Hello,
I'm Simon Sailer,

researcher and developer with passion!

My focus is on the dynamics of mechanical systems, with expertise ranging from theory to application.

This website presents my research, my future goals and some of my projects.

I am looking for a motivated environment where I can contribute my expertise and drive to develop and pioneer intelligent systems of the future.

Multibody Dynamics

I'm a specialist in multibody dynamics with the expertise to model, reduce, and simulate complex dynamical systems.

Mechanical models based on first principles describe real-world physics and are therefore suitable for studying qualitative behavior as well as for model-based predictive control.

In particular, my knowledge extends to the following:
• Physics engines
• Nonsmooth dynamics
• Model reduction and constraints
• Time integration schemes

3D - Kinematics

With the aim to describe reality.

Our sourounding world is three-dimensional. If we want to track spatial motions, develop new theories and simulate three-dimensional systems, it is essential to understand the mathematics behind.

Especially, the parametization of orientations is far from trivial and we have to deal with singularities, ambiguities, and other difficulties. An important question in this context is how to interpolate between orientations and which system coordinates and velocities are appropriate to structurally simplify the system equations.

Nonlinear Dynamics

The goal of nonlinear dynamics is to understand and predict qualitative system behavior in engineering applications.

Even an apparently simple system can exhibit rich dynamic behavior. The tippedisk, as a mathematical-mechanical archetype for friction-induced instabilities combines a variety of theories:

• Nonsmooth Dynamics
• Stability theory
• Singular perturbation theory
• Global analyis

High-speed Object Tracking

During my PhD, I developed my own object tracking system that allows precise measurement in both high-speed mode as well as in multi-camera setup.

Due to the high flexibility and scalability of the system, it is used in various projects at the Institute for Nonlinear Mechanics:

• High-speed measurements of gyroscopic systems in frictional contact.
• Identification and validation of beam models in soft robotics.
• Development of new flexible robots in legged locomotion.

Vehicle Dynamics

Vehicle Dynamics combines the fundamental topics of my research: 3D kinematics, contact mechanics, and nonlinear dynamics. Consequently, I have been studying the hunting motion of rail vehicles and the stability of towed wheels.

Both systems exhibit interesting dynamic behavior and show unstable, stationary motion when a critical speed is exceeded, implying critical oscillations and unsafe driving conditions.

From the perspective of contact mechanics, the wheel-rail interaction is of great interest. Proper modeling of this interaction requires appropriate contact kinematics, which leads to constrained optimization problems.

Nonsmooth Vehicle Simulator

Vehicle Dynamics is intrisically highly nonlinear. Moreover, the interaction between tires and the road is extremely coplex and dificut to model.

Using advanced set-valued contact laws in a nonsmooth framework allows for more realistic friction models and therefore a better description of physics. Based on the resulting models, MPC and reinforcement learning strategies can be applied.

Tendon actuated soft robots

Supervision and implementation of a test bench experiment to identify beam parameters and to develop control for soft tendon actuated robots.

Blender Interface

To obtain a photorealistic multi-body visualization, I developed a Blender interface that allows convenient automatic generation of animations.

To extend the application to the visualization of two-dimensional manifolds and trajectories in a three-dimensional state space, a second Blender interface was programmed.

Flywheel-driven Pendulum

This control project was initiated and led by Pascal Preiswerk and myself, with the goal of demonstrating trajectory optimization and nonlinear control.

Since then, the driven pendulum has served as a demonstator for engineering cybernetics and as a hands-on project for students.

NVH - Analysis

As part of my Bachelor's thesis, I carried out a numerical and experimental modal analysis of an electric motor housing.

Model identification and evaluation of linear modes.

Simulation of Friction Stir Welding

Development and implementation of a new material subroutine.

Parameter study and comparison of the different effects of hardening on temperature distribution.

Evaluation of FEM simulations of the friction stir welding process.

Evaluation of Irradiation Data

My brother is a physician and has investigated tissue damage caused by photon and proton irradiation as part of his doctoral thesis at the HIT at the University of Heidelberg.

For this purpose, I developed a Python program to automatically evaluate experimental and simulated irradiation data and to calculate characteristic quantities.

CFD simulation of a semi-trailer

The aerodynamics of semi-trailers are strongly affected by the geometry. Therefore, the question in applied transportation is how to modify the shape of the trailer to improve the aerodynamics and thus efficiency.

For an international freight forwarding company, I planned and coordinated CFD simulations, which were implemented externally by the FKFS of the university of stuttgart.

Virtual strength testing of Containers

The virtual strength testing of containers enables the cost-efficient determination of tailor-made and safe loading instructions.

I supervised and coordinated FEM simulations for a freight forwarding company in cooperation with the MPA of the university of stuttgart.

AI-based Espresso

To enhance the espresso experience, I am currently working on identifying portafilter espresso machines. Various objective model are developed, ranging from simple models to artificial neural networks.