Darmstadt, Germany, November 21st, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced that EDAG Group,  a globally leading, independent engineering services provider, is set to inaugurate the first-ever EDAG Zero Prototype Lab, featuring VI-grade’s Cable Driven DiM500 Simulator at the core. This innovative facility is currently under construction at EDAG's development center in Wolfsburg, Germany, and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. 

EDAG Group will employ the DiM500 simulator for all of its global engineering services, with a special focus on OEMs services in critical domains such as Vehicle Dynamics and New Mobility, including ADAS and autonomous vehicles. With this strategic investment in VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulator technology, EDAG Group is significantly expanding its virtual development and testing capabilities, ensuring to be one step ahead of the competition. Notably, EDAG Group will be the inaugural engineering service provider globally to include the DiM500 Cable-driven Simulator in its comprehensive service portfolio. In addition to VI-grade’s DiM500 Cable-driven simulator, the EDAG Zero Prototype Lab will also feature VI-grade’s COMPACT Full Spectrum Simulator (FSS) and an additional AutoHawk Hardware-in-the-Loop platform to connect driving simulators to its existing and future hardware-in-the-loop rigs. This comprehensive suite of tools will empower EDAG Group in pushing the boundaries of engineering services on a global scale, thus turning the Zero Prototypes vision into a reality.

“At EDAG, we are dedicated to merging our core competencies of engineering excellence with the latest technology, solidifying our position as a trusted partner in the global mobility industry. The integration of VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulator technology into our new Zero Prototype Lab exemplifies our shared commitment to innovation, set to make a substantial impact on the future of engineering services worldwide”, commented Jonas Grötzinger, Senior Expert – Vehicle Motion at EDAG Group.

“We are excited to report the adoption of our DiM500 Cable-Driven Simulator at EDAG’s Zero Prototype Lab”, added Michael Hoffmann, Senior Expert Simulation Driven Development at VI-grade. "With the DiM500, our most powerful large-scale simulator to date based on a unique cable drive system, EDAG is taking its engineering service offering to an unprecedented level. The integration of this simulator into the newly established EDAG Zero Prototypes Lab, places the company at the forefront of the paradigm shift towards prototype-free development, giving the company a significant competitive advantage. I eagerly anticipate the remarkable customer projects that will come to life in this groundbreaking facility, shaping the mobility of tomorrow.”
 

Darmstadt, Germany, November 16th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today proudly announced the successful sale of its state-of-the-art COMPACT NVH Simulator to Škoda Auto a.s., one of the automotive industry's pioneers based in the Czech Republic. The deal was completed in August 2023, marking a significant milestone for VI-grade. Škoda Auto has chosen VI-grade's COMPACT NVH Simulator as a pivotal tool in advancing their Vehicle NVH development, enabling precise assessments of Secondary Ride Comfort and Noise.

Škoda Auto's decision to choose VI-grade's COMPACT NVH Simulator over competitors was rooted in VI-grade's unique technology. The simulator allows precise evaluation of vehicle and powertrain sound and vibration attributes. Designed to faithfully reproduce real driving conditions in a laboratory environment, including roadway visualization, the COMPACT NVH Simulator stood out for its ability to simulate the vibroacoustic behavior of a virtual prototype. This functionality simplifies data interpretation and actively involves the customer's perspective in the decision-making process, making it a key asset for vehicle development through virtual techniques.

Tomáš Beneš, NVH Manager at Škoda, emphasized, "Our strongest reason for choosing VI-grade as a supplier is the possibility of sharing know-how within the VW Group. VI-grade has proven to be a performing and reliable partner for NVH advanced applications."

Furthermore, VI-grade's COMPACT NVH Simulator was recommended to Škoda engineers by its counterparts at Bentley and Volkswagen, reinforcing VI-grade's reputation as an industry leader in NVH simulation solutions.

Giorgio Adriano, NVH Simulator Account Manager EMEA at VI-grade, commented, “VI-grade, in partnership with local distributor SVMTech, is honored to support Škoda Auto's pursuit of NVH excellence, bringing innovative solutions and expertise to Škoda's engineering initiatives.”

Darmstadt, Germany, November 9^th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the launch of the DiM300 Driving Simulator, an extended version of its highly acclaimed DiM DYNAMIC Driving Simulator Technology. This new, advanced simulator represents the latest evolution of VI-grade’s large-scale simulators, building on the success of the award-winning DiM150 and DiM250 models.

“The DiM300 introduces a host of cutting-edge features, including an extended operating range and higher tripod velocity” commented Kazunori Aizu, Executive Officer, Saginomiya Seisakusho. “The simulator demonstrates an impressive ability to perform large planar displacements with virtually no motion cueing, providing engineers with an unprecedented level of realism and versatility.”

