Case Study: Ford Motor Company reduces physical prototyping with Cadence Adams Real Time

Ford Motor Company reduces physical prototyping with Cadence Adams Real Time and 150-DOF models

Ford Motor Company, a leading global automaker, faced the challenge of lengthy and expensive transmission calibration processes that relied heavily on physical vehicle prototypes. To address this while maintaining world-class vehicle drivability and comfort, Ford collaborated with Cadence Design Systems. The goal was to reduce prototyping costs and development time by leveraging Cadence's simulation technology.

Cadence implemented a solution using its Adams Real Time software to create real-time vehicle dynamics models. These models were integrated into a hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) test environment alongside physical engine and transmission prototypes. This approach from Cadence allowed Ford engineers to accurately simulate vehicle behavior and tune transmission parameters in a lab, which significantly reduced the need for physical prototypes. The results showed strong correlation with actual test data, enabling more efficient and comprehensive testing programs.

Ford Motor Company