Thursday, August 30, 2012

Jérôme Perrin (Mov'eo Tec) : a flying start for VeDeCom

CESA 2012 interview

General Manager of Mov'eo Tec foundation and member of the programme committee of CESA 2012, Jérôme Perrin discusses the creation of VeDeCom institute in France.

"In late july, the french governement announced the creation at the end of the year of a R&D center dedicated to carbon free vehicles. It was actually the VeDeCom institute, that has been chosen amongst seven projects. This center is still on the paper. However, we already fill all the conditions for a flying start in early september.
VeDeCom relies on the Mov'eo Tec foundation and has strong partners, such as Mov'eo automotive cluster and Yvelines district in west part of Paris.
The members from VedeCom are from PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Valeo, STMicroelectronics, Continental, utilities such as EDF, or even aeronautics companies such as Safran. We also have research institutes, like IFSTTAR, INRIA and CEA.
This intitute will cover clean energies, new mobilities (infrastructure and services) and automated driving.
The steering committee is ready and has already chosen the 13 projects for the next three years. There will be a first visible project of VeDeCom in late 2013".

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

For when Zombies attack! Get back with a 6x6 F250

This is just the thing for a zombie apocalypse. What's better than a diesel powered, 6x6 driven, quad headlight, Ford F250 crew cab for you and your family to cruise in? I spotted this behemoth on the back of a flat bed trailer parked on the side of the road outside of Zelienople Pennsylvania. No one was available at the shop it was outside of to get details as to what exactly this truck was built for. A few friends on facebook have said they've seen it at mud bogs and tractor pulls in the area, but no one has ever seen it run. Here's what we can tell though. Whoever built it, really took their time to create something that doesn't really look home built. The bed has been professionally finished to look like a factory piece. Same with the grille and second set of headlights which instantly make you think of a pickup from the fictitious "Wagon Queen" brand from the National Lampoon movies. Even to the point of adding the fender and hood edges from the donor truck to make a finished front fascia. They were likely added for height limitations for lights so the truck can be driven on the road.








The body appears to be resting on a military style 6x6 chassis and and powered by likely the same diesel engine from the view I had through the fender well. And of course there's the air horn trumpets and the twin giant fuel tanks mounted in between the axles and the the twin big rig exhaust stacks in the bed. The truck also appears to have an air suspension added to raise and lower the truck. When I initially spotted this truck I first thought it was an old monster truck, and then an F150 mounted to a big rig frame, but closer inspection revealed the 6x6 chassis.  I'm trying to dig up some more details on this truck as it's just too cool to look away from.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Automotive Ethernet, a holistic approach to a next generation In-Vehicle Networking Standard

CESA 2012 abstract

For the next generation In-Vehicle Networking infrastructure beyond CAN and FlexRay, the automotive industry has identified Ethernet as a very promising candidate.
Being a standard and commonly used in consumer and industry domains it provides a high re-use factor for components, software and tools. In addition, Ethernet has the required bandwidth capabilities needed for e.g. new driver assistance systems and infotainment.
However, to become a success story, solutions for automotive have to be further optimized in terms of scalability, low cost, low power and robustness. First optimization steps on Physical Layer level have been already made but more innovations are needed and streamlined for automotive use cases.
This paper discusses new topologies and components and describes an evolutionary path starting from available technology made for consumer domains to advanced systems for automotive applications.

By Steffen Müller, NXP Semiconductors Germany GmbH

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Developing embedded user experiences - challenges and success factors in automotive environment.

CESA abstract

Automotive product development is based on proven processes and development time that allows carmakers to respond to drivers needs in regards to quality, feature availability and look and feel of the device in the car.
When talking about user experience, driver’s expectations are influenced by consumer electronic devices, from interaction point of view (speech and/or gesture recognition) as well as content (graphic attractiveness, apps). Drivers are expecting the same seamless, simple, easy to use phone and tablet features in their car, while still requiring automotive quality in term of system stability, low driver distraction and updateability during automotive life-time.
With over a decade of experience in developing multimodal HMI, EB GUIDE – industry recognized HMI development products suite and speech dialog platform - has been proved reliable in more than a million vehicles on the road and in the upcoming year more vehicles will come to market using the EB GUIDE HMI technology.
During the presentation, you will learn about market trends in HMI, the market interest for a modelbased approach, quick UI simulation for user-acceptance evaluation, how to easily enable early and agile development, as well as integrating latest technologies to handle gesture/speech recognition and graphics challenges into the vehicle.

