How Kautex Textron Engineers Use AI To Improve Vehicle Acoustics

How Kautex Textron Engineers Use AI To Improve Vehicle Acoustics

 

Long and expensive testing cycles are a common pain point for engineering organisations, and Kautex Textron, an automotive manufacturer, is no exception.

 

 

Before employing AI, the engineers at Kautex were frustrated by the time invested and costs involved in predicting how fuel-sloshing noise behaviour impacts vehicle acoustics, which affects the comfort of drivers and passengers.

 

Why Are Long Testing Cycles a Common Pain Point?

 

Long and expensive testing cycles can be a common pain point for engineering organizations for several reasons:

 

  1. Delayed Time-to-Market: The longer the testing cycle, the longer it takes for a product (or car) to be released to the market. This can result in missed opportunities and lost revenue, as competitors may launch similar products earlier and expand market share.

  2. Increased Costs: Longer testing cycles can also increase costs as more time and resources are required to perform the tests and understand dynamic behavior. This can result in higher R&D costs, which in turn impacts profit margins.

  3. Decreased Quality: When testing cycles are too long, it can become difficult to identify and fix bugs and other issues in a timely manner. This can result in a decrease in product quality, which can negatively impact customer satisfaction and lead to lost sales.

  4. Bottlenecks: Long testing cycles can also create bottlenecks in the development process, as other teams may need to wait for model testing to be completed before they can proceed with their work. This can lead to delays and inefficiencies in the development process.

  5. Resource Constraints: Longer testing cycles can also place a strain on resources, as testing teams may need to work longer hours or hire additional staff to complete the testing. This can create additional costs and may be unsustainable in the long term.

Overall, long and expensive testing cycles can have significant impacts on an engineering organization's ability to deliver high-quality products in a timely and efficient manner. It is important for organizations, like Kautex Textron, to continually evaluate and optimize their testing systems and processes to minimize these engineering pain points and enhance their overall product development practices.

 

Use Self-Learning and Data-Driven Methods To Reduce Testing

 

In this article, we will explore how Kautex engineers used data-driven methods to predict fuel-sloshing noise behaviour, resulting in a significant reduction in testing iterations and costs. By training self-learning models, the team was able to better understand the relationship between fuel tank designs, testing parameters, and sloshing noise, as well as reliably predict the expected noise level of new designs from the available data.

 

kautex fuel sloshing phenomenon using machine learning algorithms and self learning system

 

This approach has provided Kautex with a competitive edge, allowing them to bring new and improved products to market faster and more cost-effectively, as they better understand the data at their disposal and gain insights from the knowledge accumulated.

 

REQUEST A DEMO

 

The Challenges Faced By Test Engineers at Kautex Textron 

 

Test engineers at Kautex Textron and similar organisations face significant challenges, especially within the classical product development cycle which is traditionally conducted in sequential steps and pre-defined stages.

 

During the early development stages, engineers can enjoy high degrees of freedom to make somewhat educated choices, and the cost of these design decisions is relatively low. However, as the process progresses towards later stages, the situation is reversed due to the high number of operating conditions that must be considered, as well as the various constraints, and the fact that design is more and more defined. Ultimately, this leads to less freedom of choice and less freedom to change the design cheaply.

 

Challenges of the Classical Product Development Cycle

 

The classical product development cycle often struggles to yield meaningful insights (knowledge and or patterns) for engineers from the available data due to the variety of parameters present, often leaving them struggling to determine the exact reasons for model failures encountered when testing. This highlights the importance of having access to the right solution and tools at the appropriate stage of the product development cycle, in order to improve efficiency and reduce money spent.

 

what is a self learning model diagram of The traditional, old workflow for a complex problem

 

How Kautex Traditionally Predicts Vehicle Acoustics in Fuel Tanks

 

At Kautex, one specific area where improvement was required was in being able to accurately and reliably predict vehicle acoustics and fuel sloshing noise during vehicle deceleration.

 

What Is Vehicle Acoustics?

 

Vehicle acoustics is the study of sound and vibration in vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses, and other types of vehicles. It is a multidisciplinary field that involves acoustics, mechanics, and electrical engineering, among other disciplines.

 

Vehicle acoustics covers a wide range of topics, including noise reduction, sound quality, vibration analysis, and acoustic comfort. It is concerned with how sounds are generated, transmitted, and perceived in a vehicle, as well as how vibrations affect the performance, safety, and comfort of the vehicle.

 

In practical terms, vehicle acoustics involves designing and optimizing the acoustic properties of vehicles, including the design of engine and exhaust systems, cabin acoustics, and the use of noise and vibration-damping materials. It also involves measuring and analyzing the acoustic and vibration properties of vehicles, including sound pressure levels, frequency spectra, and vibration characteristics.

 

Vehicle acoustics is an important field for automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as it can have a significant impact on the perceived quality and performance of vehicles. By optimizing vehicle acoustics and structural vibrations, manufacturers can improve customer satisfaction, reduce noise and vibration-related complaints, and differentiate their products in the marketplace.