VI-grade has been at the forefront of driving simulation technology since 2011, forging a long-term partnership with SAGInoMIYA to develop state-of-the-art motion platforms. The DiM150, introduced in 2012, set the foundation for the next generation approach to system-level simulation. Building on this success, VI-grade unveiled the DiM250 in 2018, featuring extended linear actuators for increased travel of the tripod and longer steady-state accelerations.

Today, 26 DiM150 and DiM250 simulators have been installed and are in operation worldwide. Employing these state-of-the-art simulators has allowed leading automotive manufacturers, suppliers, motorsport teams and research centers to experience unprecedented levels of realism and a high degree of versatility, which are essential for bridging the gap between testing and simulation and achieving the “Zero Prototypes vision”.

The DiM300 represents the latest evolution of VI-grade's driving simulation technology. The first unit of the DiM300 was successfully adopted by Honda Japan in 2023, with a second unit scheduled for operational deployment in 2024 at Japanese Engineering Service Provider Progress Technologies Group.

 "We are thrilled to introduce the DiM300 to our customers. This latest model represents a significant leap forward in our large-scale driving simulation technology, and we believe it will be instrumental in advancing our customers' development efforts," commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. "The DiM300's enhanced features and larger movement area will undoubtedly once again improve the way engineers approach vehicle development.”

Darmstadt, Germany, October 26th , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the official recap of its highly successful 2023 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits held on May 24-25 in Udine (Italy), September 20 in Novi, MI (USA), September 21 in Tokyo (Japan) and October 18 in Zhaoyuan (China). Over 750 representatives from major automotive and transportation OEMs, Tier1 suppliers, motorsport teams, research centers and partner companies attended the global event series in-person. VI-grade's EMEA flagship event as well as the inaugural spin-off Summit in China were livestreamed and attracted an additional 1,000 virtual attendees, resulting in an overall record attendance.

A total of 55 Keynote and Technical Presentations by leading OEMs and suppliers provided the worldwide VI-grade community with exclusive insights into how major global players in the automotive industry are using simulation, driving simulators and HiL technologies to accelerate vehicle development and achieve the Zero Prototypes vision. All presentations were recorded and are accessible free-of-charge on the VI-grade website and VI-grade’s YouTube Channel. The official after movies of all four events can be found at the following links: 

1. After movie – EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
2. After movie – North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
3. After movie – Japan ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
4. After movie – PRC ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit

The European, North American and Chinese ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits were all held at SimCenter facilities, giving attendees the opportunity to experience VI-grade's driving simulators, software and HiL solutions live and in action. With over 20 application-specific demo sessions available, attendees gained first-hand exposure to the value and benefits of VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulation tools, underscoring the critical role simulation plays in refining the development process and thus accelerating innovation. 

“The content was well balanced from product introduction to examples of simulator application in different industries. I much appreciated the quality of the presentations.”, commented an attendee of the North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit.

“This was an excellent and very well-organized event, with even more concrete examples of how driving simulators are being utilized in the industry. It was also a great opportunity to talk with other companies at the networking reception and realize the importance of horizontal connections”, added an attendee of the Japanese ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit. 

The resounding success of this global event series across the world's major automotive hubs is a testament to the importance of the Zero Prototypes mission in the automotive industry, with VI-grade being at the forefront of this movement. Looking ahead to 2024, VI-grade is pleased to announce that the 2024 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit will be held on May 14-16 at VI-grade’s SimCenter and main technological development center in Udine, Italy. Dates for the spin-off events will be announced shortly but will traditionally be held in the fall of 2024.

“We are truly impressed by the great interest our worldwide community has shown in our series of ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits, as evidenced by the number of attendees and the consistently positive feedback," commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “We look forward to building on this year's success as our ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits become one of the automotive industry's premier events. We’re pleased that our ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits have become a forum where automotive manufacturers and suppliers can demonstrate tangible success in closing the gap between CAE simulation and physical testing on the road to zero prototype sign-off.”

Darmstadt, Germany, October 12th , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, and JEDAi, a consulting startup specializing in smart automotive digital transformation, today announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration will benefit customers by enabling fast digital transition, new process definition and implementation, people empowerment, and capitalisation for increased added value at all stages of development.

