Milan, Italy, December 13th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, announced today that it was honored with the prestigious 2023 Pirelli Innovation Supplier Award. The award was presented during the annual Pirelli Supplier Day, a distinguished event where Pirelli recognizes the outstanding contributions made by its top suppliers in the areas of sustainability, quality, innovation, performance, and service.

Out of Pirelli's extensive network of 15,000 suppliers worldwide, VI-grade emerged as one of the five suppliers that significantly contributed to the achievement of Pirelli's objectives throughout the year. The Supplier Day, held at Pirelli's headquarters in Milan, saw the participation of over 70 strategic suppliers from 18 countries, representing approximately 40% of the Group's global annual purchases.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman at Pirelli, commented: “Our company always sets itself ambitious goals that would not be possible without the support of those who work alongside us. Sharing our company values and targets with the entire supply chain allows us to constantly improve, particularly when it comes to sustainability and innovation which are key, strategic elements that underpin our global leadership in the High Value Segment and sustainability indices.”

Guido Bairati, Managing Director of VI-grade, expressed his gratitude, stating, "I was thrilled to have the honor of receiving the 2023 Pirelli Innovation Supplier Award on behalf of VI-grade. This award recognizes the VI-grade team's commitment to providing simulation software and simulators that help automotive companies develop vehicles and key components efficiently. It's a great achievement that belongs to every VI-grade employee who contributes to our mission of reducing costs and physical prototyping during the vehicle development process."

The 2023 Pirelli Supplier Day highlighted the alignment of VI-grade's goals with Pirelli's focus on Innovation, Sustainability, Growth, and Competitiveness. In his speech, Guido Bairati underscored VI-grade's dedication to creating innovative and sustainable products. He stated, "Every year our simulators are driven over 9,000,000 kilometers worldwide, saving tons of CO2 emissions annually.”
 

Darmstadt, Germany, December 7th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced that its newest driving simulator, the DiM300, has been selected as the 2023 Development Tool of the Year by Vehicle Dynamics International. This prestigious award recognizes the latest tools that empower vehicle dynamics engineers to evaluate their designs and setups for automotive excellence. VI-grade's DiM300 stood out in this category, underscoring the company's ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in simulation-driven vehicle development solutions.

The DiM300, an evolution of the highly acclaimed DiM DYNAMIC Driving Simulator Technology, introduces cutting-edge features that include an extended operating range and higher tripod velocity, giving development engineers new and expanded levels of realism and versatility to be employed in vehicle development. This simulator represents a significant advancement in VI-grade's large-scale simulation technology and builds on the success of the previous DiM150 and DiM250 models, of which 26 are installed and operational worldwide. 

Officially launched in November 2023, the DiM300 has already had a significant market impact. The first unit was successfully adopted by Honda Japan in late 2023, with a second unit scheduled for operational deployment in 2024 at Japanese Engineering Service Provider Progress Technologies Group.

“We are excited that our latest innovation, the DiM300, has been honored as Vehicle Dynamics Tool of the Year”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “This latest model represents a significant leap forward in our large-scale driving simulation technology, and we believe it will be instrumental in advancing our customers' development efforts. Its enhanced features and larger movement area will undoubtedly once again improve the way engineers approach vehicle development. “
 

Darmstadt, Germany, November 21st, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced that EDAG Group,  a globally leading, independent engineering services provider, is set to inaugurate the first-ever EDAG Zero Prototype Lab, featuring VI-grade’s Cable Driven DiM500 Simulator at the core. This innovative facility is currently under construction at EDAG's development center in Wolfsburg, Germany, and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. 

EDAG Group will employ the DiM500 simulator for all of its global engineering services, with a special focus on OEMs services in critical domains such as Vehicle Dynamics and New Mobility, including ADAS and autonomous vehicles. With this strategic investment in VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulator technology, EDAG Group is significantly expanding its virtual development and testing capabilities, ensuring to be one step ahead of the competition. Notably, EDAG Group will be the inaugural engineering service provider globally to include the DiM500 Cable-driven Simulator in its comprehensive service portfolio. In addition to VI-grade’s DiM500 Cable-driven simulator, the EDAG Zero Prototype Lab will also feature VI-grade’s COMPACT Full Spectrum Simulator (FSS) and an additional AutoHawk Hardware-in-the-Loop platform to connect driving simulators to its existing and future hardware-in-the-loop rigs. This comprehensive suite of tools will empower EDAG Group in pushing the boundaries of engineering services on a global scale, thus turning the Zero Prototypes vision into a reality.

“At EDAG, we are dedicated to merging our core competencies of engineering excellence with the latest technology, solidifying our position as a trusted partner in the global mobility industry. The integration of VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulator technology into our new Zero Prototype Lab exemplifies our shared commitment to innovation, set to make a substantial impact on the future of engineering services worldwide”, commented Jonas Grötzinger, Senior Expert – Vehicle Motion at EDAG Group.

“We are excited to report the adoption of our DiM500 Cable-Driven Simulator at EDAG’s Zero Prototype Lab”, added Michael Hoffmann, Senior Expert Simulation Driven Development at VI-grade. "With the DiM500, our most powerful large-scale simulator to date based on a unique cable drive system, EDAG is taking its engineering service offering to an unprecedented level. The integration of this simulator into the newly established EDAG Zero Prototypes Lab, places the company at the forefront of the paradigm shift towards prototype-free development, giving the company a significant competitive advantage. I eagerly anticipate the remarkable customer projects that will come to life in this groundbreaking facility, shaping the mobility of tomorrow.”
 

Darmstadt, Germany, November 16th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today proudly announced the successful sale of its state-of-the-art COMPACT NVH Simulator to Škoda Auto a.s., one of the automotive industry's pioneers based in the Czech Republic. The deal was completed in August 2023, marking a significant milestone for VI-grade. Škoda Auto has chosen VI-grade's COMPACT NVH Simulator as a pivotal tool in advancing their Vehicle NVH development, enabling precise assessments of Secondary Ride Comfort and Noise.

Škoda Auto's decision to choose VI-grade's COMPACT NVH Simulator over competitors was rooted in VI-grade's unique technology. The simulator allows precise evaluation of vehicle and powertrain sound and vibration attributes. Designed to faithfully reproduce real driving conditions in a laboratory environment, including roadway visualization, the COMPACT NVH Simulator stood out for its ability to simulate the vibroacoustic behavior of a virtual prototype. This functionality simplifies data interpretation and actively involves the customer's perspective in the decision-making process, making it a key asset for vehicle development through virtual techniques.

Tomáš Beneš, NVH Manager at Škoda, emphasized, "Our strongest reason for choosing VI-grade as a supplier is the possibility of sharing know-how within the VW Group. VI-grade has proven to be a performing and reliable partner for NVH advanced applications."

Furthermore, VI-grade's COMPACT NVH Simulator was recommended to Škoda engineers by its counterparts at Bentley and Volkswagen, reinforcing VI-grade's reputation as an industry leader in NVH simulation solutions.

Giorgio Adriano, NVH Simulator Account Manager EMEA at VI-grade, commented, “VI-grade, in partnership with local distributor SVMTech, is honored to support Škoda Auto's pursuit of NVH excellence, bringing innovative solutions and expertise to Škoda's engineering initiatives.”

