Orient Express Racing Team leverages Siemens’ digital twin technology to gain a competitive edge for the America’s Cup

“Digital twins and virtual testing became a major breakthrough to enhance the R&D of the boats besides real sailing. Having Siemens on our side was a key element of K-Challenge Racing & LAB's strategy in the America's Cup.”

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Siemens Digital Industries Software supplies the Orient Express Racing Team with its Xcelerator software portfolio during preparations for the 37th America’s Cup. The team has been working in close collaboration with Siemens’ Simcenter Engineering Services to gain a greater understanding of the real-world performance of the hydraulic flight and aeronautic systems that control sails and rudder/foil flaps actuation.

To help gain a competitive advantage, digital twins of the above systems were created, parameterised and functionally validated. This helped to ensure that both the layout and interface were both comprehensive and easy to operate.

“Sailing boats have dramatically changed since the arrival of foil technology enabling them to fly above the water. Managing two fluids and all the new aerospace flying technologies has become a real challenge as the game is completely changed,” said Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge and Orient Express Racing Team. “Digital twins and virtual testing became a major breakthrough to enhance the R&D of the boats besides real sailing. Having Siemens on our side was a key element of K-Challenge Racing & LAB's strategy in the America's Cup but also for other developments in the maritime transport decarbonisation.”

Jean-Marie Saint-Paul, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries France and Siemens Digital Industries Software France added, “Siemens is incredibly proud to work with K-Challenge and the Orient Express Racing Team to help them in their bid to succeed in the 37th America's Cup race. The work achieved through our technical collaboration now and during the forthcoming race shows how the benefits of digital twins of complex systems can leverage the use of real-time data in one of the most competitive sporting environments.”

Whenever performance levels are meeting the team’s predetermined expectations, data from the water is taken and modifications to the model are introduced. This helps engineers match simulation results to data, making inspection and maintenance processes more accurate and efficient. During the race, digital twin technology can also be used with live data to compare responses in real time.