Siemens PLM Software and the Michigan-based American Center for Mobility (ACM) have formed a new partnership that will see the developer’s automotive simulation and test systems support the virtual and physical testing and validation of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) at ACM.
Siemens PLM Software is joining other leading companies in supporting the ACM’s work in CAV research, including AT&T, Visteon Corporation, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai America Technical Center Inc., Microsoft, Subaru of America Inc., and Adient.
As ACM’s preferred simulation provider, Siemens PLM Software secures a seat on the ACM’s Industry Advisory Board, which will help advance its already strong position in autonomous vehicles and automotive R&D overall. The company is already part of similar strategic initiatives in Singapore and the Netherlands, once considered to be early adopters of CAV technology, applications and systems, and now leaders in the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles and infrastructure in real-world environments.
Siemens will be providing the ACM with its Simulation and Test solution for Automotive suite, which includes PreScan software for virtual simulation, developed by the recently acquired TASS International and now part of the Simcenter portfolio. Designed to speed up the entire automotive R&D process, the Simcenter PreScan simulation environment produces highly realistic, physics-based simulation of raw sensor data for potential driving scenarios and traffic situations.
With its already strong portfolio enhanced by the addition of products and services from recent acquisitions such as TASS International and Mentor Graphics, Siemens’ software division is able to provide an end-to-end tool suite and services, supporting the entire testing and validation methodology that combines virtual, mixed and physical reality.
“Our unique and complete representation of the digital twin integrates electronics, software and hardware based systems. Because we cover all three of these disciplines in our digital twin, we can use these twins to run accurate simulations of the complex vehicle behavior found in autonomous vehicle systems,” explained Tony Hemmelgarn, CEO of Siemens PLM Software.
“Multi-physics simulation is critical for autonomous vehicles, where the digital twin can drive billions of virtual miles and our solutions can predict exactly what’s going to happen in the real world.”
John Maddox, ACM’s president and CEO, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Siemens to provide these important virtual technologies which play a critical role in developing an integrated toolchain for testing and validation. This is extremely important to help us enable the development of validation methodologies and regulations for the safe deployment of these technologies on public roads.”
Now a Siemens business, TASS was an integral part of the original development of the ACM, using its modeling and realization expertise to conduct high-level layout and feasibility studies that led to the center in its current form.
The company’s CEO, Jan van den Oetelaar, commented, “A one-of-a-kind facility like ACM where we can reliably and safely push the boundaries of today’s technologies provides a unique advantage to our business and our automotive customers.
“Siemens is currently at the nexus of the fast-changing virtual and physical worlds of transportation, and thanks to the ACM, we will now be able to jointly advance the development of our products and services to support industry, insurance and authorities in the validation of automated and connected systems.”