Darmstadt, Germany, November 9^th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the launch of the DiM300 Driving Simulator, an extended version of its highly acclaimed DiM DYNAMIC Driving Simulator Technology. This new, advanced simulator represents the latest evolution of VI-grade’s large-scale simulators, building on the success of the award-winning DiM150 and DiM250 models.

“The DiM300 introduces a host of cutting-edge features, including an extended operating range and higher tripod velocity” commented Kazunori Aizu, Executive Officer, Saginomiya Seisakusho. “The simulator demonstrates an impressive ability to perform large planar displacements with virtually no motion cueing, providing engineers with an unprecedented level of realism and versatility.”

VI-grade has been at the forefront of driving simulation technology since 2011, forging a long-term partnership with SAGInoMIYA to develop state-of-the-art motion platforms. The DiM150, introduced in 2012, set the foundation for the next generation approach to system-level simulation. Building on this success, VI-grade unveiled the DiM250 in 2018, featuring extended linear actuators for increased travel of the tripod and longer steady-state accelerations.

Today, 26 DiM150 and DiM250 simulators have been installed and are in operation worldwide. Employing these state-of-the-art simulators has allowed leading automotive manufacturers, suppliers, motorsport teams and research centers to experience unprecedented levels of realism and a high degree of versatility, which are essential for bridging the gap between testing and simulation and achieving the “Zero Prototypes vision”.

The DiM300 represents the latest evolution of VI-grade's driving simulation technology. The first unit of the DiM300 was successfully adopted by Honda Japan in 2023, with a second unit scheduled for operational deployment in 2024 at Japanese Engineering Service Provider Progress Technologies Group.

 "We are thrilled to introduce the DiM300 to our customers. This latest model represents a significant leap forward in our large-scale driving simulation technology, and we believe it will be instrumental in advancing our customers' development efforts," commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. "The DiM300's enhanced features and larger movement area will undoubtedly once again improve the way engineers approach vehicle development.”

Darmstadt, Germany, October 26th , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the official recap of its highly successful 2023 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits held on May 24-25 in Udine (Italy), September 20 in Novi, MI (USA), September 21 in Tokyo (Japan) and October 18 in Zhaoyuan (China). Over 750 representatives from major automotive and transportation OEMs, Tier1 suppliers, motorsport teams, research centers and partner companies attended the global event series in-person. VI-grade's EMEA flagship event as well as the inaugural spin-off Summit in China were livestreamed and attracted an additional 1,000 virtual attendees, resulting in an overall record attendance.

A total of 55 Keynote and Technical Presentations by leading OEMs and suppliers provided the worldwide VI-grade community with exclusive insights into how major global players in the automotive industry are using simulation, driving simulators and HiL technologies to accelerate vehicle development and achieve the Zero Prototypes vision. All presentations were recorded and are accessible free-of-charge on the VI-grade website and VI-grade’s YouTube Channel. The official after movies of all four events can be found at the following links: 

1. After movie – EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
2. After movie – North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
3. After movie – Japan ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
4. After movie – PRC ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit

The European, North American and Chinese ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits were all held at SimCenter facilities, giving attendees the opportunity to experience VI-grade's driving simulators, software and HiL solutions live and in action. With over 20 application-specific demo sessions available, attendees gained first-hand exposure to the value and benefits of VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulation tools, underscoring the critical role simulation plays in refining the development process and thus accelerating innovation. 

“The content was well balanced from product introduction to examples of simulator application in different industries. I much appreciated the quality of the presentations.”, commented an attendee of the North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit.

“This was an excellent and very well-organized event, with even more concrete examples of how driving simulators are being utilized in the industry. It was also a great opportunity to talk with other companies at the networking reception and realize the importance of horizontal connections”, added an attendee of the Japanese ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit. 

The resounding success of this global event series across the world's major automotive hubs is a testament to the importance of the Zero Prototypes mission in the automotive industry, with VI-grade being at the forefront of this movement. Looking ahead to 2024, VI-grade is pleased to announce that the 2024 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit will be held on May 14-16 at VI-grade’s SimCenter and main technological development center in Udine, Italy. Dates for the spin-off events will be announced shortly but will traditionally be held in the fall of 2024.

“We are truly impressed by the great interest our worldwide community has shown in our series of ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits, as evidenced by the number of attendees and the consistently positive feedback," commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “We look forward to building on this year's success as our ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits become one of the automotive industry's premier events. We’re pleased that our ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits have become a forum where automotive manufacturers and suppliers can demonstrate tangible success in closing the gap between CAE simulation and physical testing on the road to zero prototype sign-off.”

Darmstadt, Germany, October 12th , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, and JEDAi, a consulting startup specializing in smart automotive digital transformation, today announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration will benefit customers by enabling fast digital transition, new process definition and implementation, people empowerment, and capitalisation for increased added value at all stages of development.

With over 10 years of experience in automotive simulation and driving simulators, JEDAi is uniquely positioned to advise automotive companies in defining and implementing digital transformation initiatives. Under this new partnership, JEDAi will help companies looking to adopt driving simulator technologies by guiding them through the implementation of virtual engineering workflows, driver coaching and onboarding. They will also support VI-grade’s customers in fully harnessing the potential of their state-of-the-art driving simulators. This includes  implementing advanced digital twin processes, utilizing robust virtual vehicle and tire models, and utilizing data intelligence services, such as neural networks and AI, to ensure optimized performance. 

These services bring significant benefits to VI-grade customers, as JEDAi provides valuable guidance on how to best utilize the data generated from driving simulators, for faster, more informed decisions.

JEDAi also offers in-depth knowledge and services focused on tire modeling, integration within the simulation workflow and the difficult art of correlation between the testing and the digital twin environment for a robust virtual development ecosystem.

“At VI-grade, we are very excited to partner with JEDAi and introduce their expertise in digital transformation to our global customer base”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “JEDAi's many years of experience mean we can leverage their experience to assist a wide range of customers in building robust vehicle and tire models, thus optimizing their usage on our driving simulators, and scaling up their simulator activities.”

“JEDAi's advanced digital expertise and state-of-the-art VI-grade software and hardware is the perfect combination to create the ultimate virtual environment. This is a unique offering in the automotive industry that covers all aspects of the digital transformation process, from the premises to the most advanced usage for maximum value creation", added Mathieu Grob, Co-Founder and COO at JEDAi.

Darmstadt, Germany, October 5th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, and Meccanica 42, a leading provider of electronically controlled mechanical devices designed for on-road vehicles and advanced HiL driving simulators, today announced they’ve signed a strategic partnership. This new alliance consolidates VI-grade as an official reseller of Meccanica 42’s innovative hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) and mechanical hardware-in-the-loop (mHiL) solutions and tools, enabling customers to accelerate their vehicle development processes. Through this reseller agreement, VI-grade gains the direct distribution rights for Meccanica 42's standard and custom HiL solutions, benefiting its extensive customer base, including leading OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and worldwide research centers.

