Ansys + Rohde & Schwarz: Hardware Meets Virtual Cities
I recently had the delightful opportunity to moderate a fireside chat with technologists from Ansys and Rohde & Schwarz about how the convergence of simulation, test and measurement is fundamentally changing how 5G and 6G radio systems are developed and validated.
The conversation centered on a groundbreaking collaboration that enables developers to virtually replicate any installation site, bringing real-world RF environments directly into the laboratory for early, reliable validation. This applies not only to outdoor urban, rural, or mobile networks but also to indoor and mixed outdoor-indoor installations for private networks in locations like factories, warehouses, and hangars.
The chat featured Shawn Carpenter, Ansys Program Director for 5G/6G and Space, Andreas Roessler, Rohde & Schwarz Technology Manager, and Jayraj Nair, Ansys Field CTO – high-tech.
The Challenge: From Simple Antennas to Complex Systems of Systems
Shawn discussed how dramatically antenna design has evolved, reflecting back on how single band antennas were used in the development of antennas for 2G and 3G systems.
“Today, as we unwrap the new spectrum allocations for 5G and explore millimeter wave, there's a wide number of channels and spectrum that we have to accommodate,” he said.
The complexity doesn't stop at frequency bands. Modern 5G/6G systems must handle multiband operations, manage thermal characteristics that can detune antennas, and incorporate sophisticated spatial diversity techniques. As Jayraj described, we’ve reached an era in which validating wireless systems is akin to reengineering a plane while it's midair with paying customers aboard.
The Innovation: Digital Twins Meet Hardware Testing
Ansys and Rohde & Schwarz bring together two traditionally separate worlds: simulation and test and measurement. Their solution creates highly accurate virtual environments – digital twins of real cities – complete with five-centimeter resolution models that capture everything from street furniture to window frames and trees.
Here's where it gets interesting: the system can model electromagnetic wave propagation through these virtual environments in real time, capturing the complex interactions that occur as signals bounce off buildings, reflect from surfaces, and encounter moving objects. These channel characteristics are then fed into Rohde & Schwarz's signal generators, creating authentic RF conditions that real devices can be tested against in the lab.
“You could do a virtual representation of where you want to deploy a digital twin, use the Ansys tool to do the channel modeling, put it into test measurement equipment, and optimize machine learning algorithms for that particular channel representation,” Andreas said.
Five Key Takeaways from the Future of Wireless Validation
- Novel Customization: Teams can now replicate any environment they choose without leaving the lab. This means testing scenarios that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to recreate in the real world.
- AI-Driven Optimization: The platform supports the development and validation of machine learning-based signal processing algorithms that could improve channel performance by up to 3dB – effectively doubling capacity, which means maximizing spectrum efficiency.
- Hardware-in-the-Loop Validation: Unlike pure simulation, this approach tests real hardware against synthetically generated, but physically accurate channel conditions. This bridges the gap between theoretical performance and real-world deployment.
- Future-proofing for 6G: With 6G expected to support everything from immersive applications to integrated sensing and communication, having a flexible validation platform that can model any scenario becomes essential. The system can also simulate UAS communications at an altitude of 400 feet, where interference patterns differ dramatically from ground-based devices.
- Real-Time Network Optimization: The technology could enable future 6G networks to adapt in real-time. Networks could collect operational data, retrain their algorithms for site-specific optimization, and validate changes before deployment – all autonomously.
The Broader Impact: Transforming Development Cycles
What resonates with me most is how this innovation addresses a fundamental challenge in modern technology development: the growing complexity of systems paired with shrinking validation timelines.
By enabling comprehensive testing in controlled laboratory environments, this approach could accelerate time-to-market while improving reliability. Companies using similar simulation-driven approaches have realized up to 3x acceleration in development time and cost reductions of up to 60%.
The technology also opens new possibilities for regulatory compliance and public safety validation. Shawn mentioned exploring how base station signals might interact with aircraft radar altimeters – critical safety research that can be conducted safely in simulation before any real-world testing.
Looking Ahead: The Era of Adaptive Networks
The most exciting aspect of this development isn't just what it enables today, but what it makes possible for tomorrow. Andreas hinted at a future where 6G networks could continuously optimize themselves.
“You could collect data in your network, take that data and retrain that default model and do a site-specific adaptation,” he said.
Imagine networks that automatically adapt their signal processing algorithms based on changing environments, all validated through digital twin technology before implementation.
The TechArena Take
As I reflect on this conversation, I'm reminded of how often the most transformative innovations come from combining existing technologies in novel ways. Ansys and Rohde & Schwarz’ marriage of high-fidelity simulation with hardware testing represents a breakthrough that could fundamentally change how we develop, validate, and deploy wireless systems.
The implications extend far beyond telecommunications. Any industry deploying complex RF systems – from automotive radar to IoT networks – could benefit from this approach. As we stand on the brink of the 6G era, with its promise of supporting everything from autonomous vehicles to immersive reality applications, having the tools to validate these systems thoroughly before deployment becomes essential.
The future of wireless technology isn't just about faster speeds or lower latency – it's about creating systems that adapt to our ever-changing world.
