Automotive antenna digital twin

Accelerate automotive antenna development with digital twin technology

In today’s connected world, the role of automotive antennas is more critical than ever. Modern, always-on vehicles rely on a complex array of antennas to provide seamless wireless connectivity. These antennas support a wide range of convenience, safety and infotainment features. To meet these demands, automotive engineers must ensure that every antenna within a vehicle is designed and positioned for optimal performance.

This is where the concept of a digital twin comes in. A highly accurate digital model can be created by characterizing the radiation patterns of physical antennas either in isolation or when integrated into vehicle components such as a center console then applying advanced modeling software.

Antenna digital twin models can simulate various real world scenarios to predict how antennas will behave in their specific automotive environment. This approach not only streamlines the design and testing process but also ensures that vehicles maintain robust, reliable wireless connectivity both inside the cabin and with the outside world. With an antenna digital twin, engineers can accelerate the development of automotive antennas and optimize their integration into vehicles.

Master your vehicle antenna development and integration challenges

Developing and integrating antennas in modern vehicles comes with a unique set of challenges that both Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs must navigate to ensure optimal performance.

Optimizing location and performance: For OEMs, the challenge extends to integrating antennas within the vehicle. Each antenna placement must be optimized within the host vehicle to maximize performance such as throughput.
Ensuring wireless coverage: inside the vehicle when electromagnetically disruptive objects, including passengers, are present.
Testing in confined spaces: While exterior antennas can be measured at the vehicle level using a full vehicle antenna test system, internal antennas present a more complex challenge. The confined space of a vehicle cabin makes it very difficult to achieve repeatable results with conventional test methods.
Managing complexity: Conventional simulation tools are complex, require significant training and are time-consuming.

Features of the antenna digital twin solution with our partner IMST

Comprehensive 360° performance testing: Our portfolio includes high performance anechoic chambers and vector network analyzers that accurately characterize full 360° performance of automotive antennas. Automation software streamlines this process to deliver reliable and consistent results.
Near field to far field transformation (FIAFTA): Integrated FIAFTA technology simplifies the conversion of near field measurements to far field predictions.
Virtual scenario simulation with EMTwin: The EMTwin software from IMST enables the simulation of virtual scenarios to predict antenna performance under various conditions, including different vehicle configurations and passenger presence.

Benefits of our antenna digital twin solutions

Cost and time savings: By combining precise measurements with advanced simulations, our solutions enable early design validation.
Accelerated development: Our fast simulation capabilities provide results within hours instead of days.
Enhanced antenna performance: Our solution accounts for real world factors, such as production tolerances and the reflective properties of vehicles and passengers, enabling you to quickly identify the optimal location.
Risk reduction: By accurately predicting wireless coverage inside the vehicle, the risk of poor connectivity is greatly reduced.
Competitive advantage: OEMs can provide their customers with robust wireless connectivity and enhanced Quality of Experience.

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Our partners

"The combined forces of Rohde & Schwarz together with IMST GmbH and its 3D EM simulation software EM-TWIN result in a powerful solution to create automotive antenna digital twins. This solution combines physical measurements with efficient 3D EM simulation to accelerate and ease automotive antenna development and integration. Multiple virtual scenarios including different vehicle configurations and passenger presence can be investigated to predict and optimize the installed antenna performance."

Winfried Simon, Technical Director EM Modelling at IMST GmbH

Find out more about EM-Twin software at www.em-twin.de.