By Bruno Abou (Director - Elektrobit France), Thomas Fleischmann (EB GUIDE Product Manager - Elektrobit Automotive GmbH) and Franck Desaulty (Infotainment Business Manager – Elektrobit France)

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Austria special guest of CESA 2012

For the first time, Austrian companies* will showcase their cutting-edge technology and high-quality products in the field of automotive electronics in Paris, during CESA 2012. ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Paris (Austrian Trade Commission) will be hosting an Austrian Pavilion.
Through innovative product ideas, engineering expertise and the fulfillment of the highest quality standards, the companies in the Austrian automotive industry and its component suppliers have continuously strengthened their position on the global market and established a fine reputation as reliable development and production partner for vehicle manufacturers all over the world.
The domestic supplier industry comprises approximately 700 companies with more than 175,000 employees. Close co-operation between R&D facilities and the universities and technical colleges provide for the rapid implementation of the very latest technologies among supplier companies. With all these plus points on their side, the firms in the supply industry are more than ready to meet the challenges of the future from the automobile industry, and can react very swiftly to any changes in market needs and requirements.

*ACstyria Autocluster GmbH, Automotive Cluster in Upper Austria, Automotive Cluster Vienna Region, Austrian Automotive Association.

Link : http://www.advantageaustria.org/international/zentral/events/CESA-Congress-2012.en.html

Friday, August 17, 2012

Ford unveils 2013 GT500 tribute to Carroll Shelby

Ol' Carroll Shelby may no longer be with us. But his name and legend (good or bad) lives on. As part of this weeks events in Monterey, California, Friends of Carroll Shelby has unveiled this special four wheeled tribute to Shelby in the form of the 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra. Packing the punch of 663 horsepower, a Whipple supercharger ups the output to over 850 horsepower.

Ok, enough with the horsepower. How about the trick wide body thanks to Ice Nine Group of Detroit, Michigan. And of course there's the classic Shelby GT350 hoot scoop and a few other retro Mustang touches. Then there's the 20x10 and 20x13 wheels to fill out the wheel wells. Now I'm not usually a fan of 20 inch wheels, but they just seem to really work on this car. The Cobra was painted classic Shelby Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White dual racing stripes, one of my all time favorite color combinations and really shows off the lines of the new Mustang.

Now of course, this car is technically a concept car. I wouldn't expect to see this on dealer showrooms any time soon.


Source: Ford Motor Company

Press Release:
MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 17, 2012 – Friends of Carroll Shelby, including Ford Motor Company, Shelby American, Ford Racing and many others have built a unique 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra as a tribute to the late Carroll Shelby.
 
Ford is also announcing a renamed road at its Product Development Center in Dearborn, Mich., as a tribute to Shelby as well. Cobra has been the consistent performance label as Shelby worked with Ford for most of the last 60 years, and Shelby was instrumental in the creation of Ford performance vehicles including Cobras, the GT40 and Mustangs since the mid-1960s.
 
2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra
The unique tribute car was unveiled by Ford Motor Company board member Edsel Ford II, Ford’s group vice president for sales and marketing Jim Farley, and Shelby American president John Luft at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion where Cobra is the marque of show for 2012.
 
“Even at 89 years of age, Carroll was an inspiration to us all,” says Farley. “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we have created represents the very idea he had about making the 2013 Shelby GT500 into a true Cobra.”
 
Using the 662-horsepower 2013 Shelby GT500 as a foundation, “Friends of Carroll” created the one-of-a-kind 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra wide-body Mustang that now generates more than 850 horsepower with the help of a Ford Racing 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger.
 
Putting that much power to the ground requires plenty of traction, so the 13-inch-wide rear wheels are wrapped in massive 345-section high-performance tires for extra grip.
 
