On March 19, 2007, an
agreement was struck
between global
automotive technology
provider - Ricardo and a Pune
based computer aided engineering
(CAE) consultancy - Caepro, which
opens way for the Indian Auto
industry to improve its powertrain
design capabilities through its
very latest application on
simulation technologies.
In recent years Computer Aided
Engineering (CAE) has become
something of a key enabler for the
world’s leading automakers in the
design of new engines and
vehicles.
The ability of CAE
software to evaluate new designs
in virtual space before any
commitment is made to prototype
hardware has enabled
manufacturers to employ
‘right-first-time’ design principles.
In this way, the type of problems,
which used to be found only when
prototypes were tested, can now
be eliminated and the design
optimised, before a single
component has been
manufactured. Not only does this
improve the quality and
optimisation of new product
design but also allows potentially
huge savings in development time
and cost and perhaps most
crucially of all is an enabler for
products to be brought to market
more quickly.
While some automotive
components may be analysed
using comparatively simple CAE
tools, automotive engines and
transmissions are inherently
difficult to simulate, involving as
they do many complex combustion
and related physical processes of
the working fluids – fuel, air,
re-circulated exhaust gasses,
gaseous emissions, particulate
and CO2 – as well as thermal
interactions, vibratory
characteristics and mechanical
stresses of the structural
components. Ricardo is something
of a global leader in the
development of advanced
powertrain CAE simulation
software. The products of its
Ricardo Software subsidiary are
used throughout the international
automotive industries in the
achievement of world-class
powertrain performance, durability,
fuel-efficiency, refinement and
regulated emissions.While such
software products have long been
available to Indian customers, it is
often stated that their effective
application has been held back by
a lack of applications experience
and limited availability of training
and support services.
The new
agreement aims to address this
requirement through the
appointment of Caepro as the
representative of Ricardo Software
in India, providing front-line
support, guidance and training in
the use of the company’s range
of advanced powertrain CAE
software products.
In selecting a partner in India,
one of the key attributes sought by
Ricardo Software was in-depth
skills and experience in powertrain
CAE applications.“It is important
for licensees to fully understand
the advanced capabilities of the
software as well as the nature of its
intended CAE applications in order
to deliver best value from their
work in automotive R&D,” explains
Steve Sapsford, President of
Ricardo Software.Mr Sapsford
further explains, “For this reason it
was important for us to appoint a
representative with in-depth
powertrain CAE applications
experience both an understanding
of the underlying engineering
principles of the software and a
local presence in one of the hubs
of the Indian auto industry.We feel
that Caepro is ideally suited to
fulfil this role and think that our
customers in India will derive
considerable benefit from thiso
.....CONTD
