Fully Automated Optimization Engine for Advanced Modular E-Motor Platform Studies

In close cooperation, ZF and Altair have developed a unique environment based on Altair e-Motor Director to support the synthesis of complete e-motor platforms. From previously calculated design of experiments(DoEs) and given requirements, an attempt is made to find a platform that meets all requirements and at the same time keeps costs low by using identical parts that can be reused in the individual e-motors. In principle, it would be possible to build each e motor from as many identical parts as possible, which would lead to a low- cost platform, but the requirements cannot be optimally met.

It would also be possible to optimize all e-motors only to the requirements, regardless of identical parts. That would lead to the optimum in terms of meeting the requirements but would not be a good solution in terms of costs, since all the parts for an e-motor must be specially manufactured. The aim of this developed environment is to find the optimum between these two extremes by counting the number of identical parts and also weighting them depending on the costs. The finally found e-motor platform now represents the trade-off in terms of meeting the requirements while at the same time increasing the number of identical parts and thus reducing costs.

Presented as part of the 3rd Altair Electric Propulsion Seminar in October 2022 in Silverstone, UK.

Speaker: Michael Heroth, Development Engineer Electric Drive, ZF*
Duration: 20 minutes

*Presented by Lars Fredriksson, Senior Vice President, Strategic Solutions at Altair on behalf of ZF.