Smarter approach to vehicle design

At China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT), new development techniques are being created to bring new technologies into passenger vehicles, and ensure successful integration of the many systems present in modern designs.

One of the more advanced technologies available for modern automotive design is system-level modelling, which uses specialised software to model the interactions across an entire system. By taking a system-level modelling approach, CEVT engineer Michael Palander is creating a powerful testing and simulation platform that can be used to verify the functionality of their new automotive technologies at earlier stages in the design process. With its Modelica standard for system-modelling components, the team decided to evaluate MapleSim as the modelling and simulation tool for their larger simulation platform.

The team at CEVT is aiming to create a powerful simulation platform that can validate a wide range of design components, from software controllers to individual hardware subsystems, in what is known as ‘in-the-loop’ simulations. For these kinds of simulations, the system-level models are created not only to be highly accurate, but they must be capable of very efficient computation for real-time usage on test platforms. They chose MapleSim for its ability to create efficient royalty-free code that can run in real-time.

In order to avoid the slowdowns typically involved with taking on a new modelling tool, the Chalmers research team opted for customised training services provided by Maplesoft Engineering Solutions. During a three-day training program, modelling experts from Maplesoft worked directly with the research team, helping them become proficient with MapleSim. The team quickly worked through the basics of model creation, before moving on to training related to their specific project needs, including code generation, exporting models to the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard, and creating custom components to account for their specific designs. “It’s very easy to get started with MapleSim,” noted Palander, as he observed his team moving quickly through their design-specific modelling needs.

By working with Maplesoft’s modelling experts, the teams at Chalmers and CEVT were able to easily and efficiently develop workable processes for integrating MapleSim with their own tools, such as their simulation platform, CarMaker. They now use MapleSim to create vehicle models and export them into Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs), which then connect into the rest of their toolchain. The training also provided the engineers and researchers with MapleSim model optimisation techniques so they could make quick iterations on design concepts before moving their testing to their in-the-loop simulation platforms.

The approach taken by CEVT in evaluating MapleSim and training as a team in system-level modelling is a sign of their larger commitment to new, innovative approaches in vehicle design. By looking to integrate powerful system-level modelling tools like MapleSim, CEVT is maintaining its position as a leader in virtual engineering techniques. CEVT also ensured they stayed competitive by using Maplesoft’s Engineering Solutions to evaluate their new software as quick as possible. With help from MapleSim, Palander is confident that CEVT’s system-level modelling project is proceeding in the right direction: “We will succeed in this, I am absolutely sure.”