Luminary Cloud, experts in scalable engineering simulation platforms, has introduced its suite of foundation models, known as SHIFT Models. The first model, known as SHIFT-SUV, is the first known open-source Physics AI foundation model and dataset
 specifically for SUV automotive aerodynamics. Developed in collaboration with Honda and NVIDIA, the model offers automotive designers and engineers the ability to perform real-time interactive aerodynamic analysis during early-stage vehicle design.
By bridging the gap between design aesthetics and engineering performance, this foundation model—when combined with Luminary’s Physics AI virtual wind tunnel—addresses a critical need in automotive R&D. Currently, designers and engineers are limited in their ability to quickly make performance-based decisions in early-stage SUV vehicle development. While there are a few open-source simulation databases for sedans based on the DrivAer platform, automakers lack a strong foundation model and simulation database for SUVs—the fastest-growing automotive segment globally, accounting for 48% of global car sales in 2023.
“This project represents a fundamental shift in automotive design methodology,” said Pete Schlampp, CEO at Luminary Cloud. “By providing instantaneous, physics-informed aerodynamic feedback, our open-source foundation model enables designers and engineers to collaborate more effectively at the earliest stages of development, saving time and money—while also advancing innovation.”
The SHIFT-SUV aerodynamic dataset was generated by simulating several thousand geometry variants of the AeroSUV open-geometry model with Luminary’s high-fidelity CFD platform. The foundational model is trained on this dataset using NVIDIA’s PhysicsNeMo, leveraging its DoMINO architecture for automotive external aerodynamics, enabling Physics AI-based simulation (inference). The AI-based workflow offers several competitive advantages over traditional design approaches. For example, it avoids cumbersome workflow steps and instead provides designers with instant and accurate aerodynamic performance insights. Luminary Cloud’s model is deployed in a virtual wind tunnel environment to allow designers and engineers to test their designs under simulated real-world conditions.
At launch, the SHIFT-SUV model is trained on approximately one thousand simulations, with a goal of advancing to 25,000 by the end of the year. Luminary Cloud plans to roll out new data on a monthly basis, with a staged release of pre-trained models at specific dataset size milestones. The dataset within Luminary Cloud’s model will be open-source.
“The automotive industry has long needed a solution that accelerates styling and engineering development cycles,” said Fong Loon Pan, Principal Aero Design Lead at Honda. “The Physics AI solution built with the Luminary Cloud SHIFT-SUV foundation model and Blender integration provides immediate insights into vehicle performance that designers and engineers need.”
“AI and accelerated computing are revolutionizing engineering design and how products are brought to market,” said Tim Costa, senior director of CAE and CUDA-X at NVIDIA. “Luminary’s innovative approach to develop an open-source foundation model for SUVs leveraging PhysicsNeMo and Omniverse Blueprint exemplifies the power of AI physics for automotive design.”
The SHIFT-SUV model enables:
- Access to a rare, high-quality open-source SUV aerodynamics dataset
- Transient DDES CFD simulations covering diverse vehicle geometries and flow conditions
- Real-time feedback via Luminary’s Physics AI virtual wind tunnel
- Streamlined performance testing and collaboration for designers and engineers
Automotive OEMs, suppliers, and researchers can request access to the SHIFT-SUV model at shift.luminarycloud.com.Â
About Luminary Cloud
Luminary Cloud is a scalable engineering simulation platform that accelerates Physics AI workflows and high-fidelity design exploration. Clients include leading companies in the automotive, aerospace, and sporting equipment sectors.
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