced by virtual
prototypes. That's the way the industry is headed."
Paul Riehle, director of NVH and CAE at Roush Industries, said, "We've
implemented the functional virtual prototype to accelerate the development
process, ultimately trying to produce a more functional concept car. That's
helped improve the quality of the vehicle."
"Reducing cost is a major objective for auto manufacturers and all Tier
One companies such as Visteon," said Rohintan Deputy, director, Advanced
Manufacturing, Engineering Tools and Process Development, Visteon Corporation.
"We want to be faster to market. We want to have fewer and fewer prototypes,
but at the same time we do not want to sacrifice quality at Job One. That's
why virtual prototyping and computer-aided engineering comes in very handy.
We want to have better products."
At the foundation of the Functional Digital Car is ADAMS(R)/Car, a
specialized vehicle simulation environment. In August 1999, Mechanical
Dynamics introduced ADAMS(R)/Engine, a similar tool for powertrain
development. In November 2000, with the release of ADAMS Version 11.0, the
company will launch ADAMS(R)/Vibration and ADAMS(R)/Durability, two modules
with specific automotive applications. Future products include
ADAMS(R)/Driveline, being developed now with input from Visteon, American
Axle, and Eaton.
Part of the company's strategy in developing the Functional Digital Car,
Ryan said, has been partnering with selected industry leaders in various areas
of computer-aided engineering and testing. MTS Systems Corp., the market
leader in physical test equipment, and Mechanical Dynamics are jointly
developing the Virtual Test Lab, providing software tools for virtual test
machines to complement and enhance the process of physical testing.
Integration between ADAMS and hardware-in-the-loop simulation is now possible
through Mechanical Dynamics' partnership with IPG Automotive Engineering
Software + Consulting GmbH of Karlsruhe, Germany.
FEV, a German company recognized for its expertise in engine design and
development, joined with Mechanical Dynamics in the development of
ADAMS/Engine. INA, a German manufacturer of bearings and hydraulic lash
adjusters, and IAV, a German company offering powertrain engineering services,
also contributed to ADAMS/Engine. The upcoming ADAMS/Durability product is
being developed with input from nCode International. nCode has a reputation
as a world leader in durability simulation and assessment especially within
the European and US automotive industry.
"Mechanical Dynamics' approach has always been to work with other experts
to enhance the competency we bring to mechanical system simulation," Ryan
said. "It's part of a concerted effort to address the real-world issues our
users face. We've sought partnerships not just with other software companies,
but with our customers themselves."
Ryan pointed out that both ADAMS/Car and ADAMS/Engine were the result of
consortium efforts that involved automakers such as Audi, BMW, Renault,
Volkswagen, and Volvo.
"The consortium members on both these projects provided valuable insight
into what automakers really need for effective, efficient functional virtual
prototyping," Ryan said. "We're confident that we've got the right tools in
place to make the Functional Digital Car a reality."
Mechanical Dynamics pioneered the field of mechanical system simulation
with its market-leading ADAMS(R) software, and remains committed to extending
the capabilities of this technology to benefit manufacturers in every industry
worldwide. Engineering teams use ADAMS to build and test functional virtual
prototypes of their complex mechanical system designs. Along with getting to
market faster and at lower cost, the company's functional virtual prototyping
solutions provide additional significant benefits: closer integration between
manufacturers and their suppliers; increased communication among design,
analysis, and engineering teams; and the ability to manage the risks of the
design process through more and better information earlier in the cycle.