ANN ARBOR, MI, June 20, 2014 – SimuQuest Inc., a global leader of advanced model-based software tools for embedded systems development, announced the debut of its all new server-based version of UniPhi for centralized data and architecture management at the recent Mathworks Automotive Conference (MAC), providing a new level of automation in the design and development of model-based systems.
“SimuQuest’s UniPhi product has undergone a major transformation over the last three years due to a collaboration between SimuQuest and Ford Motor Company to establish a new level of sophistication in data and model management,” states John Mills, CEO and president of SimuQuest. “The opportunity to develop this tool in a collaborative process with such a forward thinking company as Ford, has been as rewarding to SimuQuest as it is revolutionary to the model-based design process,” Mills added.
Competition in the marketplace and the pressure to decrease product development time, while at the same time improving safety and reliability, has automotive companies continuously looking for ways to improve their product development process. Model-based design is becoming more prevalent in the automotive industry, providing a methodical, reusable, and cost effective product development solution. Embedded systems are developed faster, with less resources, and far fewer defects. However, there are major challenges to overcome before model-based design can be deployed within large organizations. A plethora of legacy tools and processes have been put in place over a period of many years, to manage highly complex systems using traditional methods. The associated difficulties and risks have prevented large organizations from the enterprise-wide adoption of model-based design.
UniPhi has been designed with Ford’s input, to address the management of complexity on an enterprise scale, utilizing server-based centralized management of system data and architecture together with advanced functionality for complexity visualization, user permissions, version control and automated issue resolution. UniPhi thus enables large organizations to adopt model-based design. UniPhi provides Ford a new level of integration of Model-Based controls and software design into a fully integrated CAE process.
“Successful deployment of model-based design requires attention to detail. This is particularly true for complex systems or large teams. There are some large gaps to be filled when you try to connect all the tools together in a seamless process. UniPhi is a really good example of a tool that fills some of the most significant gaps,” states Craig Stephens, chief engineer: Controls Engineering Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company.
UniPhi is seamlessly integrated with the Mathworks tools. In addition, an API is provided to enable interoperability across tools. Powerful centralized data management and dependency visualization, enables consistent, version-controlled management of data (signals and parameters) and rapid visualization of object dependencies (modeled features, signals and parameters.)
A recent assessment identified the following managing data and model/software complexity issues:
- Large effort to develop, integrate and test C coded features
- Large effort to maintain existing strategy
- Difficult to test changes or additions to existing features
- Difficult to understand all of a complex feature’s functions and interactions
- Unable to view the overall strategy architecture and data
- Challenge to maintain a consistent software architecture across programs
- Difficult to keep interface signal attributes consistent (name, scaling, data type, etc.)
To the extent that handling software and model complexity issues are resolved, developers have more time to devote to the real value of a company, namely, the development of intellectual property.
SimuQuest’s state of the art products result in rapid, high quality development of embedded systems utilizing the most advanced model-based design process.
SimuQuest’s goal is to optimize client’s productivity. Our tools and services are aimed at providing clients with the ability to focus on their core competency. To this end, SimuQuest provides the tools and support to enable plug-and-play development and one-touch code generation to the target micro or Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
About SimuQuest
SimuQuest is an Ann Arbor, Michigan, based company that develops state of the art products to enable the most advanced model-based design of embedded control systems. SimuQuest’s high-quality, off-the-shelf software tools have empowered engineers to design and innovate, while dramatically reducing development time and cost. SimuQuest’s products include UniPhi for data management, QuantiPhi for driver generation and Enginuity for engine modeling. SimuQuest technology enables rapid, high quality development of embedded systems for aerospace, automotive, consumer appliance, alternative energy, academia and other industries.
To learn more, see www.simuquest.com.