Meccanica 42 will become a system integrator, leveraging the expertise of its team to seamlessly integrate its HiL solutions with VI-grade simulators. This ensures a smooth transition for customers into this new environment with minimal workflow impact. Another benefit of this partnership is the addition of Meccanica 42’s HiL test benches to VI-grade's SimCenter facilities worldwide, guaranteeing their availability and accessibility at key global automotive hubs. 

Based in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, Meccanica 42 specializes in the development, design and manufacture of advanced mechanical hardware-in-the-loop test benches that seamlessly integrate key vehicle components and related ECUs within a virtual simulation environment. Meccanica 42’s electronically-controlled mechanical devices are specifically designed for on-road vehicles and advanced HiL driving simulators, and are typically installed in safety-critical systems. These systems are fully compatible with VI-grade's wide range of driving simulators via both direct and remote connections. This allows automotive engineers to carry out comprehensive, final hardware component validation tests within a safe space and under reliable conditions, from anywhere worldwide. The benefits of providing a simulated environment where tests can be performed in a reliable, repeatable manner include obtaining better data in less time and at a lower cost. Development engineers can also be assured that the system being simulated is properly developed and pre-calibrated before it’s tested on a real vehicle.


Meccanica 42's solutions consist of EPSiL (steering system), BrakeiL (braking system), together with WSE (Wheel speed Signals Emulator) and CamiL (camera setup), which can also be fully customized to meet the unique requirements of individual clients. 

“We at VI-grade are thrilled to join forces with Meccanica 42 and serve as a reseller for their state-of-the-art HiL solutions, particularly in chassis, steering, brake, and camera rig applications”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “This partnership not only allows us to offer our valued customers a comprehensive product portfolio but also strengthens our position in the rapidly expanding HiL market driven by increasing electrification, growing vehicle complexity and the development of vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems."

“We look forward to collaborating more closely with VI-grade in the future, combining our core competencies and experience in Hardware-in-the-Loop, driving simulation and simulators”, added Claudio Annicchiarico, CEO at Meccanica 42. “This partnership enables us to benefit from VI-grade's long-standing sales and technical expertise as well as their extensive customer base worldwide. This reseller agreement between VI-grade and Meccanica 42 also signifies our shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving challenges of the automotive industry.”

On October 19th, 4pm CET, industry experts Claudio Annicchiarico of Meccanica 42 and Alessandro Baldari from VI-grade will host an exclusive webinar titled "Revolutionizing Vehicle Development with Real-Time Simulations and HiL Testing".

The joint webinar will unveil how real-time simulations and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) analysis synergize physical components with virtual vehicle models in a secure environment, eliminating the need for physical prototypes. This transformative approach accelerates the development process, empowering engineers to swiftly evaluate design alterations and make mission-critical decisions. Registration is available at: https://mobex.io/webinars/revolutionizing-vehicle-development-with-real-time-simulations-and-hil-testing/

 

 
New this year is a special focus on tire modeling and simulation. Tire modeling is a complex and challenging, yet nonetheless essential, task for vehicle developers. By accurately modeling the tire's behavior, vehicle developers can improve the safety, performance, and efficiency of their vehicles. Acknowledging this critical need, this year’s ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit program will culminate in a live, expert panel discussion on "Tire Modeling for the Virtual World" moderated by Mike Stackpole, President of Stackpole Engineering Services. The session brings together experts from leading tire model suppliers including Calspan, cosin scientific software, Fraunhofer ITWM and MegaRide to explore the future of tire design and the seamless integration of tire models into VI-grade’s solutions and driving simulators.

The technical agenda comprises a selection of over 16 high-level keynote and technical presentations where attendees will hear first-hand from simulation thought leaders in the global automotive industry. These industry leaders will demonstrate how they employ VI-grade’s simulation, driving simulators and Hardware-in-the-Loop technologies to accelerate new vehicle development and get ever closer to the “zero prototypes” vision. 

Attendees will come away with valuable insights from a diverse range of organizations, including Applus+ IDIADA, BASF, CEVT, Eastern Michigan University, General Motors, HBK SVES, Hitachi Astemo Americas, Mcity (University of Michigan – College of Engineering), Multimatic, Stellantis, VI-grade and many more. 

The full conference agenda, including logistics details, is now available for download at https://www2.news.vi-grade.com/NA_ZPS_2023_Official_Program. 

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH VI-GRADE’S FULL RANGE OF SIMULATION, DRIVING SIMULATOR AND HIL SOLUTIONS

As a complement to the insightful technical presentations by leading industry players, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a series of driving simulator sessions tailored to specific automotive applications. In this way attendees can experience for themselves the value VI-grade’s driving simulators bring to the development process.

 The following demo sessions will be available for attendees to explore: 

• Test Drive the brand-new Full-Spectrum (FSS) Simulator for Ride Comfort Studies
• Experience Mixed-Reality on a DESKTOP Simulator
• Conduct HMI and Driving Monitoring Studies on a STATIC Simulator
• Evaluate NVH performance on a DESKTOP NVH and COMPACT NVH Simulator
• See the large DYNAMIC DiM250 Simulator in action for motorsports applications
• Build, tune and validate real-time vehicle models and ADAS scenarios and sensors with VI-CarRealTime and VI-WorldSim
• Test integrated HiL systems with AutoHawk

All registered attendees will receive a link to the online demo booking application shortly before the event. Demo bookings can also be made on-site during the event.

NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING & SOCIALIZING

VI-grade's objective with the ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits extends beyond delivering an exceptional and highly relevant technical program. The company is equally committed to promoting extensive networking opportunities within the industry and connecting users of its technology with one another. 

While the afternoon will be dedicated to customer presentations, participants will have the opportunity to network during the demo sessions in the morning and trade notes on their experiences on the various simulators. 

The one-day event wraps up with an evening reception and informal dinner in a relaxed atmosphere, starting at 6 p.m. Attendees can socialize and discuss both the latest trends in driving simulation and their own progress towards the “Zero Prototypes” vision.

VI-grade would like to acknowledge and thank the following industry partners for their support and sponsorship of the 2023 North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit: 

• DIAMOND: Multimatic
• PLATINUM: Applus+ IDIADA, SAGInoMIYA
• GOLD: Barco, Concurrent Real-Time, cosin scientific software, HBK, Imtec Engineering, MegaRide, Stackpole Engineering
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, Smart Eye
• VI-CERTIFIED: Hexagon

“As we approach the 2023 North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, I am thrilled to see the overwhelming interest and engagement from our community. With over 130 registrations and a packed agenda featuring industry leaders, interactive demos, and insightful discussions, this event is set to be another milestone in our journey towards the 'Zero Prototypes' vision”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “I’m especially excited about the “Tire Modeling for the Virtual World’ panel to address this complex yet critical topic. We look forward to bringing together the innovators and key players of the global automotive industry to learn how they are currently using simulation and driving simulators to accelerate the development of new vehicles and bring them ever closer to virtual sign-off.”

Limited space is still available for the 2023 North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit. Registration will remain open until capacity is reached. Event registration is available at: 
/en/about/events/users_conferences/2023-na-vi-grade-zero-prototypes-summit-novi-mi-usa/.

