Quadcopters: From System Modeling to Real-Time Simulator
Presenter: John Straetmans, Computer Engineering Student, University of Michigan
This project attempts to build an accurate real-time (RT) drone simulator through the full integration of a 1D functional model of a drone created in Altair Activate®, along with its corresponding geometry, into Unreal Engine via the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard. Then, VR, peripheral controllers, and other functionalities were added to the representation. This task was accomplished by modifying the Altair RT Vehicle Package, making it able to handle not just vehicles, but any system model located in an FMU for co-simulation, in this case a quadcopter model.
Once the FMU containing the Altair Activate® drone model was successfully loaded into Unreal Engine, the tools provided by the application allow additional features to be added, such as VR support. By implementing an FMU, together with its geometry, into Unreal Engine, we can visually analyze the dynamics of the system to further verify the drone model and its performance. In the future, this integration process should be facilitated to automatically load any FMU following just a few steps.
Presentations, Videos
Altair MBD: Celebrating Accomplishments, What's Next
Presenter: Michael Hoffmann, Sr Vice President of Math & Systems, Altair
In this presentation, Michael Hoffmann, Sr Vice President, shares the company’s vision & strategy for Altair’s Math & Systems tools for Model-Based Development – based on providing an open platform tightly connecting 0D to 1D to 3D modeling & simulation. At different stages of their product development cycles, engineers can model and simulate their increasingly complex products as multi-disciplinary systems by using equations, block diagrams, and/or 3D CAD geometry.
His scope includes Altair Compose™, Altair Activate™, Altair Embed™, and Altair MotionSolve™ as well as the multi-body motion capabilities in Altair Inspire™. He also spotlights several recent success stories about customers who have used these technologies to drive innovation through simulation.
Presentations, Videos
Simulation-Driven Design of Sheet-Metal Components
A good Design is not complete unless it meets desired performance and qualifies for efficient manufacturing. Design of sheet-metal components demand the following, From a Design perspective - if sheet-metal can be used for intended design, their sizing & shape, choice of material, weight and cost.
From Manufacturability perspective - manufacturing feasibility of the designed shape, allowable thinning and wrinkling limits, addressing process constrains and importantly forming feasibility.
Leveraging Simulation to drive the design as it unfolds at the concept generation stage, helps design engineers to accrue downstream benefits upfront.
Webinars
Redesign and Topological Optimization of Transtibial Prosthesis by Reverse Engineering
Presentation by Eduardo Bajo, FEA Engineer at IDAERO.
Presentation of a project consisting of redesign with topology optimization of a transtibial leg prosthesis. It is a project in which the reverse engineering workflow has been followed, starting with 3D digitization of an amputated limb and real old prosthesis. Subsequently, they have been reconstructed in 3D to simplify and applied topology optimization, taking into account the biomechanics of human gait, using Altair Inspire software. Finally, the reconstruction of the optimization through organic design has been carried out with the software Evolve.
This project won the 1st prize in the II International Industrial Design Contest UPM-Technical University of Madrid.
During the presentation it will be presented the new 2019 Edition of the Industrial Design Contest UPM, open to students and professionals, sponsored by Altair.
Presentations, Videos
Altair Inspire Datasheet
Altair Inspire enables design engineers, product designers, and architects to create and investigate structurally efficient concepts quickly and easily. Inspire uses the industry leading Altair OptiStruct™ technology to generate and analyze design concepts. The software is easy to learn and works with existing CAD tools to help design
structural parts right the first time, reducing costs, development time, material consumption, and product weight.
Brochures & Datasheets
Leverage the Power of Simulation-Driven Design
In order to stay competitive while pushing the envelope on innovation, simulation must drive the entire design process from the early concept design phase all the way to production. Leveraging robust simulation—including motion analysis, finite element analysis, and manufacturing feasibility analysis—early and often has become a necessary driver to innovation and is helping numerous industry-leading companies to meet quality, cost, and time-to-market targets.
Webinars
An Interview with Ben Farmer of Robot Bike Co. Discussing the Development of their R160 Bike with Altair
Robot Bike Company (RBC) is a new startup established in the UK by aerospace engineers and mountain biking enthusiasts who identified the potential of combining additive manufacturing technologies with carbon fiber to, in their own words, “create the best bike frames possible”. To deliver a customizable, lightweight, high strength bike, RBC’s frame was intended to be created from carbon fiber, a material very common in the industry. The carbon fiber tubes, as well as the bike’s other components and systems were to be joined by additively manufactured titanium ‘nodes’, manufactured based on the specification of individual riders. Altair ProductDesign’s engineering team was tasked with optimizing these joints, which included the head tube, seat post and chain stay lugs, to ensure they were as lightweight as possible and still able to withstand the forces of downhill mountain bike riding, all while being fit for the AM process.
Videos
