optimumK suspension analysis software

[Craig Simon]

has anyone had an opportunity to test the optimumK suspension analysis software that is soon to be released. I saw a review of it in the most recent racecar engineer magasine it looks interesting to me? comments

Craig

[Craig Simon]

has anyone had an opportunity to test the optimumK suspension analysis software that is soon to be released. I saw a review of it in the most recent racecar engineer magasine it looks interesting to me? comments

Craig

[JHarshbarger]

I've messed around with the demo.

I was able to input last year's car from Susprog to OptimumK very easily. It's much more user friendly as far as jumping right into the program. Everything is very self-explanitory.

The testing portion of the program is very impressive, but I have yet to see any apparent value to it without physical testing data from the chassis in the program. Basically, you can input data from a data logger (such as roll and steering angle) in order to see certain parameters (such as camber and scrub). While this would be good after running data acquistion on your car (if your DAQ program doesn't allow you to input suspesnion parameters), you wouldn't have this information while designing a new car. As far as I could tell, you can't input forces and see the reaction of the system. Inputing imaginary roll graphs and steering input shows how other suspension geometries act in roll with steering, but other than that, I would prefer to use Susprog for suspension design.

If anyone else could provide thoughts on this software, I too would appreciate the input. We don't have DAQ, so maybe this software applies differently for those teams with suspension data.

[js10coastr]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JHarshbarger:

The testing portion of the program is very impressive, but I have yet to see any apparent value to it without physical testing data from the chassis in the program. Basically, you can input data from a data logger (such as roll and steering angle) in order to see certain parameters (such as camber and scrub). While this would be good after running data acquistion on your car (if your DAQ program doesn't allow you to input suspesnion parameters), you wouldn't have this information while designing a new car. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you had data off of an old car and were designing a new car you could normalize the data and use it for designing the new car.

As someone who worked on the damn thing, it's the easiest thing out there to use. There was a huge focus to shorten the length of time and effort to go from input points to results. That being said, there were a few features that I wanted that didn't make it into this release. If you have any specific questions, myself and a few others on the forum (Mat, Kev, and Patty Cakes) are qualified to answer them.

[mtg]

It's been over a year since I graduated from OptimumG, so the bias is wearing off and I'd still use OptimumK if I were designing a suspension.

It was designed from the beginning to be easy/fast to use and accurate. We beat our heads against the wall for a long time to make sure those math models are spot on- fun times. And I picked the the easy suspension, the MacPherson. js10coastr and Josh got the short straw and had to figure out the kinematics of suspensions that kinematically do not work. Ha ha ha.

[benjo]

I've downloaded the demo too, I was very impressed. So quick and easy to use, do you guys know when it will be coming out in full version. It's a bit frustrating atm as you can't save each setup.

I did send off a few emails through the optimumG website asking when it was coming out, but I didn't get any replies.

[js10coastr]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by benjo:
I've downloaded the demo too, I was very impressed. So quick and easy to use, do you guys know when it will be coming out in full version. It's a bit frustrating atm as you can't save each setup.

I did send off a few emails through the optimumG website asking when it was coming out, but I didn't get any replies. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think you might have to ask in French.

But seriously, it should be out soon.

[TG]

I'm curious as to what maths went into it. Is it a purely 3d geometrical model? Or did you use finite differentiation? Or possibly something else?

[mtg]

It's been awhile since I've seen that code, but the math models were done in Matlab, and we used a matrix for the equation coefficients and Newton-Raphson iteration to solve for the outboard points after applying translation to the inboard points. For roll, the inboard points were rotated about the specified roll axis (you can choose what it is in OpK). Pitch is pretty much the same as roll.

We then checked our numbers to SolidWorks down to three decimal places.

[benjo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by js10coastr:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by benjo:
I've downloaded the demo too, I was very impressed. So quick and easy to use, do you guys know when it will be coming out in full version. It's a bit frustrating atm as you can't save each setup.

I did send off a few emails through the optimumG website asking when it was coming out, but I didn't get any replies. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think you might have to ask in French.

But seriously, it should be out soon. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Hehe, cool thanks for that!http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Paul Garcia]

I will just third or fourth that this does seem to be one of the best things to happen to suspension kinematics. The tool is just bad ass. If they ever release it of course, I've personally been expecting it for about 5 months now!

Paul Garcia
Jayhawk Motorsports

[Kevin Hayward]

Models were originally in matlab, but the final solver was coded in Microsofts Visual Studio. As Matt mentioned it uses a Newton Raphson solver and is quite adaptable.

The big problem between having a working tool and distribution is making sure the bugs are out and it is a fully professional product. A half-baked release can lead to pretty big support costs and a big damage to the acceptance of the program. The tool itself has been working for some time, especially for double a-arm configurations.

Great team to work with on the project. Especially Sam the Man from Canada. Giggidy Giggidy.

Kev

[benjo]

Just got an email from optimumg saying that this is finally released. Prior to the release there was mention of an FSAE discount, however I can't see this anywhere on the website now. The full price is around 2000AUD.

Does anyone have any idea how much the discount will be? I did send them an email, but the last few I sent didn't get replied to so I thought would check here.

[Steve Yao]

Contact OptG and they will issue you a coupon code to purchase it off the website.

$395 USD.

[benjo]

Sweet, thanks heaps mate!

[JHarshbarger]

Can someone explain what the primary intent of this program is? From the demo, it appears to be software to analyze a suspension system that data has already been collected from. I see that a lot of you are interested in the program, but I'm still not sure where this software fits in to design.

Our team has not used data acquistion on our cars yet, so maybe this will be more apparent once we have data. Can someone clarify what this software is best used for before several teams buy into it expecting something different?

[Kevin Hayward]

Joel,

It is a suspension kinematics program. The data import is just one of the better motion features. If you wish to you can just apply simple heave, roll, pitch and/or steering motions.

The program also has the ability to import and export excel files, which in turn can be linked to 3d CAD models.

The whole program was built with design as one of the main objectives of the program. A number of the developers were ex-FSAE graduates, and I would say each one would have loved to have the program during their time at Uni.

Being one of the team who helped develop it I can't help but upsell it, but it is a much better tool than what we had developed to do our kinematics at UWA, and I would not hesitate to recommend it for FSAE use.

Kev

[js10coastr]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kevin Hayward:
I would say each one would have loved to have the program during their time at Uni.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

...had I been "mentally and financially prepared."

[smarby]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">We then checked our numbers to SolidWorks down to three decimal places. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry about the massive bump, I'm curious as to what you mean by checking your numbers in SolidWorks?

Thanks,
Joey

[js10coastr]

...to make sure the math models in OptimumK match up with the models in Solidworks. Essentially checking that the location of each point in OPK matched up with the "physical" model in Solidworks.

[smarby]

Ah, so just to check if it had kept the overall length and stuff constant?

Was wondering if there was some cool COSMOSMotion feature or the like which output kinematics as well. :P