Schneider Electric, AVEVA, and ETAP Launch Alliance to Revolutionize Digital Twins and 3D Modeling
In a significant move towards reshaping the landscape of industrial design and digital simulation, Schneider Electric, AVEVA, and ETAP have formally joined the Alliance for OpenUSD (Universal Scene Description). This commitment, announced at the Innovation Summit North America in Las Vegas, places the three companies alongside other industry leaders like NVIDIA and Pixar, aiming to enhance software interoperability and advance open standards in industrial simulation, collaborative design, and AI infrastructure systems. As the world increasingly pivots towards digital transformation, this alliance seeks to address the industry's needs for more robust digital twin technologies and 3D modeling capabilities.
OpenUSD has emerged as a critical framework that facilitates seamless interaction between various software tools, enabling a new level of interoperability that is essential for the creation of advanced digital twins. With the shared ambition of advancing industrial digitalization, the alliance's goals include creating simulation-ready (SimReady) assets that model the physical world while leveraging generative AI for superior decision-making processes.
The companies involved bring decades of collective expertise to the table. Schneider Electric, renowned for its innovation in energy management and automation solutions, aims to align its cutting-edge technologies with the new OpenUSD framework. AVEVA offers a robust industrial software suite that drives efficiency and sustainability across sectors, while ETAP excels in power system design, bringing deep industry knowledge into the mix. Together, they are poised to develop solutions that enhance the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of various industrial processes, including energy distribution, manufacturing, data centers, and more.
In practical terms, the alliance is focused on several key areas that promise to reshape industrial operations. Through developing interoperability for SimReady assets, the companies aspire to create digital twin models that can simulate complex systems—such as energy grids and industrial facilities—integrated with platforms like Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure, as well as those from AVEVA and ETAP. This multifaceted approach will enable industries to optimize operational efficiency and resource management, ultimately contributing to greater sustainability goals.
Moreover, through collaborative design efforts, the alliance positions itself to unlock real-time insights into major industrial architecture. By employing digital twin models, organizations can accurately assess and manage infrastructures, enhance system performance, and adapt operations to meet fluctuating demands more effectively. For instance, in the realm of data centers, the use of AI-enabled digital twins can simulate thermal behaviors and power distributions, optimizing cooling systems for improved energy efficiency and reliability.
The significance of this alliance goes beyond mere technological advancement; it fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation across industries. Jim Simonelli, Senior Vice President and CTO for Data Centers at Schneider Electric, remarked, "OpenUSD is more than a file format, it's a virtual bridge between industries." This sentiment reflects the alliance’s ambition to create a shared digital language, allowing stakeholders to work collaboratively and drive innovations seamlessly across the AI ecosystem.
Supported by NVIDIA, which has been instrumental in promoting simulation technologies, this initiative is anticipated to accelerate the deployment of gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure. By combining resources and expertise, Schneider Electric, AVEVA, and ETAP aim to redefine how industries conceptualize and implement their digital transformation strategies, ultimately producing efficient, sustainable industrial solutions that keep pace with technological advancements in energy management, automation, and AI.
As industries worldwide embrace the digital future, the formation of this alliance signals a trend toward more integrated, data-driven approaches to managing complex systems. With the promise of enhanced performance, sustainability, and resilience, the Schneider Electric, AVEVA, and ETAP partnership within the OpenUSD will undoubtedly mark a transformative chapter in the ongoing evolution of industrial technology and operational excellence.