With over 10 years of experience in automotive simulation and driving simulators, JEDAi is uniquely positioned to advise automotive companies in defining and implementing digital transformation initiatives. Under this new partnership, JEDAi will help companies looking to adopt driving simulator technologies by guiding them through the implementation of virtual engineering workflows, driver coaching and onboarding. They will also support VI-grade’s customers in fully harnessing the potential of their state-of-the-art driving simulators. This includes  implementing advanced digital twin processes, utilizing robust virtual vehicle and tire models, and utilizing data intelligence services, such as neural networks and AI, to ensure optimized performance. 

These services bring significant benefits to VI-grade customers, as JEDAi provides valuable guidance on how to best utilize the data generated from driving simulators, for faster, more informed decisions.

JEDAi also offers in-depth knowledge and services focused on tire modeling, integration within the simulation workflow and the difficult art of correlation between the testing and the digital twin environment for a robust virtual development ecosystem.

“At VI-grade, we are very excited to partner with JEDAi and introduce their expertise in digital transformation to our global customer base”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “JEDAi's many years of experience mean we can leverage their experience to assist a wide range of customers in building robust vehicle and tire models, thus optimizing their usage on our driving simulators, and scaling up their simulator activities.”

“JEDAi's advanced digital expertise and state-of-the-art VI-grade software and hardware is the perfect combination to create the ultimate virtual environment. This is a unique offering in the automotive industry that covers all aspects of the digital transformation process, from the premises to the most advanced usage for maximum value creation", added Mathieu Grob, Co-Founder and COO at JEDAi.

Darmstadt, Germany, October 5th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, and Meccanica 42, a leading provider of electronically controlled mechanical devices designed for on-road vehicles and advanced HiL driving simulators, today announced they’ve signed a strategic partnership. This new alliance consolidates VI-grade as an official reseller of Meccanica 42’s innovative hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) and mechanical hardware-in-the-loop (mHiL) solutions and tools, enabling customers to accelerate their vehicle development processes. Through this reseller agreement, VI-grade gains the direct distribution rights for Meccanica 42's standard and custom HiL solutions, benefiting its extensive customer base, including leading OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and worldwide research centers.

Meccanica 42 will become a system integrator, leveraging the expertise of its team to seamlessly integrate its HiL solutions with VI-grade simulators. This ensures a smooth transition for customers into this new environment with minimal workflow impact. Another benefit of this partnership is the addition of Meccanica 42’s HiL test benches to VI-grade's SimCenter facilities worldwide, guaranteeing their availability and accessibility at key global automotive hubs. 

Based in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, Meccanica 42 specializes in the development, design and manufacture of advanced mechanical hardware-in-the-loop test benches that seamlessly integrate key vehicle components and related ECUs within a virtual simulation environment. Meccanica 42’s electronically-controlled mechanical devices are specifically designed for on-road vehicles and advanced HiL driving simulators, and are typically installed in safety-critical systems. These systems are fully compatible with VI-grade's wide range of driving simulators via both direct and remote connections. This allows automotive engineers to carry out comprehensive, final hardware component validation tests within a safe space and under reliable conditions, from anywhere worldwide. The benefits of providing a simulated environment where tests can be performed in a reliable, repeatable manner include obtaining better data in less time and at a lower cost. Development engineers can also be assured that the system being simulated is properly developed and pre-calibrated before it’s tested on a real vehicle.


Meccanica 42's solutions consist of EPSiL (steering system), BrakeiL (braking system), together with WSE (Wheel speed Signals Emulator) and CamiL (camera setup), which can also be fully customized to meet the unique requirements of individual clients. 

“We at VI-grade are thrilled to join forces with Meccanica 42 and serve as a reseller for their state-of-the-art HiL solutions, particularly in chassis, steering, brake, and camera rig applications”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “This partnership not only allows us to offer our valued customers a comprehensive product portfolio but also strengthens our position in the rapidly expanding HiL market driven by increasing electrification, growing vehicle complexity and the development of vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems."

“We look forward to collaborating more closely with VI-grade in the future, combining our core competencies and experience in Hardware-in-the-Loop, driving simulation and simulators”, added Claudio Annicchiarico, CEO at Meccanica 42. “This partnership enables us to benefit from VI-grade's long-standing sales and technical expertise as well as their extensive customer base worldwide. This reseller agreement between VI-grade and Meccanica 42 also signifies our shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving challenges of the automotive industry.”

On October 19th, 4pm CET, industry experts Claudio Annicchiarico of Meccanica 42 and Alessandro Baldari from VI-grade will host an exclusive webinar titled "Revolutionizing Vehicle Development with Real-Time Simulations and HiL Testing".