I recently had the delightful opportunity to moderate a fireside chat with technologists from Ansys and Rohde & Schwarz about how the convergence of simulation, test and measurement is fundamentally changing how 5G and 6G radio systems are developed and validated.
The conversation centered on a groundbreaking collaboration that enables developers to virtually replicate any installation site, bringing real-world RF environments directly into the laboratory for early, reliable validation. This applies not only to outdoor urban, rural, or mobile networks but also to indoor and mixed outdoor-indoor installations for private networks in locations like factories, warehouses, and hangars.
The chat featured Shawn Carpenter, Ansys Program Director for 5G/6G and Space, Andreas Roessler, Rohde & Schwarz Technology Manager, and Jayraj Nair, Ansys Field CTO – high-tech.
The Challenge: From Simple Antennas to Complex Systems of Systems
Shawn discussed how dramatically antenna design has evolved, reflecting back on how single band antennas were used in the development of antennas for 2G and 3G systems.
“Today, as we unwrap the new spectrum allocations for 5G and explore millimeter wave, there's a wide number of channels and spectrum that we have to accommodate,” he said.
The complexity doesn't stop at frequency bands. Modern 5G/6G systems must handle multiband operations, manage thermal characteristics that can detune antennas, and incorporate sophisticated spatial diversity techniques. As Jayraj described, we’ve reached an era in which validating wireless systems is akin to reengineering a plane while it's midair with paying customers aboard.
The Innovation: Digital Twins Meet Hardware Testing
Ansys and Rohde & Schwarz bring together two traditionally separate worlds: simulation and test and measurement. Their solution creates highly accurate virtual environments – digital twins of real cities – complete with five-centimeter resolution models that capture everything from street furniture to window frames and trees.
Here's where it gets interesting: the system can model electromagnetic wave propagation through these virtual environments in real time, capturing the complex interactions that occur as signals bounce off buildings, reflect from surfaces, and encounter moving objects. These channel characteristics are then fed into Rohde & Schwarz's signal generators, creating authentic RF conditions that real devices can be tested against in the lab.
“You could do a virtual representation of where you want to deploy a digital twin, use the Ansys tool to do the channel modeling, put it into test measurement equipment, and optimize machine learning algorithms for that particular channel representation,” Andreas said.
Five Key Takeaways from the Future of Wireless Validation
- Novel Customization: Teams can now replicate any environment they choose without leaving the lab. This means testing scenarios that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to recreate in the real world.
- AI-Driven Optimization: The platform supports the development and validation of machine learning-based signal processing algorithms that could improve channel performance by up to 3dB – effectively doubling capacity, which means maximizing spectrum efficiency.
- Hardware-in-the-Loop Validation: Unlike pure simulation, this approach tests real hardware against synthetically generated, but physically accurate channel conditions. This bridges the gap between theoretical performance and real-world deployment.
- Future-proofing for 6G: With 6G expected to support everything from immersive applications to integrated sensing and communication, having a flexible validation platform that can model any scenario becomes essential. The system can also simulate UAS communications at an altitude of 400 feet, where interference patterns differ dramatically from ground-based devices.
- Real-Time Network Optimization: The technology could enable future 6G networks to adapt in real-time. Networks could collect operational data, retrain their algorithms for site-specific optimization, and validate changes before deployment – all autonomously.
The Broader Impact: Transforming Development Cycles
What resonates with me most is how this innovation addresses a fundamental challenge in modern technology development: the growing complexity of systems paired with shrinking validation timelines.
By enabling comprehensive testing in controlled laboratory environments, this approach could accelerate time-to-market while improving reliability. Companies using similar simulation-driven approaches have realized up to 3x acceleration in development time and cost reductions of up to 60%.
The technology also opens new possibilities for regulatory compliance and public safety validation. Shawn mentioned exploring how base station signals might interact with aircraft radar altimeters – critical safety research that can be conducted safely in simulation before any real-world testing.
Looking Ahead: The Era of Adaptive Networks
The most exciting aspect of this development isn't just what it enables today, but what it makes possible for tomorrow. Andreas hinted at a future where 6G networks could continuously optimize themselves.
“You could collect data in your network, take that data and retrain that default model and do a site-specific adaptation,” he said.
Imagine networks that automatically adapt their signal processing algorithms based on changing environments, all validated through digital twin technology before implementation.
The TechArena Take
As I reflect on this conversation, I'm reminded of how often the most transformative innovations come from combining existing technologies in novel ways. Ansys and Rohde & Schwarz’ marriage of high-fidelity simulation with hardware testing represents a breakthrough that could fundamentally change how we develop, validate, and deploy wireless systems.
The implications extend far beyond telecommunications. Any industry deploying complex RF systems – from automotive radar to IoT networks – could benefit from this approach. As we stand on the brink of the 6G era, with its promise of supporting everything from autonomous vehicles to immersive reality applications, having the tools to validate these systems thoroughly before deployment becomes essential.
The future of wireless technology isn't just about faster speeds or lower latency – it's about creating systems that adapt to our ever-changing world.
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