Simulation Software

Simulation Software creates a model or representation of real events that enables engineers to evaluate and optimize the events virtually. It is part of Computer aided engineering software. It has the ability to create any model based on mathematical formulas. It is done by executing the model with a computer program that provides needed information. As this approach provides mathematical formulas and visual explanations this approach is comparatively reliable and scalable.

Top 10 Simulation Software

1. Arena
2. Matlab
3. Ansys
4. Comsol
5. Wolfram Mathematica
6. Mimic
7. Forge
8. Charge
9. GASP
10. Genesys

Market Overview

Simulation software has the ability to create a model that is formed by equations or mathematical data and place it in a pre-defined system. With these models, it becomes easy for engineers to perform analysis and conclude their observations of system and model interaction. This gives the results about the system performance, life span of that system and will also predict if there any defects in the system. This software has a core task that concentrates on testing and simulation of the products.

Simulation software is mainly designed for CAE that provides a predefined bunch of features, shapes, and objects that are used for modeling. It also performs virtual testing like fault tolerance. It comes with a couple of tools that are used post processing like simulation results, charts, and data analyzation tools.

The Simulation software market is predicted to grow from $5.51 Billion in 2016 to $13.45 Billion by 2022, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.5% during the forecast period. The increased need for eco-friendly environments across the world and the growing number of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are expected to drive the growth of the market. Simulation software is adopted in multiple industries like aerospace, defense, and automobile.

The software basically enables companies to create a virtual process and perform observation of particular operation that enables them to check a new system or operation with multiple inputs for performing analysis. It saves organization costs for developing a new system or product while modifying it as per the desired results. It has the ability to analyze the process and real time interaction with the simulation model.

The competitive leadership mapping showcased provides information for top Simulation software. Vendor evaluations are based on two broad categories: product offering and business strategy. Each category carries various criteria, based on which vendors have been evaluated. The evaluation criteria considered under product offerings include the breadth of offering, delivery (based on industries that the vendors cater to, deployment models, and subscriptions), features/functionality, delivery, product quality and reliability, and product differentiation. The evaluation criteria considered under business strategy include geographic footprint (on the basis of geographic presence), channel strategy and fit, vision alignment, and effectiveness of growth (on the basis of innovations, partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions).

They have a strong portfolio of Simulation software and associated services. These vendors have been marking their presence in the Simulation software market by offering highly customized and easily deployable software for their commercial clients, coupled with their robust business strategy to achieve continued growth in the market.

They have an innovative portfolio of Simulation software and have an extensive network of channel partners and resellers to increase the deployment of their services across various vertical markets. Over the years, the Dynamic vendors have been consistently generating positive revenue growth in the Simulation software and their market position is enhanced by organic and inorganic strategies undertaken by them over the period.

They have an innovative portfolio of Simulation software and strong potential to build strong business strategies for their business growth to be at par with the Vanguards. These vendors have been providing server rack offerings as per their customer demands. Innovators have been forefront in deploying their solutions for niche and custom requests by their clients requiring the processing of high-performance workloads.

The emerging players are specialized in offering highly niche and tailor-made solutions and services to their clients. A majority of the emerging vendors have been undertaking multiple acquisitions and boosting their sales capabilities in various regions to offer their integrated services to a wide range of clients.

Types of Simulation Software

The simulation is a technique for implementing a model in a period of time. There are commonly three types of simulations:

Live Simulation- This type of simulation involves real people operating real system. It can comprise individuals or groups and they may use actual equipment. This type of simulation has a high chance of replicating the actual activity.

Virtual Simulation- These are the most common types of simulations. It involves real people operating virtual systems. It needs motor control skills, decision skills, and communication skills.

Constructive Simulation- This type of simulation involves simulated people operating simulated systems. Real people can update or modify inputs but they are not determining the outcome. It has the ability to analyze concepts, predicting possible outcomes, analysis, and statistical data measurement or calculation.

Why use Simulation Software?

Simulation software resolves actual problems by testing it virtually. It comes with a mathematical analysis that enables users to modify quickly and easily. It has the ability to represent complex systems in the simpler forms which can be visually modified as per desired outcomes.

