Delcross’ software will allow ANSYS users to assess how a product’s antenna will operate surrounded in an environment of antennas and other equipment. This assessment will show users their design’s ability to transmit and receive data without the signal being corrupted by other devices in the area.
“ANSYS HFSS is used for the antenna and immediate surroundings and Delcross Savant is used for the surrounding environment,” said Lawrence Williams, director of product management at ANSYS. “The combination is a new solution to an otherwise very challenging problem."
"ANSYS HFSS is ideal for designing the antennas on IoT devices and for placing those devices in or near equipment or persons,” clarified Williams. “However, communication between devices or between devices and a central access point is a considerably larger and more complex problem. Consider, for example, an oil refinery with multiple IoT sensors throughout. The complex environment of pipes, platforms, steel girders, et cetera, creates a challenge for simulation. The Delcross Savant product with its SBR technology is perfectly suited to solve this large, complex environment by shooting rays in and among the pipes and girders.”
With the growth of the IoT, more products are coming equipped with antennas. This trend is true for both consumer and industrial products, like wearable technology and smart metering respectively.
However, Williams is talking about how the addition of these antennas can create other unexpected consequences including the disruption of the device’s operations due to electromagnetic interference (EMI). Delcross’ simulation software helps to determine if EMI exists and how to reduce its effects on the device.
Jim Cashman, ANSYS president, commented on the merger of ANSYS and Delcross simulation technology, noting its ability to create more complete multiphysics simulations. He said the addition of Delcross “further strengthens our leadership in antenna design, wireless system performance and EMI prediction. The combined ANSYS high-frequency solution will deliver an unequalled portfolio for wireless system design.”
As Williams and Cashman hinted above, ANSYS already has a significant amount of electromagnetic software. These solutions can be used to assess the design of printed circuits (Slwave), electric motors (ANSYS Maxwell) and other applications. This indicates that the Delcross acquisition is aiming to strategically enter the antenna signal simulation space.
"The combination of ANSYS and Delcross provides a powerful solution for next-generation wireless system design," said Matt Miller, Delcross president. "The acquisition opens new system opportunities and better positions ANSYS to meet the simulation needs of these important applications. That's why the Delcross team and I are extremely pleased to join ANSYS."
This acquisition represents yet another move for ANSYS to join the IoT realm. Recently, ANSYS also merged with Gear Design Solutions for their big data analysis capabilities. Similar mergers, acquisitions and partnerships of CAD/CAE companies with IoT technology companies are becoming a significant trend, one that was started by PTC’s $500M IoT investment a few years ago, up to the very recent Autodesk’s acquisition of the enterprise-level IoT Cloud service SeeControl.
What do you think of the need of your current engineering software’s to address antennas and the IoT? Comment below.