Virtual Commissioning as a service: Standardizing modern co-simulation

Abstract

Abstract This thesis explores the deployment of Virtual Commissioning (VC) as a service within the aerospace industry. It aims to standardise co-simulation to enhance manufacturing efficiency and reduce commissioning times. The study introduces a deployment framework leveraging the PLM platform 3DEXPERIENCE and the control software ControlBuild, focusing on the complexities of VC technologies and the relationship between simulation fidelity and business value. Key findings demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness in standardising VC implementation and deployment, enabling interoperability between isolated simulation systems and elevating simulation fidelity through the use of external applications. The framework’s deployment was validated through controlled environment tests, indicating potential applicability to other industries and manufacturing settings. The research highlighted Scalability, Interoperability and Versatility as selling points of the proposed framework using a shared simulation memory. The research makes theoretical contributions by increasing the understanding of VC in labour-intensive settings and offering a flexible framework adaptable to various simulation applications while aligning with industry 4.0 practices. Practically, it provides a blueprint for OEMs and suppliers to adopt VC with fewer prerequisites, potentially leading to cost savings and new business opportunities for VC service providers. Future research could explore the integration of AI into the proposed framework, investigating AI’s potential to evaluate control logic and improve simulation model realism, thereby enhancing the long-term comprehensiveness of VC solutions.