Simulation modeling is computer based and uses mathematical formulas and charts which enable to experiment with different inputs. All sizes of businesses use Simulation software for conducting trial and errors on real complex systems as it saves organization cost as well as gives results quickly.

It stands out from other types of programming like Excel as it enables users to perform analysis real time on the system. It lets users do inspection of the model as well as the simulation is interactive software so it can be built in no time with desired results.

Simulation software lets organizations experiment unique ideas virtually with zero risks which made it more efficient and one of the key software for organizations. It can make changes in the system by making it more optimal in the cost effective way.

Who uses Simulation Software?

Simulation software provides real time results based on the inputs. These kinds of features are needed in the gaming industry. This software is also highly used in other important industrial applications. This software plays a key role in the aviation industry. In this industry, the actual control system of the airplane is connected to simulation software that gives real time experience of a number of situations to new pilots as a part of the training. This helps pilot to get well trained without any disaster taking place.

This software also plays an important role in supply chain industry as the simulation is involved in creating final goods from the raw parts. For getting final part number of inputs are given to the simulation software to observe the outcomes and based on that final product is obtained. This increases supply chain efficiency and keeps customer satisfaction optimized in a cost-effective way.

Simulation software is also used in warehouse management. It helps warehouse to understand the number of orders that can be shipped. This can provide a proper set of requirement which gives clear picture to customers of real time availability of products. This also manages warehouse products storage in an optimal way.

Computer Simulation represents a clear picture in detailed of warehouse operations like strategies of operations, docking, conveyor belts, pickup and storing of goods and many more. When the simulation model is implemented it represents virtually the entire warehouse management process. It collects all kinds of statistics and inventory needed and provides report based on its analysis.

 In electrical and electronics applications, simulation software is used for simulating electromagnetic performance across component, circuit and system design, and can evaluate temperature, vibration, and other critical mechanical effects. Automotive simulation software is now crucial as car and truck makers are majorly investing in the development of advanced vehicle technologies such as autonomous driving systems, safety-critical control software and smart electronics. 

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Growing demand for simulation software in multiple industries.

Adoption of an eco-friendly environment.

Using simulation in aerospace and defense.

Restraints

Low investment into data security for avoiding simulation attacks can restrain the growth of the market.

Challenges

Risks involved in data security.

Lack of standards and benchmarks in the simulation and analysis technology.

The integration complexities in the simulation and analysis tools

Opportunities

Usage of Multiphysics in the simulation system.

Creation of digital twins to run simulations in real-time.

Use of AI and machine learning.

Benefits of Simulation Software

Two of the most significant things to remember while selecting a Simulation Software are how simple it is to use and how easily it will automate everyday tasks. These are some of the key benefits of Simulation Software:

Flexibility- Users can simulate multiple things as per their requirements. It involves everything right from aviation industry to all other industrial applications. The software is flexible and has potential to perform all the tasks.

Risk free environment- With Simulation modeling it becomes easy to test multiple situations without making actual changes in the environment.

Cost effective and Saves time- As changes are made virtually before making actual changes, the system saves money and also multiple inputs are tried are tested before getting final outcome so it saves time as well.

Insights into system behavior- With high level of animation in 2Dor 3D, simulation provides deep insights into the system behavior over time. This gives clear picture about the system with clear demonstration.

Test complex and large systems- The simulation software has the ability to test complex scenarios with multiple inputs easily.

Study of Complex Operations- The simulation software helps in understanding how your operations will be affected as a result of a variable. This can involve many complex operations and is a key part of any organization.

Increased accuracy- The simulation software can get a huge crunch of information than other analytical models. This feature of the simulation model increases accuracy and can predict any errors in the system.

Simulation Software Features

Standard features are included in almost all Simulation Software:

3D Modeling- 3D modeling is the method of developing a mathematical demonstration of any object in three dimensions by means of particular software. In simulation software this feature is very useful as it represents how final outcome will look like.

Input-data analysis capability- This is the ability of simulation software to estimate experimental or statistical distributions from input that is provided to it.

