Together with modeling, simulations are used as a design tool. While the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors/functions of a real-world process or system itself, the simulation is the imitation of its operation over time. Computer simulations can be used to model systems for which simple closed form analytic solutions are not possible. They are used when the real system cannot be engaged, or it is being designed but not yet built, or it may simply not exist. Key issues are the knowledge of building block characteristics, the use of simplifying approximations and the check of validity of the simulation outcomes. Several software packages exist for running computer-based simulation modeling.
In our group COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS (Finite Element Method) is used as a design tool for an optimized development of a tactile system. It is employed to retrieve information about the contact, to test the mechanical reliability of the whole structure, to optimize the design of the electronic skin, to test the reliability of algorithms for tactile data processing and contact shape reconstruction.
Furthermore, a cell-centered finite-volume time-domain method has been developed for solving electromagnetic problems which involve media having finite conductivity.
Selected publication
Bozza, G.; Caviglia, D.D.; Ghelardoni, L.; Pastorino, M., Cell-Centered Finite-Volume Time-Domain Method for Conducting Media, Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE press., Sept. 2010 pp. 477 - 479.