 

What Are Fuel Sloshing Noises?

 

Fuel sloshing noises are sounds that occur in vehicles when fuel in the fuel tank moves around due to the motion of the vehicle. These noises are often described as sloshing or splashing sounds and can be heard from the inside of the cabin or outside the vehicle.

 

Fuel sloshing noises are more commonly heard in vehicles with a larger fuel tank, such as trucks and SUVs, as the fuel has more space to move around. The noise can be particularly noticeable when driving on uneven roads, accelerating or braking, or cornering.

 

In addition to being a nuisance, fuel sloshing noises can also be a safety concern. The noise can be distracting to the driver and make it difficult to hear other sounds such as emergency vehicles or warnings from the vehicle itself.

 

To reduce fuel sloshing noises, vehicle manufacturers may use various techniques such as baffles or foam inside the tank, optimizing the shape and size of the fuel tank, and minimizing the space between the fuel tank and the body of the vehicle. Computer simulations (such as Computational Fluid Dynamics) and physical testing can also be used to optimize the design and placement of these features.

 

Overall, while fuel sloshing noises are a common occurrence in vehicles, they can be reduced through careful design and testing to improve the driving experience and safety of the vehicle.

 

Read Kautex Case Study

 

Traditional Testing Methodology

 

In traditional product development processes, fuel sloshing is tested by setting up a sled test where the fuel tank is allowed to run before being abruptly stopped at different fill levels, resulting in the sloshing of the fluid, replicating a decelerating tank.

 

thumbnail_IMG_1633 1-001

Experimental test rig of Kautex. This rig is able to accelerate and brake a fuel tank on a track, simulating the im­pact that the movements have on a vehi­cle.

 

This test is conducted under varying conditions including different speeds, fill level, and configurations. Engineers use around three to four microphones mounted on the sled and accelerometers to measure the vehicle acoustics and monitor how the sloshing noise is transported through the air and structures.

 

Drawbacks of This Traditional Method

 

However, this testing process is often time-consuming and costly, and the insights gained by engineers are often not fully exploited. This results in engineering organisations being unable to make the most of the data and the value they get from their tests as much as they would like and need. They are unable to reliably predict how vehicle acoustics will be impacted without a significant outlay of time and resources.

 

Self-learning models are AI models that can be optimised by training them on existing historical data as well as data that becomes more available over time. Engineers do not have to build new AI models from scratch every single time, as the self-learning system does this itself.

 

There are many benefits to utilising self-learning models in the product development process. Self-learning models are considered strong enablers for AI adoption, allowing engineers to capture and structure historical data.

 

Furthermore, new data can improve the self-learning models on an ongoing and systematic basis by recording the design characteristics, test conditions, and test results. Over time, the predictions made by self-learning models become much more accurate with the wealth of knowledge acquired.

 

Learn more in our blog post: Self-Learning Models: The Key To Unlocking Engineering Potential?

 

Kautex Textron's Innovative Use of Self-Learning Models

 

Kautex Textron's innovative use of Monolith's self-learning models has revolutionised the fuel-sloshing noise prediction development process. By incorporating artificial intelligence models, Kautex's engineering team can now predict sloshing noise for new designs or configurations, such as different filling levels, saving time and money and allowing them to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Self-learning models have given the test engineers at Kautex a way to reliably predict vehicle acoustics in different operating conditions, making better use of the data available to them.

 

investigating fuel sloshing behaviour with kautex textron in monolith software-1Reducing R&D iterations by empowering engineers & designers to assess the performance of designs themselves. Shown is a physical test setup to investigate the fuel sloshing behaviour of several tank CAD designs - done in collaboration with our customer Kautex Textron (News Release).

 

The modelling approach in the case study of Kautex combines acoustic test data, 3D CAD fuel tank shapes, and different inner component setups. This CAD-based approach using Autoencoders helped the Kautex engineers gain new and deeper insights into their complex products as well as the creation of a toolchain that provides valuable predictions significantly faster than what state-of-the-art simulations can provide. Both 3D and tabular approaches were used to train models and make predictions of sloshing noise behaviour based on new, unseen 3D designs of fuel tanks.

 

data exploration for kautex vehicle acoustics analysis in monolithData exploration features inside of Monolith allowed the Kautex engineers to investigate their large engineering datasets before manipulating them for further processing.

 

With AI, engineers can reduce the time spent on testing while gaining more insights from these tests. The business impact of this time reduction is significant. Kautex engineers no longer have to wait for weeks or months for test results, as Monolith provides them in just a matter of days.

 

Using Monolith self-learning models, Kautex can move along the product development process faster, spending less time waiting for prototypes to be made. This means engineers can complete testing iterations quickly and benefit from in-depth learning about the vehicle acoustic behaviour of new tank designs and shapes, making data more valuable than ever.