Novi, MI, USA; August 2nd, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today released the final agenda for its highly anticipated North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit. Building on the resounding success of its inaugural edition in 2022 with over 130 in-person attendees, this one-day event will take place on September 20th, 2023, at the state-of-the-art Multimatic SimCenter in Novi, MI (suburban Detroit). As with VI-grade’s annual flagship event held at its main technical development center in Udine, Italy, the North American ZERO PROTOTYPES summit will feature a combination of high-level keynote and technical presentations. In addition, attendees can attend application-specific demo sessions to experience VI-grade’s simulation, driving simulator and hardware-in-the-loop technologies first-hand. 
 

• DESKTOP and DESKTOP NVH Simulator 
• COMPACT FSS and COMPACT NVH Simulator
• STATIC Simulator 
• DiM250 DYNAMIC Simulator 

Turin, Italy, July 12th , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, and Addfor, a leading provider of AI-driven software solutions, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership solidifying VI-grade as the exclusive distributor of Addfor's innovative Sybille® software for the automotive market. Sybille®’s capability of generating real-time value forecasts of signals, effectively eliminates transmission delays and enables control actuation anticipation, thereby accelerating the vehicle development process. 

Addfor's Sybille® software seamlessly integrates with VI-grade’s driving simulators and HiL solutions, elevating their capabilities to new heights. Sybille® harmonizes all simulator cues – ranging from motion, graphics to sound and tire squeal - increasing accuracy and and refining the immersive driving experience.  Sybille®’s AI-based algorithm also facilitates the remote connection of a vehicle model with a driving simulator or a HiL test bench in different locations, significantly transforming global collaboration among the various vehicle development stakeholders. 

By empowering its simulation tools with Artificial Intelligence capabilities, VI-grade is ensuring that its driving simulators and simulation software continue leading the market with innovative solutions for the automotive industry that mirror global megatrends. This reseller agreement enables VI-grade now to directly distribute Sybille® to its customers, further expanding its product offering and reinforcing its leadership position in the driving simulator and HiL market. 

Through this partnership Addfor will now have access to VI-grade's extensive customer base, including leading OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and research centers with over 120+ simulators installed worldwide. This strategic alliance empowers Addfor to further commercialize and establish its Sybille® software in the automotive market by introducing it to VI-grade’s vast network. Additionally, the implementation of Sybille® will extend to VI-grade's SimCenter facilities across the globe, ensuring its availability and accessibility at various automotive hubs.

“We are thrilled to announce our exclusive reseller agreement with Addfor and the addition of their innovative Sybille® software to our product portfolio”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director of VI-grade. “The integration of Sybille® into our driving simulators and HiL solutions unlocks new possibilities for our customers, with the potential to revolutionize their vehicle development process. Moreover, by combining AI-based algorithms with our tools, we are embracing a global megatrend, ensuring that we stay ahead of the curve and effectively meet the ever-evolving demands of the dynamic automotive industry.”

“We are excited to partner with VI-grade and leverage their sales organization as well as extensive customer base to introduce our Sybille® software to the automotive market”, added Ruben Borchetto, Executive Director and Founding Partner of Addfor. “This reseller agreement opens new avenues for Addfor to furher commercialize and establish our innovative AI-based solution in collaboration with VI-grade's global network.”

Udine, Italy, June 29th , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced it will expand its acclaimed ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit Series globally. Following the highly succesul 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit held in May at VI-grade’s SimCenter Udine (Italy), the company will again expand its premier event to the world’s three major automotive hubs. The upcoming summits will  be held in Novi, (Detroit) MI (USA), Tokyo (Japan), and Zhaoyuan (China), and will showcase VI-grade's commitment to spreading the Zero Prototypes vision and fostering collaboration worldwide.

Building upon the tremendous achievements of the EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, which attracted a record-breaking attendance of over 270 in-person participants and an additional 800 virtual attendees, VI-grade will again bring together automotive OEMs, suppliers, research centers and universities to showcase the progress they’ve made on their journey towards achieving zero prototypes and virtual sign-off. 

VI-grade’s ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit has become a must-attend annual event, providing exclusive insights into how key players in the global automotive industry are currently using simulation, driving simulators and hardware-in-the-loop technologies to accelerate new vehicle development. 

The upcoming ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits are as follows: 

North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
Date: September 20th, 2023
Location: Multimatic SimCenter Novi in Novi, MI (Suburban Detroit, Michigan)

Returning for its second edition, the NA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit will once again take place at the state-of-the-art Multimatic SimCenter Novi. Keynote and technical speakers from renowned organizations such as General Motors, Hitachi Astemo, Eastern Michigan University and many more will discuss in technical detail the gains they have made towards achieving Zero Prototypes in their development processes. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to attend numerous application-specific demo sessions and gain valuable insights into how VI-grade’s simulation, driving simulator and hardware-in-the-loop technologies have already and will continue to revolutionize the vehicle development process.

Japan ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
Date: September 21st, 2023
Location: Shinagawa Conference Center in Tokyo, Japan

Now in its third year and held entirely in Japanese, the Japan ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit will feature speakers from industry-leading companies such as Honda R&D, Nissan Bridgestone Japan and many more. The event will also give attendees the opportunity to experience VI-grade’s smaller-scale driving simulators, software and hard-ware-in-the-loop technologies live and in action during interactive demo sessions.

PRC ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
Date: October 18th, 2023
Location: Applus+ IDIADA’s SimCenter in Zhaoyuan, Yantai, China 
For the first time ever, VI-grade is bringing its renowned ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit to China. Held in local language, this exclusive event is dedicated to executive-level engineering managers and experienced design engineers from the Chinese automotive industry. The summit, hosted at Applus+ IDIADA’s SimCenter in Zhaoyuan, Yantai, will feature industry leading speakers from NIO, CICV, CHERY and many more. As with the other ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits, attendees will have the opportunity to wittness VI-grade’s simulation tools, driving simulators and hardware-in-the-loop technologies live and in action. 

“We look forward to bringing our ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit to North America, Japan and China in fall 2023”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “These extraordinary events aim to unite the automotive industry across continents, fostering collaboration and driving the automotive sector towards an innovative future. This is also a great opportunity for us to demonstrate not only our Zero Prototypes vision and our tools to the Japanese, North American and Chinese communities, but also to gain insights into the remarkable projects and advancements our customers have accomplished using our simulation solutions.”

VI-grade would like to acknowledge and thank the following industry partners for their support and sponsorship of the regional ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits: 

• PLATINUM: Applus+ IDIADA, Multimatic, SAGInoMIYA
• GOLD: Barco, Concurrent Real-Time, cosin scientific software, HBK, Imtec Engineering, MegaRide, Progress Technologies, Solize, Stackpole Engineering Services
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, Smart Eye
• VI-CERTIFIED: Hexagon

Registration for all three regional ZERO PROTOTYPES Summits is now open at /en/about/events/users_conferences/. Additional details about the events will be added to the VI-grade website as they become available.

Udine, Italy, June 1st , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the official recap of its highly succesful 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, which was held from May 23rd – 25th at VI-grade’s SimCenter in Udine, Italy. With a record-breaking attendance of over 270 in-person and additional 800 virtual attendees following the livestream on LinkedIn, this year's ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit marked the largest gathering to-date of VI-grade’s global driving simulator community. 

