Pictures of the Future    Spring 2006

In Brief

^? Computer simulation and knowledge-based optimization are increasingly replacing costly practical testing, cutting development times, and yielding cost savings. Examples can be found throughout the entire range of Siemens products, including wind and gas turbines, microreactors, magnetic resonance tomographs and airbags. Experts predict that by 2015 there will be virtual engineering at all levels from nanostructures to complex 3D imagery in real time   ^{more at Trends and Applications}

^? Simulations conducted in Siemens' virtual reality laboratory are helping to cut development times of products, systems and entire plants by as much as 30 %. And they can prevent errors while projects are still in the planning stages. Current examples of this include locomotive cabs in trains, development of head-up displays, airflows in a passenger car air-mass sensor, and simulation—complete with materials flows—for an engine plant in China   ^more

^? Simulation also cuts months off the time needed to get complex power-transmission facilities up and running—and iron out faults in good time. Even the design and testing of a microchip can be done on a computer   ^more

^? Mathematical algorithms are used to optimize real-time data transfer, telephone network structures, circuit boards and the production of steel ingots
^more

^? In the field of learning software (e.g., neural networks and fuzzy logic), Siemens research teams are among the best in the world. Their solutions have been in service for years in about 60 steel rolling plants worldwide, yielding material and cost savings. They also optimize paper plants, sewage treatment plants, power plants and even dishwashers. Observations from the worlds of ants and wasps are inspiring concepts that significantly improve logistics processes and inventory management   ^more

^? Everyone knows that pilots have been training on simulators for decades, but now physicians are beginning to use simulation technology—to practice and perfect interventional techniques. And with the Sitrain training program, technicians can update their knowledge in the areas of automation, drives and systems technology. At the Siemens Airport Center, customers can train and study using simulations of a full-scale airport   
^{more at Siemens Airport Center and Training}