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Altair Model-Based Development Customer Stories from 2019 Global ATC

These success stories illustrate how customers are leveraging Altair's Math & Systems technology for Model-Based Development to develop better products, faster. Simulations involve 3D, 1D, and/or 0D modeling approaches based on the integrated use of Altair MotionSolve™, Altair Activate™, and/or Altair Compose™.

Presentations, Videos

Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation Of Vehicle Platooning Scenarios

Presenter: Christian Kehrer, Business Development Manager, Altair

This presentation discusses the multi-disciplinary evaluation of truck platooning, with the lead truck sending out acceleration, braking and steering signals for the following trucks to react accordingly. The benefits address safety requirements, fuel savings, traffic capacity and convenience. The presentation demonstrates why platooning requires a holistic approach in the sense of connecting different modeling and simulation methods for a virtual evaluation of this system of systems.

Presentations, Videos

Exoskeleton Modeling Using MotionSolve & Activate

Presenter: Nino Michniok, Mechanical Engineering Student, University of Kaiserslautern

The first part of the presentation shows the detailed process of building the multibody system of an actuated exoskeleton in MotionView/MotionSolve (MV/MS). The required movements are transferred to the corresponding joints by “Motions”. By this the exoskeleton can Stand Up, Walk diagonally across the floor and Sit Down. In the second part the “Motions” in MV/MS are replaced by controllers (position control) whichdeliver a certain torque to actuate the exoskeleton. The main topic here is the implementation of the co-simulation between Activate and MV/MS. In the end the presentation gives a quick outlook of similar works at the University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern in Germany.

Presentations, Videos

Deep Reinforcement Learning for Robotic Controls

Presenter: Dario Mangoni on behalf of Alessandro Tasora, Engineering Professor and Digital Dynamics Lab Leader, University of Parma

This presentation address the use of the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) deep reinforcement learning algorithm to train a Neural Network to control a robotic walker and a robotic arm in simulation. The Neural Network is trained to control the torque setpoints of motors in order to achieve an optimal goal.

Presentations, Videos

Vehicle Concept Design using Ride & Comfort Requirements for Truck & Trailer System Dynamics

Presenter: Kaustubh Deshpande, Chassis Engineer, Nikola Motor Company

This presentation describes Nikola Motor’s progression of design maturity from 1D CAE to 3D CAD/CAE for chassis system engineering work on their electric trucks. This progression spans from Voice of Customer to Functional Requirements to Functional Deployment to Structural Deployment. Nikola Motor starts with a ‘First Principles’ model of their truck/trailer vehicle dynamics, then they perform system modeling & simulation with Altair Activate using quarter- and half-truck/trailer models. Block diagrams are created using both signal-based blocks and physical-based blocks (with Modelica). Through this methodical process, Nikola Motor is able to derive more and better insight earlier in their development process regarding important vehicle characteristics for their trucks – ranging from ‘yaw rate of the tractor for loaded vs. unloaded trailer’ to ‘full-trailer load distribution sensitivity due to fifth wheel location’. Work is in-progress to tighten the connection between their 1D CAE simulations in Altair Activate™ and their 3D CAE multi-body dynamics simulations.

Presentations, Videos

Heavy Equipment Simulations: Multi-body, Hydraulics & DEM

Presenter: Ronald Kett, Technical Specialist, Altair

For a Stewart-Gough-Platform (Hexapod), various software tools were used to study and design highly dynamic hydraulic drives together with an overall system control. Calculation of Eigenfrequencies, control design and comparison, hydraulic system design, and overall simulation control were done in Altair Activate, the mechanics of the Stewart-Gough-Platform was taken from a CAD model into Altair Inspire Motion. The co-simulation between control + hydraulics and mechanics was performed using Activate and Altair MotionSolve. Altair HyperView and HyperGraph were used to analyze and visualize the results. With the highly integrated solutions, the results could be achieved within a very short time. The different types of models (linear/simplified/full mechanics/hydraulics) made it possible to start with fast development cycles and finally achieve reliable results.

Presentations, Videos

Real-Time Simulator of a Mobile Crane

Presenter: Arnold Free, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder, CM Labs

Mechatronic systems and off-highway equipment design is rapidly evolving. With advanced control features, operator-assistance systems, and even full autonomy on the horizon, engineers are building complex systems simulation models to better understand their smart machines. Through the use of interactive and immersive VR software, systems models can be derived from high-fidelity engineering simulations and used for operator-in-the-loop, HIL, and SIL testing. Interactive virtual prototypes allow for human-factors test and measuring system performance in hyper-realistic virtual worksites. Simulation is also being used for AI based perception and motion planning in autonomous systems. Sales and marketing departments are now using interactive simulations and visualization to demonstrate products. The value of simulation is expanding rapidly in OEMs. CM Labs Simulations has recently partnered with Altair to bring together engineering simulation and interactive real-time systems models to perform all of the above. Validated multibody systems dynamics models from Altair MotionSolve can be used to build interactive models in Vortex Studio and combined with advanced real-time 3d graphics to create immersive live simulations with human interaction. With real-time simulation, it is also possible to connect to interactive control models and system level multidisciplinary simulations with Altair Activate. The presentation uses a mobile crane model as an example. It will demonstrate the process of translating the engineering models to real-time, creating realistic working scenarios and deploying in immersive simulators for operator in-the-loop testing and system demonstration.

Presentations, Videos

Quadcopters: From System Modeling to Real-Time Simulator

Presenter: John Straetmans, Computer Engineering Student, University of Michigan

This project attempts to build an accurate real-time (RT) drone simulator through the full integration of a 1D functional model of a drone created in Altair Activate®, along with its corresponding geometry, into Unreal Engine via the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard. Then, VR, peripheral controllers, and other functionalities were added to the representation. This task was accomplished by modifying the Altair RT Vehicle Package, making it able to handle not just vehicles, but any system model located in an FMU for co-simulation, in this case a quadcopter model. Once the FMU containing the Altair Activate® drone model was successfully loaded into Unreal Engine, the tools provided by the application allow additional features to be added, such as VR support. By implementing an FMU, together with its geometry, into Unreal Engine, we can visually analyze the dynamics of the system to further verify the drone model and its performance. In the future, this integration process should be facilitated to automatically load any FMU following just a few steps.

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