Explainer video: Using digital twin techniques to optimize automotive antennas

A multitude of antennas are embedded in vehicles to enable wireless connectivity and support the growing range of safety, convenience, and infotainment services.

By characterizing the radiation pattern of a physical antenna or other vehicle component such as a center console with test equipment, a digital model can be created. Digital twin software can then be used to simulate various scenarios to predict the overall antenna behavior in the host environment of a vehicle.

Tier1 suppliers need to develop antennas that operate correctly in the host vehicle and OEMs need to optimize antenna location and performance when integrated and verify coverage even when passengers are in the vehicle.

Whilst measuring exterior antennas at vehicle level can be achieved with a full vehicle antenna test system, this is very difficult for internal antennas due to the physical constraints of a vehicle cabin. Furthermore, simulation data alone does not fully include production tolerances & reflections.

The answer to these challenges is to combine test instruments and efficient simulation software to create a truly representative antenna digital twin. This process comprises three steps:

• Step 1: Characterize physical antenna within its sub-system
• Step 2: Digital antenna twin creation using the vehicles’ CAD data
• Step 3: Simulation of virtual scenarios to identify optimal location and verify coverage

Applying antenna digital twin techniques enables:

• Cost and time reduction by front loading antenna validation
• Reduction of development time because simulation results are available in hours instead of days
• Better antenna performance as production tolerances as well as reflections of the vehicles’ bodies are considered
• Robust wireless connectivity inside vehicle by accurate simulation not trial and error and thereby achieving delivery of new services and features.