Synopsys Introduces Platform for Electronics Digital Twins in Vehicle Development

• Synopsys introduced an open platform designed to create and manage electronics digital twins that connect chip models, software, and system simulations.
• The platform allows automotive manufacturers to validate up to 90% of software before hardware is available, shifting development earlier and shortening vehicle development cycles.

Synopsys introduced a platform built to create and run electronics digital twins, giving engineering teams a way to develop and validate complex systems before physical hardware exists. The platform connects silicon models with software behavior and system-level simulation so engineering teams can work across electronics, software, and full system validation in a shared environment.

The platform runs through cloud environments known as eDT Labs. These environments bring together tools, models, software, and computing capacity so teams can work with virtual versions of chips and electronic control units. Engineers can review processor designs earlier, start building software before hardware is ready, collaborate with suppliers, and run system validation through continuous integration and testing workflows.

Synopsys is initially targeting automotive development, where vehicles now rely on increasingly complex software systems. Volvo Cars is among the companies using electronics digital twins and virtualized ECUs to run testing and validation before hardware is available. Synopsys says the approach can allow manufacturers to complete up to 90% of software validation earlier in the development cycle by moving software development and system integration ahead of physical hardware.

"Volvo Cars is rapidly adopting holistic, whole‑vehicle validation, and we're bringing that rigor into the earliest stages of design and development," Johannes Foufas, Technical Manager, Software Factory, Volvo Cars, in a press release. "Core to this transformation is our pioneering use of electronics digital twins working with Synopsys. With virtualized ECUs, our teams can 'shift left' test and validation before hardware exists, enabling us to reduce development cost, increase software quality, and accelerate innovation throughout the lifecycle of our vehicles."

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Digital twins let engineers build and test complex electronic systems in software before physical hardware exists. That means teams can start development earlier, validate software sooner, and reduce the time and cost required to bring increasingly software-driven vehicles to market.

Source: PR Newswire / Synopsys