Altair > Case Studies > Innovative Vehicle Design through System-Level Modeling: A Case Study on China Euro Vehicle Technology

Innovative Vehicle Design through System-Level Modeling: A Case Study on China Euro Vehicle Technology

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Automotive
Education

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development
Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Virtual Reality
Virtual Training

Services

Testing & Certification
Training

About The Customer

China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT) is an automotive company that focuses on integrating new technologies into passenger vehicles. They are committed to developing new techniques to ensure the successful integration of various systems present in modern vehicle designs. The company is constantly under pressure to innovate and meet higher performance standards without delaying the time to market. They are particularly interested in system-level modeling, a technology that uses specialized software to model the interactions across an entire system. CEVT is dedicated to creating a powerful testing and simulation platform that can verify the functionality of new automotive technologies at earlier stages in the design process.

The Challenge

The automotive industry is under constant pressure to innovate and meet higher performance standards without delaying the time to market. This challenge is particularly evident at China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT), where the integration of new technologies into passenger vehicles is a key focus. The company is developing new techniques to ensure the successful integration of various systems present in modern vehicle designs. One of the advanced technologies available for modern automotive design is system-level modeling, which uses specialized software to model the interactions across an entire system. However, the challenge lies in creating a powerful testing and simulation platform that can verify the functionality of new automotive technologies at earlier stages in the design process.

The Solution

CEVT engineer Michael Palander, with his team, decided to use system-level modeling to create a robust testing and simulation platform. They chose MapleSim as their modeling and simulation tool due to its Modelica standard for system-modeling components. The team aimed to create a simulation platform that could validate a wide range of design components, from software controllers to individual hardware subsystems, in what is known as “in-the-loop” simulations. To avoid the typical slowdowns associated with adopting a new modeling tool, the team opted for customized training services provided by Maplesoft Engineering Solutions. Over a three-day training program, modeling 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.

Operational Impact

The collaboration with Maplesoft’s modeling experts allowed the teams at Chalmers and CEVT to develop efficient 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 Mockup Units (FMUs), which then connect into the rest of their toolchain. The training also equipped the engineers and researchers with MapleSim model optimization techniques, enabling them to make quick iterations on design concepts before moving their testing to their in-the-loop simulation platforms. This approach has positioned CEVT as a leader in virtual engineering techniques and has boosted their competitiveness in the market.