The summit’s theme of  “Join us on the Road to Zero Prototypes” embodied the journey towards a prototype-free vehicle development process and virtual sign-off, recognizing that the path itself holds immense value. Achieving Zero Prototypes remains the ultimate development goal, and VI-grade customers showcased the significant progress they’ve already made along this journey during the three-day event.
  The 2023 ZPS featured 27 inspiring keynote and technical presentations from renowned simulation thought leaders in the global automotive industry. These industry experts demonstrated how they leverage VI-grade’s simulation, driving simulators, and Hardware-in-the-Loop technologies to accelerate new vehicle development, bringing them ever closer to realizing the vision of Zero Prototypes.

Day 1 of the summit highlighted presentations from market leading companies such as Applus+ IDIADA, Bridgestone EMIA, Bugatti Rimac, CEVT, Dromo, HBK, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maserati, Mazda Motor Corporation, Meccanica 42, MegaRide, Pagani Automobili, Pirelli Tyre, Politecnico di Milano, Tenneco, and Volkswagen.

On Day 2, attendees were treated to presentations from Barco, CAE Value, Chassis Autonomy, Ferrari, Ford Motor Company UK, Hitachi Astemo, HORIBA MIRA, Hyundai METC, Jaguar Land Rover, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Moog, Multimatic, Pirelli Tyre, Politecnico di Milano, and Volvo Cars. 

The PDF versions of the presentations are already available for download on the VI-grade website. The video content will be shared on VI-grade's YouTube channel as it becomes available. The official aftermovie of the event can be found at this link https://youtu.be/3SIcT726wpo. 
  The ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit provided a forum for major announcements pertaining to VI-grade’s business and product developments, including:

• Launch of the COMPACT Full Spectrum Simulator: The summit unveiled VI-grade's new COMPACT FSS Simulator, an unparalleled, significant addition to the company's driving simulator product line. The COMPACT FSS Simulator addresses what had been until now the long-standing demand from vehicle design and development engineers to experience and evaluate ride motion, vibration, and sound within a single, small footprint simulator. 
• Global ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit Series Expansion: Demonstrating VI-grade's commitment to the Zero Prototypes challenge, the company announced the expansion of its global summit series. On September 20th, VI-grade will host its second North American summit at Multimatic SimCenter in Novi, Michigan, followed by a Japanese summit on September 21 in Tokyo. Finally, on October 18th, the first-ever ZPS summit dedicated to the Chinese automotive community will take place at the new SimCenter in Yantai, China, in partnership with Applus+ IDIADA. These events aim to unite the industry across continents, inspiring collaboration and driving the automotive sector towards an innovative future.
• 2023 Virtual Formula Award Ceremony: In tight competition between 130 teams from all over the world, the following winners of the 2023 edition of the Virtual Formula competition were announced during the event:
  • Optimization Category: UniBo Motorsport, Alma Mater University of Bologna, Italy
  • Digital Twin Electric Category: Squadra Corse PoliTO, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  • Digital Twin Combustion Category: WUT Racing Team, Wuhan University of Technology, China

"The 2023 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit was an exceptional success, unveiling impressive metrics from our customers. With notable achievements such as a 50% reduction in test time, 30% to 40% reduction in development time, and 98% accuracy in performance prediction using VI-grade tools”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “Once again it was a great pleasure to welcome our valued customers, partners, sponsors and colleagues at our SimCenter Udine, providing them with hands-on experiences on our simulators as well as networking opportunities and high quality keynote and technical presentations. I very much look forward to our upcoming ZERO PROTOPYES Summits in North America, Japan, and China, where we will continue this inspiring journey together” 

INDUSTRY SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
VI-grade would like to acknowledge and thank the following industry partners for their support and sponsorship of the 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit:  

• PLATINUM: Applus+ IDIADA, HORIBA MIRA, SAGInoMIYA
• GOLD: Barco, Concurrent Real-Time, cosin, HBK, Imtec Engineering, Meccanica 42, MegaRide, Moog, Multimatic
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, domeprojection, Fraunhofer ITWM, Joanneum Research, Konrad Technologies, Rebel Dynamics, Smart Eye, Sound To Sight
• BRONZE: BE CAE & Test, Screenline
• VI-CERTIFIED: Hexagon, rFpro

Udine, Italy, May 17th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, and Sound To Sight (STS), a visionary company specializing in unique sound design solutions for transportation domains, today announced their strategic partnership. This newly formed alliance brings together the technical and creative expertise of both companies, combining NVH simulation and Active Sound Design to create unparalleded driving experiences for customers worldwide.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the field of NVH simulation and Active Sound Design, offering numerous benefits to the automotive industry. Sound To Sight uses a unique, cutting-edge sound design method to create tailored and brand-aligned sound profiles for vehicle manufacturers. Their expertise enables the development of immersive soundscapes that embody a brand’s identity and heritage, evoking powerful emotions. These innovative sound designs can then be accurately reproduced and seamlessly integrated into VI-grade's NVH simulator allowing test drivers and decision makers to experience and evaluate them first-hand during simulated driving scenarios. This empowers vehicle manufacturers to first create unique sound designs with Sound To Sight and immediately test-drive them in VI-grade's NVH simulator, reducing the need for physical prototypes. 

“We’re excited to enter into this new strategic partnership with Sound To Sight”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “Combining Sound To Sight’s sound design expertise together with real-time human-in-the-loop virtual prototype simulations provided by VI-grade simulators exemplifies our commitment to the zero-prototype strategy. Vehicle design and development teams can decide on the exact right sound of the vehicle, evaluating the holistic vehicle experience of the sound design sound in context with all other sounds, vibration, motion and other factors in a dynamic, virtual environment, much more efficiently, and long before, a physical prototype could be made.”

“We are thrilled about this new partnership, which has already demonstrated success through a collaborative customer project in 2022 with a renowned Italian car manufacturer”, added Antoine Châron, Co-founder of Sound To Sight. “VI-grade and STS have worked together on an interior active sound design project, achieving impressive results thanks to the synergistic expertise of the two companies. We look forward to embark on this strategic partnership and pushing the boundaries of unique sound design”

In addition, Sound To Sight will participate as a SILVER sponsor in VI-grade’s ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, to be held on May 23-25, at SimCenter Udine. At their booth, Sound To Sight will show a selection of their sound designs on a VI-grade NVH DESKTOP Simulator for all attendees to experience live

Udine, Italy, May 11th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the final agenda for its highly anticipated 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, to be held from May 23 - 25, 2023 at SimCenter Udine. In addition to the physical event, already at 95% capacity, VI-grade will also offer a live broadcast on LinkedIn of all summit presentations for those unable to attend in-person. 

SLATE OF SPEAKERS BOASTS A WHO’S WHO AMONG GLOBAL SIMULATION THOUGHT LEADERS

With over 20 high-level technical presentations to select from, attendees will hear first-hand from simulation thought leaders in the global automotive industry. These industry leaders will showcase how they employ VI-grade’s simulation, driving simulators and Hardware-in-the-Loop technologies to accelerate new vehicle development and get ever closer to  the “zero prototypes” vision. 

