Siemens introduced AI-enhanced next-generation electronic systems design (ESD) software on Wednesday that combines Xpedition, Hyperlynx and PADS Pro software in a unified user interface backed by cloud connectivity.
Better electronics design software for PCBs will help companies deal with talent shortages and lessen the learning curve for engineers, said David Wiens, product manager for Siemens Xpedition, in an interview with Fierce Electronics. In the new approach, AI works to add predictive engineering and support assistance.
Greater design efficiency will be important in coming years, he noted, as design engineers are retiring in droves and there’s a gap in hiring new talent. Boston Consulting Group has forecast that 33% of engineering roles will go unfilled through 2030.
Leonardo, a systems partner for 20 years, helped in developing the new Siemens approach. Customers found it took about 25% fewer hours to develop new designs compared to the former approach, Wiens said. When electronics designs can take from six weeks to 80 weeks, a 25% reduction is valuable, he added.
“This is a major release for us. It took four years to develop and a year of beta cycles. That’s 800 person years of investment...There are revolutionary changes to the user experience,” he added.
Bringing together a growing list of design tools with a common user interface is “long overdue,” said Jim McGregor, an industry analyst and founder of Tirias Research. “It’s a perfect application for a traditional AI workload…Having an integrated UI for the tools and some AI functionality should be a huge benefit to users. How much is hard to say, but this is the direction things need to go.”
The AI has a hyperlink to simulation tools and design space exploration, such as different spacing in vias. Solving all permutations for a differential via would take hundreds of years. Leveraging AI with a budget for 100 permutations found the optimal solution overnight on a desktop.
In addition to collaboration with its own existing tools, the new generation provides integrations for multiple tools from Dassault or PTC, among others. Siemens can also integrate with tools for mechanical designs and more. “Nobody has what we have with the most possible tools under one roof,” Wiens added.
The next-gen ESD software, including Xpedition NG software and HyperLynx NG are now available while PADs Pro NG will be available in 2Q 2025. The company sells its software to thousands of businesses and the majority are paying for subscriptions in three-year cycles.
Siemens Digital Industries Software showed its next generation software release at its booth, A3.561, at Electronica in Munich, Germany, through Friday, Nov. 15.