6. A look ahead. Virtual prototypes as the basis for future innovations

Mechanical systems are always designed in relation to what already exists, and innovation in this field proceeds by observing the use of existing systems, and seeking to make use of the contributions of new technologies such as electronics, computing, composite materials, etc. .... To improve their performance, we can either improve the system's physical principle by rethinking the materials or components that make it up, or substitute this principle with another physical principle that is known, but not applied to this type of system. .

In this context, digital simulation, because it is based on a virtual model, frees us from the limitations of the real prototype, allowing us to explore multiple solutions that can be tested using the virtual prototype.

Nowadays, numerical simulation is mainly used to ensure a level of...