advanced simulation technologies
SOLVE SYSTEM COMPLEXITY ISSUES FACED
DURING THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT
PHASES USING AVL’S SEAMLESS
PROCESSES AND INTEGRATED TOOLS.
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With the global hybridization
trend, the demand for innovative
methods capable of meeting these
unique challenges increases at a rapid
pace. AVL offers simulation solutions
that efficiently support the
development of electric and hybrid
electric vehicle powertrains
– from system concept via component
analysis to integration. This
facilitates important concept and
design decisions at a very early
stage of development and proves
their validity.
However, before vehicle development
work even begins, it is important
to start with an in-depth understanding
of the specific needs of
the target customer group.
“We decide on the whole concept
at the beginning,” explains Oliver
Knaus, Group Product Manager for
Electrification at AVL Advanced
Simulation Technologies. “Who is
the customer? What do they expect
from their vehicle? What should the
architecture look like, and what
should the performance attributes
be in every detail?”
With the help of virtual prototypes,
the overall vehicle powertrain can be
optimized very early in the development
process, long before physical
prototypes become available. Virtual
benchmarking enables the requirement
oriented specification of
hardware up front, meaning that the
entire architecture and its sub-system
attributes can be specified at the
beginning of the development process.
Rough specifications are initially
given, which are then refined until
the whole powertrain has been optimized
on the computer.
Without virtual integration and the
frontloading of development tasks,
any wrong decisions will send the
whole process right back to the
start. In an industry where time-to-market is so crucial, a setback like
that could cost the development process several months.
“This is why we are so committed to making processes and workflows
as seamless and optimized as possible. Development costs are dramatically
reduced with this ‘right-first-time’ approach. In addition, with the
help of virtual benchmarking, our customers can compare their product
against the competing market, long before the physical hardware exists”,
Knaus explains.
Seamless processes rely on the management and exchange of data between
all the relevant departments, at both system and component levels. Using
an open and flexible simulation environment such as AVL eSUITE™
guarantees that all systems talk to each other fluently.
“Throughout the whole simulation environment, it is important to have
data interaction to prevent information loss or errors, and that we have
everything in one place to keep track over the history of changes,” says
Knaus. “For system integration all domains – such as mechanical, electrical,
and thermal – need to be combined. Therefore, it is vital that all involved
parts easily integrate and connect to one another or link to other
simulation tools and test systems.”
This approach is the result of many years of experience in developing simulation
technologies for the electrified powertrain.
“We had a lot of the functionality and experience already in place when the
industry started to move. With our vast engineering background embedded
in our simulation tools, AVL plays an important role in powertrain
electrification, and that’s why we are the first address for OEMs when
they go for a new technology,” Knaus concludes.
WE HAD A LOT OF THE FUNCTIONALITY
AND EXPERIENCE ALREADY IN PLACE
WHEN THE INDUSTRY STARTED TO MOVE.
OLIVER KNAUS,
Group Product Manager for Electrification, AVL Advanced Simulation Technologies