Model Context Protocol Server
SimWorks MCP is a high-performance middleware built on Anthropic’s open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP). It acts as a standard connection hub between AI applications and professional simulation tools. By bridging the gap between Large Language Models (LLMs) and external data sources, SimWorks MCP provides AI assistants with secure, standardized, and scalable data access and tool-calling capabilities.
As an intelligent bridge between LLMs and SimWorks software, SimWorks MCP empowers AI assistants to perceive physical environments and execute complex tasks. Through natural language interaction, the AI can automatically generate and run SimWorks script commands. This enables a seamless, intelligent workflow—from solver configuration and light source setup to full simulation execution—drastically improving integration efficiency and flexibility for professional simulation workflows.
Core Values
Compared to traditional simulation workflows, SimWorks MCP delivers significant value enhancements:
- Simplified User Experience: Through semantic parsing, the AI assistant translates complex scripting syntax into intuitive natural language interactions. Users can perform professional operations through conversation without diving into coding details, achieving a "what you say is what you get" experience.
- Superior Engineering Efficiency: By converting repetitive modeling, parameter setting, and simulation scheduling into natural language execution, the product drastically shortens the iteration cycle from initial design concept to simulation results.
- High-Precision Execution: AI-generated script commands strictly follow SimWorks syntax specifications, effectively avoiding the spelling errors or logical discrepancies often encountered in manual scripting.
- Intelligent Design Assistance: The AI is more than just an executor; it serves as a deep design assistant, capable of explaining script logic in real-time and providing functional usage suggestions.
Core Functions & Features
By leveraging pre-configured intelligent agents and toolsets, SimWorks MCP simplifies complex simulation workflows into intuitive natural language dialogues. Its core capabilities include:
- Semantic Command Driving: Converts complex simulation requirements into precise script execution flows. By simply describing a task, such as "Add a Gaussian light source at the center of the region," the system automatically constructs the required model components within the software.
- End-to-End Simulation Coverage: Deeply integrated with core SimWorks functionalities, providing full-process support—from solver configuration (FDTD, FDE, EME, etc.) and the placement of light sources and monitors to simulation task scheduling and data visualization analysis.
- Seamless Cloud Computing Integration: Supports integration with cloud computing capabilities. Users can directly schedule cloud-based computational resources via AI commands, enabling efficient switching between local design and cloud-based parallel simulations.
- Standardized Protocol & Secure Control: Built on the MCP protocol, ensuring that all AI-driven calls are standardized and traceable. The service supports deployment in local or private cloud environments, strictly safeguarding the privacy of research data and computational processes.
Technical Implementation & Compatibility
- Standardized Protocol Architecture: The service fully complies with the MCP protocol standard, utilizing a modular client-server architecture to ensure seamless compatibility with mainstream AI applications (such as Claude Desktop).
- Advanced Scripting Engine: At the core of the service is a powerful script interpreter capable of understanding and executing SimWorks' built-in scripting commands. Supported operations encompass data acquisition, object configuration, simulation control, and data visualization.
- Broad Model Compatibility: As a standard MCP Server, the service can be invoked by any AI client that supports the MCP protocol. This provides users with maximum flexibility, as it is theoretically compatible with all Large Language Models following the protocol.
Typical Application Scenarios
The SimWorks MCP service is applicable to a wide range of optoelectronic device simulation and design scenarios. Below are several key examples:
- Rapid Prototyping & Verification: During the early stages of research, users can quickly build simulation models through simple natural language descriptions. This enables efficient implementation of design concepts, even for users with minimal prior experience or during rapid validation phases.
- Complex Structure Modeling: For structures with intricate geometric features, such as gratings or metasurfaces, users can guide the AI through step-by-step parameter configuration via natural language, eliminating the need for tedious manual adjustments.
- Education & Demonstration: In educational settings, the AI assistant serves as an interactive teaching tool. Through conversational guidance, it helps users understand software functionalities and explains script logic, providing a highly intuitive and immersive learning experience.
Deployment & User Guide
The SimWorks MCP service is deeply integrated into the SimWorks FD Solutions ecosystem, allowing users to start AI-assisted simulation with simple configuration.
- Environment Preparation: Ensure that SimWorks FD Solutions is updated to the latest version and the required Python environment is configured.
- Service Activation: Open the software and launch the service via
File->MCP Server. - Connection & Interaction: Connect an MCP-compatible AI client (such as Claude Desktop) to the local server address to issue simulation commands through natural language.
Note: This product strictly adheres to the security specifications of the MCP protocol. All sensitive operations (such as file writing or command execution) require final confirmation by the user within the client and are subject to strict control via server-side permission settings. Do not expose a high-privilege server to untrusted AI clients without proper permission configurations.
Instruction Mapping Reference:
| Command Type | Natural Language Instruction Example | Corresponding SimWorks Script Operation (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Add Solver | "Add an FDTD solver." | addfdtd |
| Add Source | "Add a dipole source at the center of the simulation region." | adddipole |
| Add Monitor | "Add a 2D XY plane power monitor at the center of the simulation region." | addpowermonitor |
| Add Structure | "Add a rectangular structure named Si at the center of the simulation region." | addrect |
| Set Material | "Set the material of the structure named Si to Silicon." | setmaterial |
| Run Simulation | "Start running the current FDTD simulation task." | run |
| Data Visualization | "Plot the distribution of the electric field intensity." | visualize / plot |