| Toyota has signed a five-year
partnership with software firm Maplesoft to produce more intelligent modelling
tools. Together the firms will advance the OEM’s model-based development
process.
Model-based design uses a computer-based model of a system to analyse,
test, improve and optimise the design before building the physical system.
It improves time to market, quality, reliability and cost.
It’s a familiar concept in automotive engineering – and one
in which Toyota has some expertise. But optimising increasingly complex
systems more quickly means the level of intelligence in models has to
increase.
Toyota wants to take components’ models and combine them in a multi-disciplinary
way. Its aim is to be able to understand the heat transfer and vibration,
not just the torque capacities of drivetrain components, for example.
It must first connect more of the analysis with the CAD.
Maplesoft president Jim Cooper said: “Every Toyota component will
be attached to a math model with the loading and stress or the vibration
and heat transfer, say. When the models are assembled, the number of equations
gets very large. Maple takes them, simplifies them and runs the simulation.
It’ll be easier for the engineer to form and simulate a system.”
Toyota project general manager Akira Ohata said: “Model-based development
will set new standards for the use of software and models in systems development.
Symbolic computation, pioneered by companies like Maplesoft, makes new
design methods a reality today. Toyota will improve cycle times, optimise
costs and implement extremely complex systems more smoothly.”
Maplesoft tools will provide the basic mathematical framework for the
physical modelling within Toyota’s model-based process for all areas
of development. Suppliers will get a stripped-down version.
Maplesoft and Toyota intend to conduct pioneering work in other yet-to-be-announced
projects as well. The firms are also leading a physical modelling consortium
to advance Rapid Plant Modelling Methodologies.
Maplesoft’s Maple tool derives and solves complex sets of equations,
simplifies large sets of equations and develops mathematical models. Toyota
plans to use it to connect more of the analysis and the CAD.
© Automotive Engineer, 2008
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