FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Modifying production facilities, analyzing and developing products and ensuring consumer safety are important components for business growth, but they can present problems. Although computer models can help to overcome many of these obstacles, they can be both expensive and challenging to use. That’s where PsyberSimula comes in.

PsyberSimula is the newest client at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering GENESIS Technology Incubator. Owner Mark Martin is a mechanical engineer specializing in computer modeling of mechanical systems.

"Computer modeling can provide businesses with a lot of information before a project begins," explained Martin. "It can help refine a design and avoid costly mistakes or it can show what went wrong."

Small businesses in particular may lack the necessary engineering resources for mechanical modeling. Modeling software can cost thousands of dollars and require high-end computer equipment and operator training to be effective.

"Although it is an important tool for design and decision-making, in-house modeling can be a big investment," said Martin. "A company may invest in modeling tools and use them for two or three months until the project is over. If they don’t need them again for a year or so, the software and hardware have become obsolete and the trained operator has moved on to another job."

PsyberSimula specializes in workable, real-world solutions to business problems like the analysis of mechanical failures or design and modeling of mechanical systems. Their projects have ranged from the deformation of aluminum extrusion in dies to design of the frame and structural members of off-road vehicles to modeling occupant motion in accident analysis.

"Even companies with an engineering department are usually not equipped for this level of modeling," explained PsyberSimula business coordinator Greg Martin. "Most in-house engineers are already working full time and few are design engineers. Given limited time and resources, it is difficult for them to take on special design projects."

Outsourcing of complex design and analysis projects can make in-house engineers more effective and companies more profitable.