Multibody Systems Models of Trucks for Digital Twin Development

Presentation Abstract for the 2024 ESI SimulationX User Forum

Mr. Roktim Bruder - Simulation engineer, Daimler Truck AG

Co-Authors: Sven Dronka, Christoph Schramm (ESI Group)

"In the past years, software-in-the-loop (SiL) simulation models have become more and more relevant for the development of ECUs (Electronic Control Unit) and the virtual validation of vehicles. Due to the increasing complexity of ECU functions and their interaction with different physical subsystems of the vehicle, SiL simulation is a powerful and resource-saving tool for the development of intelligent, sustainable, and safe vehicles.

Therefore, Daimler Truck develops a modular framework, which allows the rapid modeling of a Digital Interdisciplinary Vehicle (DIVe) with its mechatronic interactions between virtualized ECUs (vECU) and the physical models of the vehicle. The modularity of the framework allows experts of different fields of work to contribute to a pool of modules. For many years already, SimulationX contributes different modules into the DIVe module pool for the generation of the Digital Twin. To increase the efficiency of the module generation process, the transformation of the SimulationX model into a DIVe conform module was fully automated. With this approach, various models of vehicle subsystems can be integrated quickly into the DIVe framework.

In the past, SimulationX provided various models of the conventional or electrified drivetrain or the pneumatic and hydraulic braking system. Recently, Daimler Truck utilized SimulationX to model the multibody dynamics of trucks to accurately simulate their vehicle dynamics. This multibody model was extended with models for the steering and tire subsystems to ensure that the Digital Twin represents the handling of the real truck as realistically as required.

Various applications of the Digital Twin models are already an integral part of the development process at Daimler Truck and save time and costs as well as provide options that cannot be covered by testing. The co-simulation of a multi body vehicle model with multiple control modules for the development of autonomous trucks and active safety systems is presented."

If interested in additional information, please sign up for the 2024 SimulationX User Forum or contact us!