{"id":8125,"date":"2019-10-17T09:26:03","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T13:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=8125"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:14:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:14:31","slug":"breaking-siemens-solutions-leading-the-agoria-solar-team-to-the-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/breaking-siemens-solutions-leading-the-agoria-solar-team-to-the-win\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Siemens solutions lead Agoria Solar Team to the win"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>They did it! Last night, or Down Under \u2018today\u2019, The Agoria Solar Team, a team of 19 KU Leuven students, won the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019 (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldsolarchallenge.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019<\/a>. It was a tight race in apocalyptic conditions. Yet neither the extreme heat, nor the strong side wind or even a sandstorm could prevent these heroes from crossing the finish line first. Their self-sufficient vehicle, called the BluePoint, even had 30% battery left; undoubtedly very useful energy to feed their party speakers and help their mobile phones survive the enormous stream of congratulation messages.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Agoria Solar Team | Winning the solar race world championship | #SimcenterAcademic\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kPwrl0dLsng?start=2&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>[Agoria Solar Team] Winning the solar race world championship<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Belgians, it\u2019s their first win in 8 attempts in this bi-annual event. Previous time, they became 3rd. They knew that, to do better, their vehicle required quite some design improvements. And that\u2019s where Siemens Digital Industries Software has been instrumental. Let\u2019s have a look how!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top notch design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Siemens helped the team design their <strong>most lightweight structure ever<\/strong>. To do so, the aspirant engineers had to optimize all parts of the BluePoint, including the outer body, for both aerodynamics and strength, while taking into account manufacturing limitations. And it all had to happen in a race against the clock. Luckily, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plm.automation.siemens.com\/global\/en\/products\/simcenter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Simcenter (opens in a new tab)\">Simcenter<\/a> solutions portfolio by Siemens has all the necessary solutions lined up. This dramatically reduces the time it takes to go from the drawing board to results analysis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Thanks to Simcenter, we could do way more iterations within the limited time frame we had, and come up with a top notch design.<\/p><cite>Philip Gepts, Head of Mechanics<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/48897734771_3bc8af513b_5k-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/48897734771_3bc8af513b_5k-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/48897734771_3bc8af513b_5k-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/48897734771_3bc8af513b_5k-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/48897734771_3bc8af513b_5k-1110x740.jpg 1110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Simcenter helped pushing the engineering boundaries  <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTo pursue <strong>improved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plm.automation.siemens.com\/global\/en\/products\/simulation-test\/vehicle-electrification.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"energy efficiency (opens in a new tab)\">energy efficiency<\/a>,<\/strong> we had to start thinking of more complex shapes for all individual components, small or large,\u201d says Robin Paenen, responsible for the BluePoint\u2019s virtual assembly. \u201cWe had to find those that combine <strong>optimal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plm.automation.siemens.com\/global\/en\/industries\/automotive-transportation\/aerodynamics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"aerodynamics (opens in a new tab)\">aerodynamics<\/a><\/strong> with reliability.\u201d In fact, the students were pushing the boundaries of production technologies like milling. Hence they started investigating other technologies, such as 3D printing, that allow more free form design, and require less material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cSiemens NX software topology optimization and generative design solutions were essential during this research.\u201d<\/p><cite> Robin Paenen, Responsible Virtual Assembly <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Agoria Solar Team balances performances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, a lightweight structure with optimal\naerodynamic shape and sufficient strength is crucial for success. But building\na car is much more than that. Research had to be done in various other domains\nas well, including mechanisms, composites, low-voltage electronics and\nhigh-voltage electrics. In total, 5 teams were involved the the development of\nthe BluePoint, each with a focus on their specialization, but at the same time,\nwith one eye on the bigger picture. Also in this context, Siemens played a\ncrucial role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAerodynamics experts, for example, would like to build a very small car to decrease the volume that has to be pushed through the air. But at the same time, this volume also houses all mechanical components, such as the suspension,\u201d explains Philip Gepts, head of mechanics. In Teamcenter from Siemens, the students can bring such aspects successfully together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cTeamcenter was essential to virtually assemble all components. The software helped us to decrease our general clearance between moving parts, which directly resulted in a smaller car.&#8221;<\/p><cite> Philip Gepts, Head of Mechanics <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Siemens is very proud that our partnership helped the students accomplish this wonderful achievement. By now, they are most probably in the middle of a well-deserved party night in Adelaide. Unfortunately we can\u2019t join. But from our desk, we lift our cup of coffee! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bravo!<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Siemens solutions help the Agoria Solar Team to win the World Solar Challenge in Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69457,"featured_media":8126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[13],"industry":[89],"product":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-8125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-academic","industry-automotive-transportation"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/48912313821_69237de9c7_4k.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69457"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8125"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22592,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8125\/revisions\/22592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8125"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=8125"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=8125"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=8125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}