UPSCALE is the first EU-project that has the specific goal to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) methods directly into traditional physics-based Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)-software and –methods. These CAE-tools are currently being used to develop road transportation not only in Europe but worldwide. The current focus of the project is to apply AI-methods to reduce the development time and increase the performance of electric vehicles (EVs) which are required by the automotive industry to reduce global emission levels. High performance computing (HPC) and CAE-software and –methods play a decisive role in vehicle development process. In order to make a significant impact on the development process, the two most HPC intensive CAE-applications have been chosen as use cases for the project: vehicle aero/thermal- and crash-modelling. When considering total automotive HPC usage, approximately 20% is used for aero/thermal simulations and up to 50% of HPC resources are utilized for crash simulations. By improving the effectiveness of these two areas, great increases in efficiency will lead to a 20% of reduction of product time to market. Other novel modelling approaches such as reduced order modelling will be coupled to the AI improved CAE-software and -methods to further reduce simulation time and ease the application of optimization tools needed to improve product quality. Through the combined effort of universities, research laboratories, European automotive OEMs, software companies and an AI-SME specialized in machine learning (ML), the UPSCALE project will provide a unique and effective environment to produce novel AI-based CAE-software solutions to improve European automotive competiveness.

OOSCCAR uses a comprehensive integrated approach for the development of future advanced occupant protection systems. It will provide a unique human body model (HBM)-based development and assessment framework, covering main challenges of future road safety due to the introduction of highly automated vehicles as well as changes in demographics: relevant accident scenarios (mixed traffic), future vehicle interior designs, new occupant sitting positions, ageing population etc. This demands for targeted changes and adaptions of scenarios, procedures and tools for occupant safety development, assessment and homologation, not addressed by e.g. regulations or consumer crash tests today. The resulting complexity requires an emphasis on virtual methods. Based on the analysis of future relevant accident scenarios and considering new, highly automated vehicles (HAVs) enabled sitting positions, OSCCAR will develop and demonstrate advanced occupant protection principles. These require assessment with improved HBMs (omni-directionally biofidelic, active and robust), considering gender and demographic factors as well as improved soft tissues material properties. Furthermore, OSCCAR will develop fully integrated assessment methods for complex test scenarios of the complete crash phase providing the required level of confidence as current physical test procedures do. OSCCAR will also contribute to the harmonization of HBMs, a harmonized validation of injury criteria as well as the improvement of virtual testing standards. Eventually OSCCAR will develop a clear roadmap towards large scale implementation of virtual testing methods for advanced safety solutions, not only relevant in the automotive domain but also for two-wheelers, VRUs, or in sports. Due to its excellent partner consortium with key players from industry and research from Europe, North America and Asia, OSCCAR is in the position to ensure global future deployment and application of its results and achievements.