The latest release of MapleSim has arrived, carrying with it some major updates to the software such as visualization improvements, revision control and new options for toolchain connectivity.
MapleSim is an advanced simulation and modeling platform designed to help engineers and scientists develop system-level models more quickly and accurately. It's based on Modelica, an open standard for describing physical models, and is used throughout industries such as automotive, aerospace and robotics, as well as classroom education.
One of MapleSim's greatest strengths is its versatility in analyzing the behavior of a vast variety of physical systems. It comes with a massive library of built-in components, from rigid and flexible bodies to sensors, joints, actuators, batteries, pipes and valves, and circuit components such as switches. Each component can be customized based on user-edited properties; once the engineer has chosen inputs (such as position, mass, fixed points and operating conditions), the software analyzes the physical behavior of the system, such as motion, and offers visualization tools for understanding and reporting the results.
In v2016.2, users can now view simulation results during solving, which allows them to track their analysis progress and pause to investigate unexpected results as soon as they appear. A 3D overlay option makes it possible to view multiple visualizations side by side—which is valuable for comparing variations on a model to see how changes in component parameters affect the simulation's final outcome. New features have been added for several MapleSim apps, as well as an entirely new app for generating system equations directly from a model diagram. The Battery Library and CAD Toolbox import features have also been expanded.
Also notable are improved tools for toolchain connectivity and revision control that will simplify file and data import, allow interfacing between MapleSim and other modeling programs and facilitate large projects in which multiple engineers need to work on the same model. Revision control makes it easy to track changes to a model and compare or restore earlier versions, simplifying the comparison and management of simulations with multiple editors.
MapleSim can export models using the FMI standard, but now also supports directly importing models created in other FMI-compatible software. The connectivity updates will make work easier for users who employ multiple modeling tools, allowing them to connect MapleSim seamlessly with models built in other programs. As Laurent Bernardin, chief scientist and executive vice president at Maplesoft, explains, “Maplesoft is committed to supporting open standards that enable our customers to avoid having to reinvent the wheel, whether that means recreating a model from scratch or redeveloping component libraries that have already been written for another tool … MapleSim now allows engineers to take advantage of state-of-the-art engineering technology in their design work without being limited by proprietary tools.”
More information about the latest MapleSim release is available on the Maplesoft website.