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Robert Braun

Associate Professor, Docent

Efficient and accurate computer simulations of new products is becoming increasingly important. My research and teaching focuses in increasing the knowledge of new methods and tools for computer simulation.

Distributed simulation for efficient product development

My research is focused on distributed simulation methods. This includes simulation tool coupling (co-simulation), parallel simulation and parallel simulation-based optimization. 

I defended my doctoral thesis “Distributed system simulation methods: For Model-Based Product Development” in December 2015. My current employment is shared between Linköping University, SICS, East Swedish ICT and SKF.

I also have an interest in simulation-based teaching. I teach mainly in undergraduate courses in mechatronics and hydraulics.

I am also one of the main developers of Hopsan, an open-source simulation tool for fluid and mechatronic systems.

Simulation

Co-simulation

Different simulation tools are often intended for different purposes. Thus, a single simulation tool is often not sufficient for simulating the whole product. Instead, different tools must be coupled to an aggregated model.

This puts high demands on numerical stability, performance and user interfaces.

Parallel simulation

Benefits with simulation is often limited by long execution times. Parallel simulation on multiple processor cores or computer clusters can greatly increase simulation speed.

​​Challenges include load balancing and minimization of overhead costs.

Parallel optimization

An especially demanding use for simulation is simulation-based optimization. My research in this field focuses mainly on parallel methods of direct-search algorithms for low-dimension optimization problems.

Publications

2025

Erik Rosenlund, Robert Hällqvist, Robert Braun, Petter Krus (2025) Automation Nation: Taming Complex V&V Workflows Proceedings of the 16th International Modelica & FMI Conference (Conference paper) Continue to DOI
Andrew Gomes Pereira Sarmento, Robert Braun, Petter Krus, Emilia Villani (2025) A New Multi-Agent Simulator Framework Using Hopsan and Unreal 5.3 Proceedings of the 12th Swedish Aerospace Technology Congress (Conference paper) Continue to DOI
Erik Rosenlund, Robert Hällqvist, Robert Braun, Petter Krus (2025) Objectively Defined Intended Uses, a Prerequisite to Efficient MBSE Proceedings of the American Modelica Conference 2024 (Conference paper) Continue to DOI
Robert Braun, Magnus Sethson, Magnus Landberg, Petter Krus (2025) Preemptive Scheduling of Multi-rod Hydraulic Infinite Linear Actuator The 19th Scandinavian International Conference on Fluid Power, SICFP'25 (Conference paper) Continue to DOI

2024

Robert Braun, Robert Hällqvist, Dag Fritzson (2024) Transmission line modeling co-simulation with distributed delay-size control using steady-state identification Engineering with Computers, Vol. 40, p. 301-312 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Research

Ongoing research projects

  • OpenCPS – Open Cyber-Physical System Model-Driven Certified Development
  • EU project within co-simulering with several academic and industrial partners.
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    Hopsan

    Hopsan is an open-source multi-domain system simulation tool developed at the division of Fluid and Mechatronic Systems at Linköping University.

    Co-workers

    Organisation