BAE Systems engineers in Santa Clara, Calif., have developed a human-in-the-loop simulation capability to support the design of Hybrid Electric Drive (HED) systems for future vehicles.

BAE Systems has used modeling and simulation capabilities for more than two decades in the development and integration of combat vehicles and technology, and now this technology is being used with a human in the loop for the development of HED vehicles.

The technology uses high fidelity, physics-based models running in real time which allow engineers to quickly evaluate how a vehicle responds as the driver in a simulator operates the vehicle on a cross-country terrain environment.

Using this approach, future vehicles are accurately evaluated and optimized in a realistic environment before a hardware prototype is built. As the performance of the vehicle is simulated, engineers can see in real time how their HED concept is performing (e.g. how the battery is charging and the traction drive system is performing).

BAE Systems invested its own funds to develop this capability. It can be applied to future vehicle programs and the integration of new capabilities into current force systems, such as the Bradley. This human-in-the-loop environment enables the company to evaluate design concepts in a very short time which allows cost-effective development of new vehicle prototypes and the integration of new capabilities and technologies in record time.