Ansys Empowers SPEC Innovations to Shoot for the Moon in NASA Challenge

Rhea-AI Summary

Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) collaborates with SPEC Innovations to develop a digital twin of a lunar rover aimed at improving Moon excavation efforts in response to NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge. By utilizing Ansys simulation solutions and the cloud-based tool Innoslate, SPEC Innovations significantly reduces design time and costs. The initiative aims to support the establishment of a human presence on the Moon by 2030. Notably, Ansys SpaceClaim technology allowed for a 1,000% reduction in costs and time for modifications.

Positive

• Ansys' technology reduced costs and time by 1,000% for SPEC Innovations.
• Collaboration with NASA presents long-term growth opportunities.
• Digital engineering and digital twin technology are leading innovations in space exploration.

Negative

• None.

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

/ Key Highlights

• Ansys simulation solutions provide design analysis for Moon excavation system architecture
• SPEC Innovations pairs cloud-based Innoslate with simulation to achieve digital engineering to design, build, and test a lunar rover
• Innoslate and SPEC Innovations substantially reduce time and cost using Ansys' product portfolio

A leader in systems engineering, SPEC Innovations is applying Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) simulation solutions to develop a digital twin of a lunar rover to better enable Moon excavation in response to NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge.

With Ansys' best-in-class tools, SPEC Innovations devised a cloud native, cost-effective solution to the innovation challenge, which aims to inspire new technologies to help establish a consistent human presence on the Moon by 2030. To operate on the Moon, robotic systems must withstand brutal environments in dark, shadowed regions of the lunar south pole, while canvassing its surface for water.

By integrating its cloud-based web application Innoslate with Ansys SpaceClaim 3D modeling software and AGI Systems Tool Kit (STK) analysis platform, SPEC Innovations reached primary goals through digital engineering; these goals include excavating icy regolith and increasing water mining, while minimizing equipment and power consumption. Further, by leveraging Ansys, SPEC Innovations was able to validate mission processes during design analysis and substantially reduce time and cost.

"Ansys SpaceClaim allowed SPEC Innovations to cut cost and time by 1,000%," said Steven H. Dam, Ph.D., ESEP, president and chief operating officer at SPEC Innovations. "It enabled a rapid modification of the commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) rover to enable the addition of key components, including a robot arm, collection bin, and fenders, using an inexpensive 3D printer. Such development would have been cost prohibitive if developed by other methods."

Innoslate offers cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and functionalities including project management to complete the digital thread experience within a single model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tool.

"Digital engineering and digital twins are the next phase of innovation in our world," said Prith Banerjee, chief technology officer at Ansys. "And by leveraging things like AI, machine learning (ML), and cloud computing, simulation is at the forefront of space exploration with more potential than ever to impact product innovation—from Earth to the Moon and beyond."

NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge program conducted its first phase, which focused on system architecture innovation, from November 2020 through August 2021. Its second phase, once initiated, will focus on designing and validating systems.

/ About Ansys

If you've ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge, or put on wearable technology, chances are you've used a product where Ansys software played a critical role in its creation. Ansys is the global leader in engineering simulation. Through our strategy of Pervasive Engineering Simulation, we help the world's most innovative companies deliver radically better products to their customers. By offering the best and broadest portfolio of engineering simulation software, we help them solve the most complex design challenges and create products limited only by imagination. Founded in 1970, Ansys is headquartered south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Visit www.ansys.com for more information.

Ansys and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

ANSS–C

/ Contacts
Media	Mary Kate Joyce
	724.820.4368
	marykate.joyce@ansys.com
Investors	Kelsey DeBriyn
	724.820.3927
	kelsey.debriyn@ansys.com

 

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SOURCE Ansys

FAQ

What is the purpose of Ansys' collaboration with SPEC Innovations?

The collaboration aims to develop a digital twin of a lunar rover to improve Moon excavation in response to NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge.

How has Ansys technology impacted the lunar rover project?

Ansys technology allowed SPEC Innovations to reduce costs and time for modifications by 1,000%.

What is NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge?

NASA's challenge focuses on developing technologies to establish a consistent human presence on the Moon by 2030.

What tools did SPEC Innovations use for the lunar rover project?

SPEC Innovations used Ansys simulation solutions and cloud-based Innoslate for digital engineering.

When did NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge first phase take place?

The first phase of NASA's challenge ran from November 2020 to August 2021.