Let's get physical

摘要

Physics-based modelling - or physical modelling - and simulation have become an essential part of the automotive design process. Through the use of powerful mathematical modelling tools, accurate prediction of the behaviour of engineering systems can save millions of dollars in the prototyping and production stages of a product development. This has motivated many companies to invest heavily in model-based design and simulation tools. Furthermore, the number of controllers in vehicle systems has dramatically increased over the last 20 years. From power-train management through to stability control, modern cars can have upwards of 20 controllers. This has driven the use of physical modelling tools for accurate plant characterisation; usually the first stage in control system development, and tvoicallv the most time-consumina.