Attendees will gain valuable insights from Applus+ IDIADA, Bugatti Rimac, Bridgestone EMIA, CEVT, Chassis Autonomy, Dromo, Ferrari, Ford Motor Company, Hitachi Astemo, HORIBA MIRA, Hyundai METC, Jaguar Land Rover, Maserati, Mazda Motor Corporation, Mahindra & Mahindra, MegaRide, Multimatic, Pagani Automobili, Pirelli, Politecnico di Milano, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Volvo Cars, as they demonstrate their use of VI-grade technology to reduce the need for physical prototypes. 

For those unable to attend in person, the LinkedIn Live stream of the summit presentations provides an excellent opportunity to join the conversation and stay abreast of the latest advancements in automotive simulation technology. The official summit program is also available for download at https://www2.news.vi-grade.com/EMEA_ZPS2023_Official_Program 

“We are excited to bring together global simulation thought leaders at our 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “This year’s program promises to be our most comprehensive yet and we look forward to showcasing the innovative ways in which our customers are using simulation to accelerate vehicle development and reduce the need for physical prototypes. The fact that the summit is almost at full capacity is a testament to the importance of this topic for the automotive industry.” 

Limited space is still available for the in-person 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit.  Registration will remain open until capacity is reached.   Event registration is available at /en/about/events/users_conferences/2023-emea-vi-grade-zero-prototypes-summit-udine-italy/ 

Registration for the live broadcast will be done through LinkedIn.

Registration for conference day 1: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:7062391966650523648/ 

Registration for conference day 2: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:7062395071840571393/

Grand Rapids, MI, USA, May 4th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the launch of its new COMPACT Full Spectrum Simulator (FSS) which will debut at the SAE Noise and Vibration Conference & Exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 15-18, 2023. The new COMPACT FSS Simulator expands VI-grade’s driving simulator product line by addressing what had been until now the unmet demand of vehicle design and development engineers to experience and evaluate ride motion, vibration and sound in a single, small footprint driving simulator. 

Driving simulators have typically focused on just one attribute, leaving gaps and limitations in the vehicle evaluation process. Now, by providing full-spectrum, multi-attribute simulation from 0.5Hz to 20kHz, VI-grade's ground-breaking COMPACT FSS Simulator allows evaluators to experience both primary and secondary driving motion, vibration and sound all at once, combining vehicle dynamics and NVH applications in a single, compact simulator. Suitable for ride comfort evaluation, motorsport applications, seat evaluation and overall vehicle refinement characterization, the COMPACT FSS provides a more affordable option over a traditional hexapod simulator. Thanks to its small footprint it can be easily accommodated in the engineering office. This innovative and unique driving simulator further underscores and demonstrates VI-grade’s commitment to helping the automotive industry both accelerate the vehicle development process as well as  design engineers’ ability to innovate. 

“The new COMPACT FSS Simulator is the ideal tool for in-depth and accurate virtual prototype evaluations, allowing engineers to make vehicle design decisions with greater confidence”, commented Dave Bogema, Senior Director of Product Management at VI-grade. “Powered by a VI-grade AutoHawk real-time computer, the COMPACT FSS Simulator will help engineers experience multiple attributes of a vehicle and genuinely assess and understand how the car will feel and sound, without the need for physical prototypes.”

The new COMPACT FSS Simulator will be launched at the SAE Noise and Vibration Conference & Exhibition and can be experienced live and in action by attendees at booth #311. VI-grade will be present at the show together with its parent company HBK, bringing their joint message of “Confidence in Innovation – Empower the Innovators” to life. 

For European automotive customers and those unable to attend the SAE Noise and Vibration Conference, VI-grade will present the new COMPACT FSS Simulator at its ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit on 24-25 May at SimCenter Udine. For more information and to register for the event, please visit /en/about/events/users_conferences/2023-emea-vi-grade-zero-prototypes-summit-udine-italy/

Beijing, China, April 26th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the successful installation and commissioning of the Cable-Driven DiM400 Driving Simulator at China Intelligent and Connected Vehicles Research Institute (CICV). The driving simulator has been installed at CICV's new engineering facility in Beijing, China, which is now available for rental by automotive OEMs and suppliers for intelligent chassis, intelligent cockpit and intelligent driving development.

In addition to providing the Chinese automotive industry with high-level engineering services aimed at advanced technology development and accelerating innovation, CICV will apply the DiM400 as part of their service platform that includes Simulation & Sensor Testing, Driver-In-Loop Lab, Vehicle-In-Loop Lab, Field & Road Lab, EEI Architecture Lab, Cybersecurity Lab, OTA Lab and Pilot Production Center.

“The Driver-in-the-loop approach is an advanced testing method to improve and validate intelligent and connected vehicles, and VI-grade’s Cable-Driven DiM400 Driving Simulator has high dynamic performance to support not only traditional chassis development, but also cockpit optimization and intelligence driving”, said Zhan Haiting, Vice President of the CICV testing company. “With this new simulator and other testing capabilities, CICV testing company led by the national think tank is forging a service platform with an innovation ecosystem that supports advanced technology development and technology transfer.”

“We are pleased to announce the successful installation of our DiM400 Driving Simulator at CICV, bringing our cable-driven simulator technology to the Chinese automotive market”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “The DiM400 is the optimal tool for CICV and the perfect complement to their existing research and engineering service capabilities. Thanks to its innovative cable-driven system allowing an extended range of motion, the DiM400 provides a highly realistic driving experience and immersion, which is essential in the development of intelligent and connected vehicles.”

The DiM400 simulator has been equipped with VI-grade software for motion cueing, vehicle model, graphic environment and active technology management. In addition, the cockpit includes equipment for driver’s biology signal acquisition and processing and driver monitoring systems for advanced ADAS and HMI simulation.

Udine, Italy, April 5th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the preliminary agenda of its 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, to be held from May 24th – 25th, 2023 at its SimCenter in Udine, Italy. The Summit kicks off with a reception for all attendees on May 23rd at 6pm, followed by a 2-day conference packed with high-level Keynote and technical presentations as well as live driving simulator demos. The Summit concludes on May 26th with user group meetings and software training sessions. 

Building on last year’s success which attracted over 220 in-person attendees, the 2023 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit once again boasts a top-tier selection of speakers from industry-renowned companies, providing attendees with exclusive insights into their journey towards zero prototypes and virtual sign-off. Specifically curated, high-level keynote and technical presentations will feature representatives from Applus+ IDIADA, Bugatti Rimac, CEVT, Chassis Autonomy, CICV, Dromo, Ford Motor Company, Hitachi Astemo, HORIBA MIRA, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda Motor Corporation, MegaRide, Multimatic, Pirelli, Politecnico di Milano, Volkswagen and Volvo Cars. Additional presenters will be announced shortly.

New State-of-the-Art Driving Simulator to be Unveiled at EMEA Zero Prototypes Summit
One of the major highlights of this year’s summit will be the debut of a new, state-of-the-art driving simulator. As an added bonus of attending the Summit, ZPS attendees can be among the first to test drive it. Participants can also experience VI-grade’s entire family of driving simulators in exclusive, dedicated demo sessions.  These sessions will provide attendees with an invaluable firsthand experience where they will gain insight into how VI-grade's simulation tools add value to the development process.

