Digital Models Up to Series Production
Researchers and developers at Bosch are using digital models to optimize product functions even in the design stage, which means many of the usual time-consuming intermediate steps and prototype stages can be eliminated. Using the models cuts development times and ensures high-quality products.
Innovation is a Bosch specialty: Every product generation brings with it new or improved functions - in everything from anti-lock braking systems to hammer drills. The developers' task is to adapt the implementation of their ideas to rapidly changing and dynamic markets. The tools they use to do this include digital models created with computers. In addition to being used to design products, computers are also - as far as possible - used to test the products' structural characteristics and materials and to subject them to virtual conditions simulating the conditions of everyday use encountered later by the customer. Here the engineers use computer modeling to simulate thermal stress, for example, noise generated by the products and their stability.
The virtual tests help the experts to understand all aspects of a product. If problems or opportunities for improvement emerge, the developers can react immediately. The time required for the design phase, which normally includes a number of prototype stages, is reduced thanks to digital development of products - with many advantages.
The virtual method systemizes and accelerates the product creation process, eliminates the need to make costly prototypes and makes it possible to optimally tune many product properties in advance. "Steel and iron" prototypes aren't built until a later stage of development, when the finishing touches are applied and final approval is given. In view of the large number of customers (multiplied by the desired product variants), using a highly digitized development environment pays off very quickly, because changes and customer requests can be rapidly implemented. The aim of current research projects is to use simulations to provide even more comprehensive data on product reliability and wear-and-tear and to integrate these methods into development processes.
The Bosch developers are assigned to many different locations, and all of them want to utilize advanced simulation tools. That's why Bosch Research is also developing cooperation concepts for teams with members scattered at different locations. Employees from many different areas in the company - from researchers to developers to sales and service engineers - can use software platforms to control product creation all the way to the series production stage.
The virtual tests help the experts to understand all aspects of a product. If problems or opportunities for improvement emerge, the developers can react immediately. The time required for the design phase, which normally includes a number of prototype stages, is reduced thanks to digital development of products - with many advantages.
The virtual method systemizes and accelerates the product creation process, eliminates the need to make costly prototypes and makes it possible to optimally tune many product properties in advance. "Steel and iron" prototypes aren't built until a later stage of development, when the finishing touches are applied and final approval is given. In view of the large number of customers (multiplied by the desired product variants), using a highly digitized development environment pays off very quickly, because changes and customer requests can be rapidly implemented. The aim of current research projects is to use simulations to provide even more comprehensive data on product reliability and wear-and-tear and to integrate these methods into development processes.
The Bosch developers are assigned to many different locations, and all of them want to utilize advanced simulation tools. That's why Bosch Research is also developing cooperation concepts for teams with members scattered at different locations. Employees from many different areas in the company - from researchers to developers to sales and service engineers - can use software platforms to control product creation all the way to the series production stage.
The art of large-scale production: Bosch researchers are using digital design and virtual testing to ready the next ABS generation for volume production.
