Virtual model development in agricultural engineering – efficient development of caterpillar drives

Agriculture is undergoing change, and with it the demands placed on agricultural technology. As one of the world's leading manufacturers, CLAAS is therefore increasingly using tracked caterpillar drives that are gentle on the ground in heavy vehicles. Because of the widely varying areas of application, numerous demands are placed on the vehicle. Among other things, multi-body models used for design purposes and are being continuously developed. Fraunhofer IEM supports CLAAS in the systematic and efficient use of these virtual models.

In addition to the creation of libraries, this also includes the evaluation of simulation results, the analysis of system behavior as well as virtual test drives and a subsequent optimization of the systems. Although caterpillar tracks are very complex mechanical products, digital tools can significantly shorten development times and reduce the number of physical prototypes. As a result, new ideas can be efficiently explored and evaluated without having to carry out time-consuming tests on the real product.

The different operating conditions which caterpillar drives must endure are often difficult or costly to replicate in reality. A model makes it possible to represent different conditions that can be reproduced. This allows the effects of even the most minor changes to be evaluated before they are tested in the field. The models can also be seen as part of the digital twin: a virtual image of a real system.