BURR RIDGE, Ill., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Building further on its strength
in computer-aided-engineering (CAE), Ricardo -- one of the world's foremost
independent automotive engineering consulting companies -- has announced the
release of WAVE v5.1, the latest addition to its market-leading WAVE engine
modeling package.
    WAVE v5.1 builds on the unique capabilities delivered with the WAVE v5
suite and offers additional functionality for modeling transient operation,
control, co-simulation and fuel injection.
    "We're proud to announce the advances and upgrades available to our
customers with the release of WAVE v5.1," said Richard Johns, president of
Ricardo Software.  "We continue to take CAE beyond traditional simulations by
continually advancing our software's capabilities and functionality to
maintain our leading position in this field."
    The new features of WAVE v5.1 allow users to:
    * Perform transient vehicle analysis by using WAVE-generated look-up maps
of engine performance.  Using a sophisticated sparse data algorithm, the
accuracy of the simulation is maximized for minimum calculation effort.  Data
for the multi-dimensional look-up maps is generated "on-the-fly" and can be
re-used in the same and subsequent simulations, thereby maximizing efficiency
for long transients and iterative design optimization;
    * Co-simulate WAVE with mechanical systems using a WAVE-VALDYN interface,
providing the ability for fully interactive time-step coupled calculations
between detailed engine and valve train models.  With this process, the full
dynamics of the valve train on the engine and the influence of the engine on
the dynamic behavior of the valve train are accounted for properly;
    * Model 2-phase fuel sprays and wall film evolution for gasoline engine
performance by using the Discrete Droplet Model (based on Ricardo's 3D CFD
modeling), which accurately simulates phenomena such as cold start and the
lags associated with transient operation; and
    * Efficiently tune PID controllers using a unique built-in gain
calibration tool, which completely automates the finding of optimal gains,
allowing the engine analyst to start the simulation work with higher
confidence while eliminating the routine, low-engineering-value task of
finding gains manually.
    WAVE is the market-leading engine performance simulation software with
licenses worldwide in all industry sectors, including motorsport, automotive,
motorcycle, truck, agricultural, locomotive, marine and power generation.
    Ricardo Software, based in Burr Ridge, Ill., markets and supports a wide
range of design, analysis and automotive CAE software products developed
specifically for application during the powertrain development and vehicle
integration processes.
    With its North American headquarters in Van Buren Twp., Mich., Ricardo has
been a world-leading vehicle system and powertrain technology provider for
automotive manufacturers, non-automotive vehicular transportation and power
generation industries and related tier one suppliers since 1915.
    The company's engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems
integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest
driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell
powertrain technologies.  Ricardo is committed to excellence and industry
leadership in people, technology and knowledge.  A public company based in the
U.K., Ricardo plc posted sales of $226 million in fiscal year 2003 and is a
part of the FTSE techMark 100 index -- a group of innovative technology
companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

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