“We are excited to unveil the preliminary agenda of our highly anticipated 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “These presentations will provide our valued customers, partners and followers with exclusive insights into how key players in the global automotive industry are currently using simulation and driving simulators to accelerate the development of new vehicles and bring them ever closer to virtual sign-off.”

Sponsors and Dedicated Exhibition Area
VI-grade would like to acknowledge and thank the following industry partners for their support and sponsorship of the 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit:  

• PLATINUM: HORIBA MIRA, SAGInoMIYA
• GOLD: Applus+ IDIADA, Barco, Concurrent Real-Time, HBK, Imtec Engineering, Meccanica 42, MegaRide, Multimatic
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, domeprojection, Fraunhofer ITWM, Konrad Technologies, Smart Eye
• BRONZE: BE CAE & Test, Screenline
• VI-CERTIFIED: rFpro

Sponsors will be present both at the dedicated exhibition area where they’ll showcase their technologies, as well as at live demo sessions, where their products and solutions are also directly integrated into VI-grade’s driving simulators.

Registration for the 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit is open at https://conference.vi-grade.com/. Additional details about the event will be added to the VI-grade website as they become available.

Darmstadt, Germany; March 23rd , 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, Chassis Autonomy, an Anglo-Swedish start-up that designs and manufactures fail-operational actuation systems for highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles, and CAE Value, a Swedish tech company that provides high-end simulation and optimization solutions, today announced a strategic partnership specifically focused on improving the way chassis components such as steering systems for autonomous vehicles are designed, tested, and validated. 

This strategic partnership provides all three companies with mutually beneficial collaboration opportunities to strategically advance autonomous vehicle development, providing significant advantages for the autonomous vehicle market as well as for their respective companies. This partnership allows VI-grade to apply its simulation software, driving simulator and Hardware-in-the-Loop technology to the ADAS/AV market, implementing specific L3, L4 and L5 testing scenarios to be used at VI-grade’s  SimCenters worldwide. These will also be made available on VI-grade’s VI-CarRealTime and VI-WorldSim simulation software platforms. Chassis Autonomy will gain access to VI-grade’s virtual test systems to both develop and demonstrate the capability of their products to their existing and prospective customers in a fully virtual test environment, all the while supported by CAE Value’s technical experts. 

"We are excited to enter into this strategic partnership with Chassis Autonomy and CAE Value," said Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “Their expertise in fail-operational actuation, for highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles are designed to maintain normal steering operation, even in the event of a system fault, which perfectly complements our own virtual test solutions. This partnership will allow all three companies to leverage each other's unique strengths, reinforce our value propositions and expand our customer base, potentially creating even more cross-selling options where the use of driving simulators is indispensable.”

"We are thrilled to partner with VI-grade and CAE Value," commented Thomas Li, Co-founder and CTO at Chassis Autonomy. "This collaboration advances our ability to both develop products and demonstrate the performance of our steering system products in a virtual environment using VI-grade’s driving simulators and software. The opportunity to introduce VI-grade’s extensive automotive customer base to our products and solutions is especially mutually advantageous.”

“We are very excited to partner with VI-grade and Chassis Autonomy and look forward to supporting Chassis Autonomy and incorporating VI-grade’s technology into their development process for Autonomous Vehicles”, said Johnny Engström, co-founder and CEO at CAE Value. 

Chassis Autonomy will present on "Developing Fail-operational L3, L4, and L5 Chassis Actuation Systems using an Integrated DiL and HiL Approach" during VI-grade's 2023 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, which will take place on May 24-25, 2023, in Udine, Italy. 

For further information on Chassis Autonomy, please visit https://www.chassisautonomy.com 

For further information on CAE Value please visit https://www.caevalue.com/

Udine, Italy, March 9th, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the preliminary roster of speakers and sponsors for its 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit, to be held on May 24th – 25th, 2023. The Summit will kick off with a reception for all attendees on May 23rd at 6pm. As in the previous year, the in-person event will be held at VI-grade’s state-of-the-art SimCenter facility in Udine, located in the north-east of Italy.

The 2023 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit is specifically tailored to the global driving simulator community, providing attendees with exclusive insights into how industry-leading OEMs, suppliers, universities and research centers leverage VI-grade’s cutting-edge simulation, driving simulator and hardware-in-the-loop technology to reduce their reliance on physical prototypes in their quest to ultimately attain virtual sign-off. Specifically curated, high-level keynote and technical presentations will feature representatives from Applus+ IDIADA, CEVT, Ford, HORIBA MIRA, Mazda, Pirelli, Politecnico di Milano, and Volvo Cars. Additional presenters will be announced shortly.

ATTENDEES CAN EXPERIENCE VI-grade’s DRIVING SIMULATORS FIRST-HAND

In addition to a high-caliber speaker lineup, attendees can sign up for exclusive driving simulator sessions, where they can experience firsthand how VI-grade’s leading simulation tools add value to the development process. These tools provide significant advantages and benefits as the development process is refined and made more human-centric. 

SUPPLEMENTAL, HANDS-ON TECHNICAL TRAINING SESSIONS

In addition to keynote presentations and product demos, VI-grade is also offering on-site workshops for its flagship software products, VI-CarRealTime and VI-WorldSim. These fee-based training courses will take place on May 26th and are aimed at experienced users who want to expand their existing product knowledge as well as learn about the new functionalities and capabilities of VI-grade’s Software products. 

The 2023 ZPS event will also host two complimentary User Group sessions on May 26th for Driving Simulator and NVH customers, respectively. These User Group sessions will provide  valuable insights into the latest advancements in capabilities and technology development. Additionally, attendees will have a unique opportunity to share feedback and make requests directly to the VI-grade product development teams. This interaction will help to ensure that the needs and concerns of customers are addressed in future developments, thereby further enhancing the value of this annual must-attend event.

“We are excited to unveil the first lineup of speakers and sponsors for our highly anticipated 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit”, commented Guido Bairati, Managing Director at VI-grade. “These presentations will provide our valued customers, partners and followers with exclusive insights into how key players in the global automotive industry are currently using simulation and driving simulators to accelerate the development of new vehicles and bringing them ever closer to virtual sign-off.”

VI-grade would like to acknowledge and thank the following industry partners for their support and sponsorship of the 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit: 

• PLATINUM: Rebel Dynamics, SAGInoMIYA
• GOLD: Applus+ IDIADA, Barco, Concurrent Real-Time, HBK, Imtec Engineering, Meccanica 42, MegaRide, Multimatic
• SILVER: 3D Mapping Solutions, domeprojection, Fraunhofer ITWM
• BRONZE: BE CAE & Test, Screenline
• VI-CERTIFIED: rFpro

Sponsors will be present both at the dedicated exhibition area where they’ll showcase their technologies, as well as at live demo sessions, where their products and solutions are also directly integrated into VI-grade’s driving simulators.

Registration for the 2023 EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit is now open at https://conference.vi-grade.com/. Additional details about the event will be added to the VI-grade website as they become available.

