Digital Twin Virtual Reality provides an advantage in the America’s Cup

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Focusing on victory in the America’s Cup: The Orient Express Racing Team uses Siemens Xcelerator software to create a digital twin that allows the hydro and aerodynamic systems of the sailboat to be simulated in the water through virtual reality.

The K-Challenge founded Orient Express Racing Team, a French sports technology company, has set itself the goal of winning the most prestigious international sailing competitions, including the America's Cup. To achieve this goal, the company brings together some of the best French sports sailors, engineers, technicians, and experts. Competing in this highly competitive environment is the driving force for the company's creativity and innovative ability.

To prepare for the upcoming 37th America's Cup and secure a competitive edge, the Orient Express Racing Team is utilizing the Siemens Xcelerator industrial software portfolio from Siemens Digital Industries Software.

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In close collaboration with Siemens' Simcenter Engineering Services, the Orient Express Racing Team gains a better understanding of the actual performance of the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic systems used to control the sails, rudders, and foils. Digital twins of these systems were created, parameterized, and functionally validated alongside specialized data libraries, ensuring that the layout and interface are comprehensive and easy to use for the multidisciplinary teams, consisting of specialists in performance, mechatronics, and hydraulics.

Digital twins make an important contribution

"Sailboats have changed dramatically since the introduction of foil technology, which allows them to fly above the water. Managing two fluids and the multitude of new aeronautical systems has become a real challenge, as this has completely changed the rules of the game," explains Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge and Orient Express Racing Team. "Digital twins and virtual testing today play an important role alongside actual sailing in the research and development of boats. Having Siemens on our side was a key element of the strategy of K-Challenge Racing & LAB at the America's Cup, but also for other developments in the area of decarbonizing maritime freight transport."

"Siemens is incredibly proud to collaborate with K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team, supporting it in the 37th America's Cup race," says Jean-Marie Saint-Paul, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries France and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software France. "The results achieved through our technical collaboration now and during the upcoming race demonstrate the benefits digital twins of complex systems offer by utilizing real-time data in one of the most competitive sports worlds."

Match simulation results with real data

When the team finds that performance deviates from expectations, data gathered in the water is used as a reference, and engineers make modifications to the system model (e.g., to locate suspected leaks in the hydraulic systems) to align simulation results with the data—thereby enabling them to plan inspection and maintenance work more accurately and efficiently.

As the team prepares for the race, the same model of digital twin systems, already set up for real-time performance, can be used to stream live data from the race to the models and compare reactions in real-time. When the boat is not at sea, the system models are also connected to K-Challenge's virtual reality simulator. Last but not least, this enables the refinement of the control strategy for the steering systems and the virtual running of different scenarios before testing in the water.