On April 24, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding successfully upgraded the digital prototype of the world’s largest 270,000 cubic meter LNG carrier to the 2.0 stage, supported by its independently developed DPS full 3D design system and CAVE immersive virtual simulation system. This marks a new stage of “digital simulation” for China’s shipbuilding industry.
Since releasing its dual-new digital transformation blueprint in 2022, the company has taken a full-stack independent industrial software system as the foundational support and adhered to the forward design philosophy of “one unified model throughout the whole lifecycle”. Guided by this philosophy, the digital ship prototype has formed a clear three-generation iteration roadmap.
Digital Prototype 1.0 focuses on the rapid construction of the entire ship’s 3D model. It has already conducted immersive VR drawing review based on the company’s CAVE platform, overcoming the challenges of geometric interference and spatial layout optimization of millions of parts.
The core of Digital Prototype 2.0 lies in transforming the static three-dimensional digital model into a virtual simulation system that integrates R&D design, process planning, and manufacturing simulation. The upgraded Digital Prototype 2.0 focuses on breakthroughs in CAE, CAPP, and CAM simulation technologies. The digital prototype has transformed from a “static wax figure” into a “virtual testing ground and process demonstration field,” further addressing the pain points of accurate calculations and rapid optimization iteration.
In the future, Digital Prototype 3.0 will rely on AI, IoT, and big data technologies throughout the entire ship’s lifecycle, particularly achieving “thinking” capabilities in intelligent ship operation and maintenance.