Sumitomo Riko is using Ansys, part of Synopsys, Inc., AI technology to improve efficiency in designing and manufacturing automotive components. SimAI analyzes existing and new simulation data to create AI models that predict performance outcomes. The company applies SimAI to tasks such as anti-vibration design, battery cooling, magnetic field evaluation, and heat transfer analysis.
Sumitomo Riko is a global manufacturer of high-performance rubber automotive components. To support a reliable ride, engineers need to analyze how system components respond to high loads and stress conditions. This requires running hundreds of multiphysics simulations where pre-processing tasks, like defining geometric parameters for the model, require extensive time and simulation expertise.
To accelerate product development, Sumitomo Riko is using SimAI and previously generated data to train AI models of high-performance rubber products, such as vibration isolators and hoses, without having to parametrize the geometry. This approach delivers AI models capable of making performance predictions under five minutes — over one hour of time savings for each new design — with accuracy comparable to high-fidelity simulation.
For example, initial testing revealed that SimAI could accelerate simulation cycles over 10x when predicting the mechanical performance of certain rubber bushes — components that play a key role in reducing shock and vibration within suspension systems. This significant speedup enables faster design iterations and more efficient workflows.
Sumitomo Riko is also working with Ansys to implement workflow automation capabilities across product design, manufacturing, and retirement processes.
For more information, visit synopsys.com.