TNO launches open source powertrain simulator for automotive engineers

TNO, a Netherlands-based research organisation, partnered with HAN University of Applied Sciences to officially release SIMarchitect, an open source framework for system modelling and simulation for powertrains as well as other (automotive) engineering applications, has been released today.

Both parties believe that this framework can be of significant added value for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger organisations, research and educational institutes as SIMarchitect allows system modelling to become more structured and efficient allowing faster development, demonstration and deployment of applications and results.

The framework supports systems engineers to develop, validate and maintain system models as well as system control algorithms in a ‘Matlab/Simulink’ environment. The power of SIMarchitect is its internal data bus structure, unifying interfaces and graphical user interfaces, hence in its combination easing and stimulating re-usability of models and algorithms. Visualisation of simulation results is done via a few mouse clicks. To help users getting started, SIMarchitect will be accompanied by a library of (hybrid) vehicle powertrain component models and default examples.

In this project, HAN Automotive Research is collaborating with over 30 – mainly Dutch SME - partners on efficient, low-threshold solutions for system modelling and simulation. By delivering this solution to the open-source community, TNO and HAN hope to stimulate companies and institutes to use and enrich the solution, while empowering their own and each other’s performances by pre-competitive collaboration.

Modern means of transport, from passenger cars to heavy-duty road and waterborne transport have to meet increasingly strict emission regulations and greenhouse gas targets. This simulator could prove to be beneficial for the Indian OEMs as well in the development of new BS-VI compliant engines. These future challenges will be met with a range of increasingly complex powertrain technologies to enable the transition towards clean mobility.

Experts at TNO claim, “An integrated development approach is necessary to maximise the overall system efficiency. In order to reduce the system development effort, TNO has developed a methodology based on a combination of state-of-the-art testing facilities and virtual development. What is unique is that all of our models are physics-based and validated in our own facilities. They are fully predictive and scalable, control oriented and can be implemented in real-time. TNO PowerTrains’ virtual testing environment allows time and cost-efficient verification of control functionality performance and robustness. Before and when going on the road, TNO provides system validation performed in and around our state-of-the-art experimental facilities in Helmond. TNO Powertrains has a strong international track record for different applications from passenger cars to heavy-duty road and waterborne transport. This makes us an ideal applied knowledge partner in innovative solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”