\Siemens Digital Industries Software, based in Plano, Texas, has announced updates to its Simcenter Testlab platform. These updates are designed to help manufacturers reduce the need for full-scale product prototypes, accelerate product development, and integrate physical testing with simulation models more effectively.
While component testing remains an important part of the process, these updates aim to streamline the workflow by improving the connection between physical testing and digital simulation models. The updates focus on accelerating zero-prototype initiatives, leveraging virtual pre-test planning, and using digital twin data. Siemens has also enhanced data management capabilities and the ruggedness of the hardware used for in-field testing.
Noted Wilfried Claes, product manager director for Simulation and Test at Siemens Digital Industries Software, “Manufacturers are looking for opportunities to accelerate their zero prototypes initiatives. Advances made with Simcenter Testlab demonstrate how the use of virtual pre-test planning with the reuse of digital twin data, when combined with centralized data management collaboration capabilities and flexible, rugged data acquisition hardware designed for use in the field, are changing the testing industry.”
The updates are designed to improve efficiency in complex impact testing. Engineers can reuse CAD data to set up instrumentation and define impact points, and the system now supports the simultaneous use of multiple hammers, extending the frequency range needed for evaluating electric vehicles. Data from these multiple hammers is merged in real time, reducing manual data processing.
The platform now includes additional tools to support the development of automotive components. Engineers can combine physical and simulation data through Virtual Prototype Assembly, enabling performance assessments of different configurations before constructing physical prototypes. The NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) Simulator allows engineers to evaluate the sound quality of a product prior to its construction, while the Mission Synthesis tool aids durability testing by using real-world vibration data to predict potential failure points.
New updates also improve data management and automation, allowing centralized storage of NVH data. This enables engineers to access key performance indicators and test data without needing to download files locally. The addition of workflow automation tools further reduces the need for manual processing of test data by automating its retrieval, processing, and publication.
For test professionals conducting test processes in the field, the Simcenter SCADAS RS hardware combined with Simcenter Testlab software has been designed to improve in-field data acquisition. Remote connectivity allows engineers to validate data in real time without needing to be physically present at the proving ground. New event marking capabilities enable test technicians and drivers to note when certain events occur during test drives, helping engineers interpret the data more accurately. The hardware is rugged enough to withstand tough testing conditions, such as extreme temperatures, moisture, dust, and high shock and vibration.
The combination of Simcenter SCADAS RS hardware and Simcenter Testlab software improves real-time data acquisition by enabling remote monitoring of data from offsite locations. Event-marking tools allow technicians to capture specific events during test drives, providing engineers with more accurate insights. The hardware’s rugged design ensures reliable testing in challenging environments.
These updates to Simcenter Testlab enhance the capabilities available to engineers, supporting more efficient automotive product development and testing.
For more information, please click here.