Graphical model-building- In graphical model the outcome of the software is represented in the format of process flow, block diagram, or network approach.

Simulation programming- Simulation modeling has the ability to insert technical logic through a advanced powerful simulation language.

Input flexibility- The simulation software is able to accept data from external files, databases, spreadsheets, or in an interactive manner.

User-built custom objects- Simulation software offers users with reusable objects, template and sub models.

Direct manipulation- The simulation software enables interactions between human and machine that represent objects of interest with customizable actions. 

Dynamic modeling- This is the ability of simulation software to use simulation modeling to design model that demonstrate time varying performance of object.

Potential Issues with Simulation Software

Complicated policies and procedures- Simulation models create data and recordings that have to be stored correctly to avoid the problem.

Hiring and training qualified Simulation technicians-  Lack of consistent training for simulation technicians can create a challenge while hiring the capable person to round out the entire simulation team.

Developing relevant scenarios- Educators require recognizing their learning goal of the simulation tool and then pass on simulation technology to attain them.

Security- Risks are involved in data security. So organizations need to invest in the data security so that this issue is overcome.

Cost- It's always advisable to start out the free trials first before you spend money in an entire solution. This can give a better idea as to what a company has to offer and can be the best way to determine if you can afford the software, or if it will not be an excellent long-term investment.

Simulation Software Trends

As new organizations and industries are implementing automation and efficiency method, committed machining simulation software is a likely fit into current companies.

AI and machine learning- AI and machine learning plays vital role in simulation software market. It can complete essential process and management tasks that will save engineers time or shorten procedures. A machine learning feature will have ability to observe senior technicians use of simulation tools, along with how they use it and what parameter they set, to then precisely restructure this to a amount for less skilled technician and enable them to use the tool.

Multiphysics interactions- The multiphysics interactions comprise multidisciplinary optimization that will decrease the time needed to analyze the product, whether its a chip or else, and find the accurate resolution to either problem technicians face. This lead to enhanced products at lesser cost.

Microservices for simulation- Microservices for simulation can be used by multiple products, integrating with each other through application programming interfaces and running scalably on cloud computing like Microsoft Azure or AWS. This will give outcome which will be more accessible, flexible and re-usable.

Scale up simulation- Run time is one f the challenge that many organizations face. But with scale up simulation or hyper scale up simulation, this problem is solved. It uses all form of algorithms, GPU, SMP, MPI, and supercomputers. This enables the customers to tap into hyper scale simulation and run simulation that formerly might have taken thousands of hours to complete and, since it's running on additional cores, slash that time considerably and run it in only a minutes or few hours.

IoT and IIoT to Drive Digital Twin Adoption Rate- The capability of the digital twin to produce digital representation of IIoT devices and also combine the information they produce creates numerous use cases enterprises will discover in the coming years. 

Digital Twin for Cybersecurity Challenges- Digital twin will be used as a penetration testing device to imitate the effects of successful information that breach or ransom ware to an organization business process. Within the digital twin environment, attack to core equipment can be simulated and the outcome will be a response model that ensure the crippled equipment does not lead to extensive downtime.

Recent Developments

In May 2020, 3DOptix  launched a free, cloud-based optical design and simulation platform that needs no installation. Both professionals and students can run an optical simulation with off-the-shelf optical components from leading vendors or any customized optical elements.

In September 2019, MathWorks introduced Release 2019b of MATLAB and Simulink with a range of new capabilities in MATLAB and Simulink, including those in support of artificial intelligence, deep learning and the automotive industry. 

In June 2019, ANSYS 2019 R2 Strengthens Digital Thread Between Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing.  With an innovative ANSYS® Mechanical™ user experience, simplified simulation of complex electronics and a new ANSYS® Fluent™ workflow that significantly speeds meshing of dirty geometries, ANSYS' pervasive simulation engineering solutions enable digital transformation speeding customers' innovations and reducing their time to market.

In April 2019, Wolfram Research Releases Version 12 of the Wolfram Language and Mathematica for Advanced Data Science and Computational Discovery. The latest version includes over a thousand new functions and features for multiparadigm data science, automated machine learning and blockchain manipulation for modern software development and technical computing.