Driving the Electrical Transportation Revolution

The pressing need for better, more eco-friendly mobility and more efficient electrical transportation brings a range of challenges to industry as they develop new, safer, and more affordable electrical aircraft. eVTOL is the future of air mobility, and OPAL-RT’s goal is to provide real-time simulation systems and expertise allowing engineers to address the two major factors currently affecting eVTOL product development: increasing system complexity and time from design to market.

For over 20 years, OPAL-RT has worked with major transportation manufacturers and emerging players in the testing and development of innovative technologies, allowing engineers to design, test, and validate their models, controllers, and components in real time . Now, it is time to leverage the next generation of electrical aircraft.

Talk to an OPAL-RT expert to find the best solution for you project

Addressing the Challenges of eVTOL Testing

OPAL-RT provides not only simulator and software’s platforms fully integrated with MATLAB/Simulink^® and NI platforms, but also an expert assistance for the performance of complex studies requiring advanced knowledge of modeling, simulation, and highly specialized testing.

Whether you need to design, test, or validate a motor drive control, battery management system, real power components, or controllers through an Iron Bird, OPAL-RT provides high fidelity Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) systems to help you achieve your goals, while reducing development time and cost.

Why Choose OPAL-RT?

As a result of our extensive experience in power electronic simulations, OPAL-RT has the right tools to push forward the testing and validations of eVTOLS, and succeed in getting certified by the aviation regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Accurate and Precise

OPAL-RT’s FPGA Electric Machine Library includes a power electronic and motor library to simulate all components forming the eVTOL electrical motor drive system with high fidelity.

Accelerate Development

OPAL-RT provides a complete range of Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) solutions to help quickly develop, iterate and test control strategies at the design stage.

Reduce Risk, Increase Safety

Perform the most dangerous testing scenarios worry-free, further enhancing the safe operation of your system.

How HIL is Accelerating Electric Transportation

Transportation manufacturers and suppliers are always seeking decreased production costs and more rapid time-to-market. In this presentation, Dr. Youcef Abdelli, CTO at ZeroAvia explains how Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation systems provide ZeroAvia with a flexible and comprehensive development, test, and validation environment for their Renewably-Powered Hydrogen-Electric Aviation project.

Watch the ZeroAvia presentation

Watch the Full Panel Discussion

Proud Users of OPAL-RT

Embraer

magniX

Bombardier

NASA

Airbus

zeroavia

GE

CSA

Success Story | Electrifying Flight

OPAL-RT solutions are used to rapidly test not only eVTOLS, but also current eCTOLS (Electric conventional take-off and landing) aircrafts. In this success story, learn how magniX used HIL simulation to rapidly test an electric propulsion controller software in preparation for the test flights of eBeaver and eCaravan aircrafts. Both motor and inverter hardware were simulated, so that the control software running on the prototype controller module could be integrated and validated.

« We decided to use OPAL-RT from among other choices of HIL systems because of their widespread research and industry use, fast and accurate emulation of the complex power electronics hardware and great customer support. »
Akshat Yadav, Power Electronics Engineer at magniX

COMPATIBLE SIMULATION PLATFORMS

OPAL-RT’s eVTOL simulation solution is compatible with OPAL-RT and NI systems.

The OP5707XG offers an unequaled level of FPGA performance and optical connectivity to meet top-level requirements.

The PXI combines PCI electrical-bus features with the modular, Eurocard packaging of CompactPCI and further adds specialized synchronization buses and key software features.

OPAL-RT: The Partner You Can Trust

The world leader in HIL and PHIL

Unparalleled expertise in PC/FPGA-based Real-Time Digital Simulators, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing equipment, and Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) systems.

Over 20 years in the transportation industry

OPAL-RT has develop groundbreaking solutions for major OEM, tier-ones and emerging players in the testing and development of 21st-century automotive technologies.

Thorough, unwavering support

From day one until your test bench is performing flawlessly, our expert technical support team will be there to help you solve your greatest engineering challenges.

Could the current power grid handle the required electrical infrastructure demands?

There are many challenges to be overcome before the world can benefit from this exciting new form of air mobility. Current EV charging stations are not able to support the necessary bandwidth in terms of the power required for an eVTOL.

In the near future, it will be crucial that utilities provide high-demand and fast charging, high capacity energy tools in order to properly charge eVTOLS. OPAL-RT’s power grid simulation solutions, mainly based on EMT and Phasor analysis, could easily and flexibly study these new grid challenges. Learn more >

Driving the Electrical Transportation Revolution