 

Kautex's existing information and data can now be leveraged to access previously inaccessible information, making previously unusable data usable. In short, AI has transformed Kautex's product development process, enabling them to make better and faster decisions that drive its success in the market thanks to the lessons learned from testing.

 

vehicle acoustics kautex textron case study with monolith

Read Kautex's success story>

 

Vehicle acoustics is just one of the various areas where self-learning models can be used to improve the product development process. Learn more about self-learning models here in our blog post and explore how they can utilise engineering companies' data to solve intractable problems such as vehicle acoustics and beyond.

 

In conclusion, the case of Kautex Textron demonstrates how the integration of AI and data-driven methods can revolutionise product development processes. By using self-learning models to predict fuel sloshing noise behaviour, Kautex engineers could significantly reduce testing iterations and costs, resulting in a competitive edge in the market.

 

The success of Kautex's approach reflects the growing importance of AI in research and development, as technical decision-makers recognise its potential to drive innovation and improve and develop customer experiences. 

 

REQUEST A DEMO

 

The Future of Testing in Research & Development

 

Microsoft Commissioned Study Findings

 

The results of a recent study commissioned by Microsoft shed light on the future of testing and research and development. The study surveyed 536 technical decision-makers responsible for AI, who agreed that implementing artificial intelligence is crucial to maintaining a competitive advantage in their industries. In fact:

  • 84% of respondents believe that their business must adopt AI to stay ahead in the future
  • 75% of those surveyed believe that AI has the potential to improve every application, spurring innovation and driving better experiences for both customers and employees.
  • 81% of respondents say that they would use artificial intelligence more if it were easier to develop within their experiences.

  

What The Analysis Findings Tell Us

 

These findings suggest that technical decision-makers understand the importance of AI and its transformative potential. Monolith is leading the charge by empowering visionary engineers with the tools they need to cut product development in half using AI.

 

Our vision statement is that by 2026, Monolith will empower 100,000 visionary engineers to use AI to cut their product development cycle in half. Interested in becoming one of the 100,000?

 

benefits gained from self learning, nueral networks, machine learning and AI model training with existing data

 

 

As AI becomes more accessible and easier to deploy, Monolith's vision to empower 100,000 engineers to use AI to cut product development in half represents a promising future for the field. By leveraging the power of AI, engineers can make better and faster decisions, ultimately driving the success of their businesses.

 

How Can AI and Training Neural Networks Be Leveraged by Engineers?

 

AI can help engineers with decision-making in several ways:

  1. Predictive Maintenance: AI can be used to predict when a machine or system is likely to fail, allowing engineers to schedule maintenance proactively and avoid unexpected downtime.

  2. Simulation and Modeling: AI can be used to create highly accurate simulations and models of complex systems, allowing engineers to test and optimize designs before physical prototypes are built.

  3. Quality Control: AI can be used to monitor and analyze production processes in real-time, identifying potential issues and allowing engineers to make adjustments before defects occur.

  4. Optimization: AI can be used to optimize designs and processes, using algorithms to search for the best possible solutions based on a wide range of parameters and constraints.

  5. Decision Support: AI can be used to provide engineers with real-time data and insights, allowing them to make more informed decisions and respond quickly to changing conditions.

  6. Natural Language Processing: Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a branch of AI that deals with the interaction between computers and human language. It involves the development of algorithms and computational models that enable computers to understand, interpret, and generate natural language. AI can be used to analyze unstructured data such as customer feedback and support tickets, providing engineers with insights on how to improve products and services.

In summary, AI can help engineers make better decisions by providing them with insights and recommendations based on data analysis, simulations, and predictive modeling. This can help engineers optimize designs and processes, improve product quality, and reduce costs and downtime.

Learn more about how AI helped engineers at Kautex Textron improve vehicle acoustics in this webinar.

 

promo image for Kautex webinar about ai model machine learning and self learning models for analyzing data and making faster predictions

 

This webinar showcases how the team at Kautex Textron was able to utilise Monolith’s machine learning capabilities to produce accurate AI models for predicting car fuel sloshing behaviour. The methods developed helped engineers gain new and deeper insights into their complex products as well as create a toolchain solution that provides valuable predictions significantly faster than what state-of-the-art simulation tools such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can provide.

In the session, our team and Kautex focus primarily on cost and time-critical test applications, as well as data-driven self-learning models that are increasing ROI, without disrupting existing engineering workflows or systems.

What this webinar covers:

 

  1. How the engineers at Kautex Textron used the Monolith Software as a solution to predict sloshing sound and design performance before actually performing physical testing, whilst dramatically accelerating product development.
  2. How Monolith’s self-learning models are instantly predicting the performance of highly nonlinear, intractable physical systems.
  3. How the Monolith platform leverages valuable engineering training data and more with machine learning to rapidly find critical new patterns and insights hidden in historic and current test data.
  4.  
Watch this webinar now>
Share this post

Request a Demo

Ready to get started?

BAE Systems
Jota
Aptar
Mercedes Benz
Honda
Siemes