The French challenger for the America’s Cup is using Siemens industrial digital twin technology to support its preparation for the upcoming 37th competition. The Orient Express Racing Team is using Siemens Xcelerator industrial software and working with the company’s Simcenter services business unit to create a digital twin to simulate hydraulics and aeronautic systems of the yacht.

The team, founded by sports company K-Challenge, has gained an improved understanding of real-world performance of the hydraulic flight and aeronautic systems that control sails and rudder/foil flaps actuation. Digital twins of these systems have been built, parameterised and functionally validated, along with dedicated libraries, that help ensure the layout and interface are comprehensive and easy to operate in a multi-disciplinary team effort spanning the Performance, Mechatronic and Hydraulic groups.

When the team finds that performance is deviating from expectations, data from the water is taken as reference and the engineers introduce modifications in the systems model (for example, to find suspected leaks in the hydraulic systems) to try and match simulation results and data – which allows them to target inspection and maintenance more accurately.

As the team prepares for the race, there is also potential to use the same digital twin-based systems model, already prepared for real-time performance, to be exploited for streaming live data from the race to the models and to compare the response in real time. When the boat is not at sea, the systems models are connected to K-Challenge’s virtual-reality simulator. There is also potential to work control systems control strategy and test multiple scenarios virtually before testing in the water.

“Sailing boats have dramatically changed since the arrival of foil technology enabling them to fly above the water. Managing two fluids and all the new aerospace flying technologies has become a real challenge as the game is completely changed,” said Stephan Kandler, CEO K-Challenge and Orient Express Racing Team. “Digital twins and virtual testing became a major breakthrough to enhance the R&D of the boats besides real sailing. Having Siemens on our side was a key element of K-Challenge Racing & LAB’s strategy in the America’s Cup but also for other developments in the maritime transport decarbonation.”

“Siemens is incredibly proud to work with K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team to help them in their bid to succeed in the 37th America’s Cup race,” said Jean-Marie Saint-Paul, CEO, Siemens Digital Industries France and CEO, Siemens Digital Industries Software France. “The work achieved through our technical collaboration now and during the forthcoming race shows how the benefits of digital twins of complex systems can leverage the use of real time data in one of the most competitive sporting environments.”