Press Release

Opal-RT & Imagine Join Forces To Streamline Transmission Design Process
Transmission Simulator Combines Modeling Capabilities of AMESim with
RT-LAB's Flexible Real-Time Environment

Roanne, France and Montreal, Canada, March 3, 2003 - Opal-RT Technologies Inc. and IMAGINE S.A., today announced that the two companies have joined forces to develop a means by which electromechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems can be readily modeled and simulated in real-time for hardware-, software-, and operator-in-the-loop applications.

The relationship will bring together high-fidelity engineering plant models developed in AMESim from IMAGINE and the RT-LAB distributed real-time computation platform from Opal-RT.

AMESim offers a complete and unique simulation environment, providing the most adaptive solutions for fluid power (gas and liquid), mechanical, thermo-fluid and control systems. The package enables the study of the dynamic behavior of any component or circuit with a friendly application-oriented approach. This is achieved through the concept of application-specific toolbox libraries and customization facilities.

Opal-RT is the world leader in distributed simulation on PC-based platforms. Its core technology, RT-LAB, allows easy conversion of non-real-time dynamic systems models, created in tools like Simulink and MATRIXx, into real-time simulations using off-the-shelf PC technologies.

Opal-RT and IMAGINE have been working on a joint system that will allow automotive engineers to develop high-fidelity models of automatic transmissions that can be used for design validation, control prototyping and Electronic Control Unit (ECU) testing.

There is a growing pressure on engineering professionals to maintain faster and less expensive product design cycles. With this system, transmission models can now be developed that can be reused as the design evolves from concept to final product. This revolution in the design process assures consistency throughout the design process while saving considerable time and cost by allowing analytical models in AMESim to be incorporated in the validation and test cycle without rework.

"There are very few high fidelity plant modeling tools that engineers in the auto industry trust - and AMESim is one of the best, " said Jean Belanger, President of Opal-RT Technologies Inc. "Integrating RT-LAB's real-time capability with AMESim not only overcomes the problem of model availability for hardware-in-the-loop, but also means that, for the first time, this very capable simulation tool is now available for use in the design and simulation of almost all aspects of automotive systems."

"RT-LAB's flexible real-time environment and use of commercial-off-the-shelf components make it a perfect fit for integration into with AMESIM," said Vincent Braibant, President and CEO of IMAGINE S.A., "Indeed, Opal-RT has fast gained a leadership position as a company committed to making the engineer's job easier by developing the technology needed to create a complete suite of proven real-time models that can be used, and reused, throughout the entire design process " .

About Opal-RT Technologies Inc.
Opal-RT provides software, hardware, and related solutions for real-time simulation applications, with the aim of enabling real-time parallel processing through flexible and affordable technologies.
The company offers a full range of engineering simulation products - from enabling technologies to turnkey engineering simulators - and consulting services that include systems integration, software development, simulation and modeling, problem-solving, and training. Opal-RT's core expertise is in distributed hard-real-time simulation, with experienced engineers designing real-time simulators for automotive, electrical power, aerospace, robotics, and other industries where fidelity and fault tolerance requirements push rapid prototyping and hardware-in-the-loop testing to their limits. Opal-RT's unique approach integrates parallel, distributed computing with commercial-off-the-shelf technologies. The resulting RT-LAB product range enables customers to develop simulations quickly, easily, affordably, and competitively. For more information about Opal-RT's range of Engineering Simulators and Distributed Processing Tools, see www.opal-rt.com.

About RT-LAB
RT-LAB is the real-time technology that revolutionizes the way model-based design is performed within the engineering organization. Through its openness, RT-LAB has the flexibility to be applied to any simulation and control problem, and scalability to provide a low-risk entry point for any application, allowing the developer to add computation power where and when needed-whether to dramatically speed up simulations or for real-time hardware-in-the-loop applications.

Contact

Kirsty Whitefield
Opal-RT Technologies Inc.
Tel: 1-877-935-2323, x233
Email: kirsty.whitefield@opal-rt.com

Dan Coyle
Press Direct
Tel: 514-499-2999
Email: dcoyle@pressdirect.com

RT-LAB and RT-LAB Electric Drive Simulator are registered trademarks of Opal-RT Technologies Inc.
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2004 Opal-RT Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.