Tokyo, Japan, March 2^nd, 2023 – VI-grade, the global provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development solutions, today announced the introduction of an extended version of its DiM250 DYNAMIC Driving Simulator at PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group, a premier Japanese engineering service provider closely collaborating with key players in the Japanese automotive industry. The Driving Simulator, to be installed at PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group’s new engineering site, is based on the same patented architecture as VI-grade’s DiM250 model, but with extended workspace through longer tripod actuators.

With the acquisition of this advanced driving simulator, PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group will be able to provide high-level virtual testing services to Japanese automobile manufacturers and suppliers. The group aims to solve challenges faced by all manufacturing industries, including enhancing development efficiency, product quality, and shortening development time using digital and virtual technologies.

“We are thrilled to incorporate the renowned VI-grade DiM driving simulator into our upcoming engineering facility,” said Nakayama Gakuto, CEO of PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group. “The Driving Simulator not only allows us to refine conventional automobile driving skills such as running, stopping, and turning, but also to safely perform functional verification of automatic driving systems and advanced safety control systems."

“On the other hand, the Driving Simulator is a valuable testing equipment which requires a high-level technical expertise to master. To remove this barrier, we aim to promote wider usage of the Driving Simulator by more automotive companies. By doing so, we can offer our customers an unparalleled simulation and virtual testing environment to streamline their automotive development. We are convinced that the benefits will be even greater when combined with our existing engineering technologies and the MBSE and MBD technologies that we have been focusing on in recent years. Since interdisciplinary research on driving simulators is not as prevalent in Japan as it is in Europe, we actively seek collaborations with Japanese universities and research institutes to contribute to fields such as ergonomics."

"We are excited to have PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group adopt an extended version of our DiM250 DYNAMIC Simulator in their new engineering site, which will bring their customers one step closer to zero prototypes," commented Toru Yoshii, Japan County Manager at VI-grade. “The driving simulator will enable PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group to offer the highest quality engineering services to their customers, while also significantly advancing own research projects for next-generation vehicles.”

About PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES
PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group is a passionate and highly skilled team of engineers in the mechanical, electrical/electronic, and software/IT fields. With the theme of manufacturing innovation, we are offering technical services in the design development process to major manufacturers in Japan.

PROGRESS TECHNOLOGIES Group has recently built a special team of highly skilled software engineers to scale its software solution offering to the existing manufacturing companies as well as other companies in different industries. The new division will be mainly focusing on: UI/UX design, cloud architecture design and consulting (AWS, Azure, GCP) and cloud-native web & mobile applications development.

The company is working on creating unique products that offer new experiences for customers.

For further information, please visit https://progresstech.jp

Darmstadt, Germany, February 15th, 2023 – VI-grade today announced the adoption of AutoHawk at Dallara, a world-renowned company specializing in the design, development and production of high-performance competition cars. To keep pace with the growing complexity of vehicles models and the high demand from racing teams to shorten development cycles, Dallara has now integrated VI-grade's new HiL platform powered by Concurrent Real-Time in its processes.

The acquisition of AutoHawk 16, a robust 16-core real-time system, will allow Dallara to run its driving simulators (static and dynamic) with complex vehicle dynamic models, tire models, and connect to HiL subsystems including vehicle and powertrain ECUs and the wet braking system. With AutoHawk 16 Dallara will benefit from even more reliable and precise simulations, as the workload can be split over multiple cores, ensuring hard real-time requirements are met. The acquisition will also secure the high performance and flexibility of Dallara's driving simulators for the coming years.

"With the new AutoHawk 16, we are confident to elevate our ability to provide exceptional high-performance competition vehicles and unparalleled support to racing teams from all over the globe”, commented Alessandro Moroni, Head of DiL Activities & Track Performance at Dallara. “We are excited to take this next step in our simulation capabilities and bring even more value to our clients."

“We are proud to partner with Dallara and empower them with the tools they need to continue their success in the highly competitive motorsports industry. The integration of AutoHawk underscores the growing industry’s demand for a cost-effective, complete, and open solution that encompasses hardware, software, and integration services. This highlights the value that VI-grade's advanced simulation solutions bring to the table, enabling companies to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving industry.”, added Alessandro Baldari, EMEA HiL Sales Manager at VI-grade. 

For more information on VI-grade’s AutoHawk, please visit /en/products/autohawk/

Darmstadt, Germany, February 2nd, 2023 – VI-grade, the simulation and driving simulator company that accelerates product innovation by bridging the gap between simulation and physical testing, today announced its updated 2023 event and webinar calendar leading the quest to Zero Prototypes. In an effort to attract as many attendees as possible from the global automotive industry, VI-grade has re-scheduled the EMEA, North American and Japanese Summits as follows: 

1. International / EMEA ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit: SimCenter Udine (Italy) on May 24-25, 2023 (NEW DATE)
2. North American ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit: Multimatic SimCenter in Novi, MI (USA) on September 20, 2023 (NEW DATE)
3. Japan ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit: Tokyo (Japan) on September 21, 2023

Spurred by the success of previous ZPS events, VI-grade will once again provide its community with exclusive insights into how major global players in the automotive industry are actively using simulation, driving simulators and HiL in their quest to achieve Zero Prototypes and virtual sign-off. Attendees at the ZPS events will have the unique opportunity to test drive and experience VI-grade’s simulators live. They’ll also hear first-hand from industry experts applying VI-grade’s solutions to achieve incredible results in their quest to dramatically reduce development time while also expanding innovation. Additional information on the individual events as well as a first round of speakers and sponsors will be announced shortly.  

 In Q1 VI-grade is hosting a series of free webinars and events on multiple platforms und media outlets to illustrate to a broader global audience details and examples of how VI-grade is bringing the automotive industry ever closer towards Zero Prototypes. Presented by Michael Hoffmann, VI-grade’s Zero Prototypes expert, these webinars will outline how companies can transition from a prototype-heavy testing environment to an upfront-driven approach, making product development more human-centric. 

Save the following dates to learn more about key strategies and critical success factors that drastically reduce the need for physical prototypes:

• Webinar “On the Road to Zero Prototypes” hosted by Mobex by Automotive World (English) on February 8th, 2023 at 4pm CET
• Webinar “On the Road to Zero Prototypes” hosted by Jishulink (Chinese) on March 1st, 2023 at 4pm CST
• Webinar “On the Road to Zero Prototypes” hosted by GoToWebinar (Japanese) March 2nd, 2023 at 4pm JST
• Webinar “The Road to Zero Prototypes: How to Dramatically Decrease the Need for Physical Prototypes” hosted by SAE (English) on March 7th, 2023 at 1pm ET
• “Der Weg zur prototypenfreien Entwicklung” hosted by ATZ (German) on March 16th, 2023 at 10am CET

“At VI-grade we are excited to drive our Zero Prototypes strategy forward and lead the way in the quest to achieve virtual sign-off. As the automotive industry moves towards an upfront simulation-driven approach, removing the bottleneck of subjective evaluation through physical prototypes is crucial for achieving virtual sign-off” commented Michael Hoffmann, Senior Expert in Simulation Driven Development at VI-grade. “In our upcoming events and webinars we will highlight how to make product development more human-centric, enabling engineers, managers and customer focus groups to assess the driving experience throughout the development process and ultimately remove the bottleneck for achieving zero prototypes."