Auto Parts Asia — October 2017

26 | AutoPartsAsia | OCTOBER 2017

COVER STORY

T

he US-based MathWorks,

a leading developer of

mathematical computing

software,plays a pivotal role

in the transition of automotives from

purely mechanical to electronic and

software components-driven products.

The amount of software in a car is

much more than that in a commercial

aircraft. In this process the Original

Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

depend on software providers to stay

ahead of competition. MathWorks

provides a virtual arena to develop

vehicles faster and more efficiently.

“In the last two or three decades,

there has been an increase in the

use of electronics and software in

automotives. Today, there are not

many fully mechanical systems.

All systems are multi-domain:

Mechanical, electrical, software and

hydraulics. Our tools are employed to

develop multi-domain systems which

have mechanical, digital, hydraulics

and software components. Our

products -MATLAB and Simulink- are

used to model multi-domain systems,”

Kishore Rao, Managing Director,

MathWorks India, told AutoParts Asia.

MathWorks India, a 100 per cent

subsidiary of the US parent company,

started direct operations in 2008.

Before that it was represented in

the country for 12 years through a

distributor.

Companies use MATLAB to analyse

data to predict vehicle performance.

Simulink is a graphical tool to model

complete systems.

“You can build an entire vehicle

model or powertrain model in the

system. You can also build a hybrid

vehicle architecture in Simulink. While

MATLAB is for data analytics, Simulink

is used to build the entire system and

simulate complete vehicle or vehicle

sub-system in a graphical environment

to test the performance of the system.

The CAD companies serve only

mechanical systems. As multi-domain,

we are uniquely positioned and we

have a clear advantage. Even in future,

electronics and software trend is going

to be predominant. Our software

provides unique value proposition to

our customers,” he said.

Virtual Prototype

The MathWorks tools have reduced

the automotive life cycle by eliminating

the traditional processes of design,

real time tests, prototype making and

the like.“In our Simulink environment,

OEMs can develop the entire

simulation of the multi-domain system

on the software. Error, if any, can

be identified early through a virtual

prototype and verification, instead

of building the physical prototype.

Testing also can be done on the

software. In Simulink OEMs can model

mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or

software into a system. They can do

testing in a virtual environment. In the

model-based designing, OEMs design

the model on the software and do the

simulation, validation, verification, and

testing in the virtual way. It significantly

reduces the time taken to develop a

new product,” Rao said.

When a manufacturer develops a

control system, to control battery or

MathWorks

Provides Virtual Solutions For Automotive

Industry

By Pramod Thomas

Simulink Real-Time image