Linköping University

Linköping University is a Swedish academic institution whose software publishing activity is represented by Hopsan, a free and open-source multi-domain system simulation tool developed at the university's Division of Fluid and Mechatronic Systems. The project is maintained publicly on GitHub, reflecting the academic tradition of sharing research tools openly with the wider engineering community. Hopsan falls into the category of engineering and scientific simulation software, a class of tools used to model and analyze the dynamic behavior of complex technical systems before physical prototypes are built. Multi-domain simulation means the software can represent components from different physical domains—such as hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanics, and electrical systems—within a single unified model, allowing engineers and researchers to study how these subsystems interact. Typical use cases include the design and analysis of fluid power systems, mechatronic products, vehicle subsystems, and other machinery where energy transfer across domains must be understood and optimized. In an academic context, such a tool supports teaching, doctoral research, and collaborative projects with industry partners, while in professional settings it can serve engineers who need to test control strategies, evaluate system performance, or explore design alternatives without the cost of physical experimentation. As a freely distributed application with its source code available online, Hopsan exemplifies how university-led software development can bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical engineering work, offering both students and practitioners access to simulation capabilities that might otherwise require expensive commercial licenses.