The joint webinar will unveil how real-time simulations and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) analysis synergize physical components with virtual vehicle models in a secure environment, eliminating the need for physical prototypes. This transformative approach accelerates the development process, empowering engineers to swiftly evaluate design alterations and make mission-critical decisions. Registration is available at: https://mobex.io/webinars/revolutionizing-vehicle-development-with-real-time-simulations-and-hil-testing/

 

 
New this year is a special focus on tire modeling and simulation. Tire modeling is a complex and challenging, yet nonetheless essential, task for vehicle developers. By accurately modeling the tire's behavior, vehicle developers can improve the safety, performance, and efficiency of their vehicles. Acknowledging this critical need, this year’s ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit program will culminate in a live, expert panel discussion on "Tire Modeling for the Virtual World" moderated by Mike Stackpole, President of Stackpole Engineering Services. The session brings together experts from leading tire model suppliers including Calspan, cosin scientific software, Fraunhofer ITWM and MegaRide to explore the future of tire design and the seamless integration of tire models into VI-grade’s solutions and driving simulators.

The technical agenda comprises a selection of over 16 high-level keynote and technical presentations where attendees will hear first-hand from simulation thought leaders in the global automotive industry. These industry leaders will demonstrate how they employ VI-grade’s simulation, driving simulators and Hardware-in-the-Loop technologies to accelerate new vehicle development and get ever closer to the “zero prototypes” vision. 

Attendees will come away with valuable insights from a diverse range of organizations, including Applus+ IDIADA, BASF, CEVT, Eastern Michigan University, General Motors, HBK SVES, Hitachi Astemo Americas, Mcity (University of Michigan – College of Engineering), Multimatic, Stellantis, VI-grade and many more. 

The full conference agenda, including logistics details, is now available for download at https://www2.news.vi-grade.com/NA_ZPS_2023_Official_Program. 

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH VI-GRADE’S FULL RANGE OF SIMULATION, DRIVING SIMULATOR AND HIL SOLUTIONS

As a complement to the insightful technical presentations by leading industry players, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a series of driving simulator sessions tailored to specific automotive applications. In this way attendees can experience for themselves the value VI-grade’s driving simulators bring to the development process.

 The following demo sessions will be available for attendees to explore: 

• Test Drive the brand-new Full-Spectrum (FSS) Simulator for Ride Comfort Studies
• Experience Mixed-Reality on a DESKTOP Simulator
• Conduct HMI and Driving Monitoring Studies on a STATIC Simulator
• Evaluate NVH performance on a DESKTOP NVH and COMPACT NVH Simulator
• See the large DYNAMIC DiM250 Simulator in action for motorsports applications
• Build, tune and validate real-time vehicle models and ADAS scenarios and sensors with VI-CarRealTime and VI-WorldSim
• Test integrated HiL systems with AutoHawk

All registered attendees will receive a link to the online demo booking application shortly before the event. Demo bookings can also be made on-site during the event.

NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING & SOCIALIZING

VI-grade's objective with the ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits extends beyond delivering an exceptional and highly relevant technical program. The company is equally committed to promoting extensive networking opportunities within the industry and connecting users of its technology with one another. 

While the afternoon will be dedicated to customer presentations, participants will have the opportunity to network during the demo sessions in the morning and trade notes on their experiences on the various simulators. 

The one-day event wraps up with an evening reception and informal dinner in a relaxed atmosphere, starting at 6 p.m. Attendees can socialize and discuss both the latest trends in driving simulation and their own progress towards the “Zero Prototypes” vision.

VI-grade would like to acknowledge and thank the following industry partners for their support and sponsorship of the 2023 North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit: 

• DIAMOND: Multimatic
• PLATINUM: Applus+ IDIADA, SAGInoMIYA
• GOLD: Barco, Concurrent Real-Time, cosin scientific software, HBK, Imtec Engineering, MegaRide, Stackpole Engineering
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, Smart Eye
• VI-CERTIFIED: Hexagon

“As we approach the 2023 North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, I am thrilled to see the overwhelming interest and engagement from our community. With over 130 registrations and a packed agenda featuring industry leaders, interactive demos, and insightful discussions, this event is set to be another milestone in our journey towards the 'Zero Prototypes' vision”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “I’m especially excited about the “Tire Modeling for the Virtual World’ panel to address this complex yet critical topic. We look forward to bringing together the innovators and key players of the global automotive industry to learn how they are currently using simulation and driving simulators to accelerate the development of new vehicles and bring them ever closer to virtual sign-off.”

Limited space is still available for the 2023 North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit. Registration will remain open until capacity is reached. Event registration is available at: 
/en/about/events/users_conferences/2023-na-vi-grade-zero-prototypes-summit-novi-mi-usa/.