CAE Six Trends for the Future of Simulation

Related Vendors

Siemens Digital Industries Software GmbH

FAULHABER Drive Systems

dataTec AG

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

With the ever-faster growth of software and hardware capacity, simulation is now ubiquitous in the development and design of new products. But where is the journey of technical simulation heading?

Jean-Claude Ercolanelli, Senior Vice President for Simulation and Test Solutions, Siemens Digital Industries Software

Calculations that took a week on the first computers can now be performed on a conventional laptop in milliseconds. Additionally, software has become much more efficient, significantly accelerating the pace of simulations. However, simulation in its current state is mature and has reached the limit of scalability. So far, the limiting factor has been computing time, with manual effort being negligible. In the future, however, expertise—experts who can operate complex simulation software—will become a scarce resource.

Democratize technology

It is crucial to expand the application possibilities of simulation to overcome today's growth limits. This can be achieved by providing everyone access to simulation technology and integrating simulation into all phases of a product's lifecycle. This requires significant technological innovations. Future innovations must go beyond merely enhancing accuracy and speed—they must reduce complexity, a major hurdle in the simulation industry.

Marketandmarkets.com forecasts that the digital twin market will grow to over 100 billion dollars by 2028.

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the automation of large language models (LLM) offer new and exciting opportunities to democratize simulation. They could enable anyone who needs to run a simulation to benefit from it. This shift promises to significantly transform the industry. By expanding the application range of simulation technology, new markets are also being opened. Marketandmarkets.com expects the digital twin market to grow at an average rate of over 60 percent to more than 100 billion US dollars by 2028. The industrial metaverse is also expected to reach the same size and grow at the same rate.

Humans and AI work synergistically together

The industrial metaverse and generative AI can make simulation accessible to a much broader audience. To enable this, future development environments must offer an experience as immersive and interactive as a video game while maintaining their industrial quality. Current obstacles such as user guidance and access to cloud computing are being actively addressed, allowing us to rethink current approaches for broader applicability.

By continuously synchronizing with their real-world counterparts, digital twins aim to integrate the real and digital to enhance products, services, and more. This is just the beginning. The industrial metaverse can be a place where humans and AI work synergistically to create industrial innovations that solve real-world problems and create new opportunities.

The ideal future scenario is one in which designs and technical data are constantly analyzed in the background. These analyses ensure that designers and engineers always have the right information and that systems are continuously optimized. The workflows in this scenario are not only seamless but also highly automated, further merging the virtual and physical worlds. Designers will only be partially aware of the predictive technology operating in the background.

In the coming years, simulation will become relevant for a broader range of user profiles, applicable to a greater number of use cases, and present throughout the entire lifecycle of products and industrial processes.

Six trends for simulation

1. Simulation shifts left: Simulation will increasingly be used in the early phases of product development to improve decision-making and cost-efficiency. With increased computing power, simulation becomes a crucial tool in the early design phase. This tool enables non-expert users, such as designers and sales staff, to conduct preliminary assessments and increase return on investment.
2. Simulation shifts right: Supported by the rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), simulation will expand its reach in the product lifecycle to the phases of manufacturing and operations. The ability to simulate complex production processes and customized products will be crucial for operational efficiency. Autonomous simulations will play a central role in facility management, with digital twins using virtual sensors to supplement incomplete physical data.
3. Simulation is undergoing a transformation: There will be a radical democratization of simulation. Its benefits will become accessible to a broader audience beyond specialized engineers. User-friendly interfaces will appeal to SMEs, hobbyists, and the general public, promoting innovation and market expansion. This transformation will make simulation tools more accessible, leading to an increase in the user base.
4. Simulation evolves: The future of simulation is autonomous and ubiquitous within the industrial metaverse and generative AI. Cloud-based simulation microservices will facilitate the transition from human-made to self-evolving simulations. These will minimize the need for human input while maximizing efficiency and adaptability.
5. Simulation will go deeper: Simulation tools will achieve higher resolution, enabling the modeling of systems across a wide range of scales, from the planetary to the submolecular level. This profound capability of simulations will open up new possibilities in complex materials development and other fields, pushing the boundaries of efficiency and design precision.
6. Simulation will be more comprehensive: The increasing complexity of systems will drive the shift towards more flexible and collaborative development concepts. Model Based Systems Engineering and standardized system modeling language will gain more traction, as Reduced Order Models (ROM), derived from detailed 3D models, become essential for rapid prototyping and system analysis. This will streamline the entire development process from concept to completion.

Easily predict behaviors

Simply put, technical simulation will soon be used as a tool for designing, constructing, manufacturing, and operating products or processes. Anyone with the corresponding need will be able to easily predict all relevant behaviors. Solutions will be achieved either within a prescribed timeframe (from real-time to overnight), with a certain degree of accuracy, or with a prescribed accuracy (from good enough to certifiable) as quickly as possible. Finally, the tools will be supported by AI, ML, and LLM, embedded in the digital twin and the industrial metaverse, enabling everyone to use simulation. (mz)