Siemens’ Digital Twin Tech Empowers Orient Express Racing

Siemens Digital Industries Software has officially announced its collaboration with the renowned Orient Express Racing Team, utilizing its comprehensive Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industrial software to provide the team with a significant technological advantage as they prepare for the highly anticipated 37th America’s Cup. This collaboration is designed to optimize the team’s performance through cutting-edge digital solutions, allowing them to streamline operations and enhance their overall competitiveness in this prestigious global sailing event.

The Orient Express Racing Team, established by the advanced sports technology firm K-Challenge, is a dynamic entity that brings together a powerhouse of talent. This team is composed of elite French athletes, experienced engineers, highly skilled technicians, and world-class experts, all working together with a singular focus: to secure top positions in international sailing competitions, including the America’s Cup, widely regarded as the most prestigious event in the sport. Competing in such a demanding and high-pressure environment requires not only athletic prowess but also advanced technological innovation to outmaneuver the competition. Mastering this ultra-competitive arena has become the driving force behind the team’s creativity, ingenuity, and constant push for technological advancements.

In this strategic collaboration, Siemens’ Simcenter Engineering Services plays a pivotal role in helping the Orient Express Racing Team gain valuable insights into the real-world performance of the team’s hydraulic and aeronautic systems, which are critical to managing the operation of the boat’s sails, rudders, and foil flaps. These elements are crucial for the precise control and operation of the racing yacht, especially in high-speed and complex maneuvers. By leveraging Siemens’ innovative technology, the team has successfully created digital twins of these systems. These digital twins are exact virtual replicas of the physical systems and are built to allow detailed performance analysis, parameterization, and functional validation. This sophisticated virtual modeling is enhanced by dedicated software libraries that simplify the layout and interface, making it easy for a multi-disciplinary team—consisting of members from the Performance, Mechatronic, and Hydraulic groups—to collaborate efficiently and achieve optimal results.

Stephan Kandler, the CEO of both K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team, has spoken about the revolutionary impact that foil technology has had on the sport of sailing. According to Kandler, the introduction of foil technology has completely transformed the dynamics of competitive sailing. “With the arrival of foil technology, we have seen boats rise above the water, which has introduced a whole new layer of complexity in managing both air and water interactions,” Kandler said. This technological leap has increased the challenge of the sport, making it more demanding than ever before. Kandler emphasized that digital twins, along with virtual testing, have become a breakthrough development in the research and development (R&D) of these advanced boats. These tools allow for virtual testing that complements physical sailing, thus significantly accelerating the R&D process. Kandler also highlighted that Siemens’ involvement has been integral not only to their strategy for the America’s Cup but also to the team’s ongoing efforts in developing innovative solutions for decarbonizing maritime transport.

Jean-Marie Saint-Paul, the CEO of Siemens Digital Industries France, also expressed great pride in Siemens’ collaboration with K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team. Saint-Paul noted that the technical partnership demonstrates the remarkable benefits that digital twin technology can provide, especially when it comes to utilizing real-time data in one of the most competitive sports environments in the world. “Our collaboration with K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team is a perfect example of how digital twin technology can make a significant difference in high-performance racing, particularly by harnessing real-time data,” Saint-Paul said.

One of the standout features of this partnership is how the team uses the digital twin technology to address performance discrepancies when they arise. If the boat’s performance deviates from expected outcomes, data collected during on-water testing is referenced to identify the problem. Engineers can then introduce modifications to the system’s model, such as diagnosing suspected leaks in the hydraulic system. This enables the team to fine-tune their simulations so that they match real-world data more closely. As a result, this process allows them to target inspections and necessary maintenance with greater accuracy and efficiency, ensuring that the boat operates at its peak during competition.

As the team continues to prepare for the 37th America’s Cup, Siemens’ digital twin technology is expected to play a crucial role in streaming live performance data during race days. By doing so, the team will have the ability to compare real-time performance metrics with their virtual models, giving them a deeper understanding of how the boat is functioning under race conditions. Additionally, when the boat is not in the water, K-Challenge connects the system models to their advanced virtual reality simulator. This provides the team with a virtual environment where they can continue testing and refining their strategies, even when physical testing on the water is not possible. The digital twin platform also allows the team to experiment with different control systems and scenarios virtually, enabling them to test multiple approaches before implementing them on the water.

This blend of digital and physical testing represents a cutting-edge approach to competitive sailing, giving the Orient Express Racing Team a significant edge as they pursue victory in the America’s Cup. Siemens’ advanced software tools, including the use of real-time data analysis and virtual simulations, are helping the team push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of performance, precision, and efficiency.

In summary, the collaboration between Siemens Digital Industries Software and the Orient Express Racing Team is poised to make a significant impact on the team’s America’s Cup campaign. By leveraging Siemens’ state-of-the-art digital twin technology, the team can optimize their performance, fine-tune their systems, and prepare for race day with unparalleled insight into both their physical and virtual environments. For further insights into how Siemens’ technology is driving success for K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team, viewers are encouraged to watch their informative video on the subject.

About Siemens

Siemens Digital Industries Software helps organizations of all sizes digitally transform using software, hardware and services from the Siemens Xcelerator business platform. Siemens’ software and the comprehensive digital twin enable companies to optimize their design, engineering and manufacturing processes to turn today’s ideas into the sustainable products of the future. From chips to entire systems, from product to process, across all industries. Siemens Digital Industries Software – Accelerating transformation.