Ford Motor Company teamed up with Shelby American for several key components on the Carroll Shelby tribute car. Shelby American provided a specially designed hood, new rear wide-body kit, Shelby Wilwood brakes and new 20x13-inch rear and 20x10-inch front wheels. The bodywork is finished in the same Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes that graced so many of the Cobra roadsters built in the 1960s.
 
“Carroll Shelby changed the performance world forever,” says Luft. “And while he was proud of Shelby American’s achievements, Carroll was far more interested in the next car we would build. You will find the spirit and influence of Carroll Shelby in every future vehicle we build just as you’ll find it in the rear wide-body kit and hood integrated into the 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra.”
 
“You might also know that Carroll was a philanthropist, noted for supporting causes that moved him,” adds Farley. “In that spirit, this car will be taken on tour around the country, and hopefully will be used in a special way at the end of its tour –  a way Carroll would appreciate.”
 
Before the 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra hits the road, it will be shown at the Ford display in the expo area at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this weekend.
 
Carroll Shelby Way
For more than half a century, Carroll Shelby inspired designers and engineers throughout the extended Ford family. As a teenager, Edsel Ford II worked for Shelby doing a variety of jobs including cleaning transmission parts.
 
Countless engineers crossed paths with Shelby over the years, from those who crafted the original GT40 to those working on the 2013 Shelby GT500. Up until his death, Carroll Shelby remained committed to developing great performance cars. Even at the age of 88, he spent more than five hours driving the most powerful production Mustang ever during engineering validation sessions at Sebring and the Arizona Proving Grounds in late 2011.
 
During and after test sessions, Carroll spent hours discussing with engineers what he liked and what needed improvement. No one who worked with Carroll will ever forget it, and his lessons in vehicle dynamics will be passed along to coming generations.
 
Ford product development engineers now will get a daily reminder of Carroll’s way as they traverse the newly renamed Carroll Shelby Way through the heart of the Product Development Center in Dearborn, Mich., to the entrance of the proving ground.
 
“Sadly, Carroll Shelby is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on with the designers and engineers he interacted with over the years and he will continue to influence Ford performance cars for many years to come,” says Farley.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Car to X field trial in Germany with 120 vehicles

After several years of intensive preparation, Sim TD project enters in a test phase in the greater Frankfurt am Main area with a fleet of 120 vehicles from German car makers. The field test will last until the end of the year and include various studies on car-to-car technology and its impact on increasing traffic safety and efficiency. Around 450 test drivers will take part.
Each car has a network link to the others, as well as to the traffic infrastructure, and they will keep each other updated about the current traffic situation.


Technologies being tested as part of the simTD research project include:
- Electronic Brake Light, which delivers a message from the lead vehicle to a following vehicle if an emergency braking procedure is carried out, even if the incident occurs out-of-sight, for example around a bend in the road
- Obstacle Warning system, which enables a vehicle to inform other road users of the presence, position and type of potentially hazardous obstacles on the road
- Traffic Sign Assistant, which remains in continuous contact with traffic management centres to access up-to-date information on variable speed limits, temporary restrictions and diversions; as well as providing details of current and approaching permanent regulations, such as fixed speed limits and right of way
- Public Traffic Management, which provides exact traffic prognosis based on comprehensive information; this includes identifying likely traffic scenarios and their impact at the point in the journey when they are encountered rather than at the point of departure
- In-car Internet Access, which, for example, can enable the driver to reserve and pay for parking en-route.
 
The consortium involves representatives from all major interest groups, including Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Opel, Volkswagen, Bosch, Continental, Deutsche Telekom, regional infrastructure operators and German Research Institutions (Technische Universität München und Berlin, Universität Würzburg, Fraunhofer).

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Bad Personal Experiences with Turbos

One of my very bad turbo experiences

I have officially owned three turbocharged vehicles up to this point in life. In reality I have some complex emotions about turbochargers, which are mostly negative in nature. Allow me to explain.

The first real experience I had with a turbocharged vehicle was when my oldest brother bought a 1997 Eagle Talon TSi. It came with all-wheel-drive and a large hump in the hood that supposedly was put there to make room for the turbocharger. Through the Talon's force-fed setup, it was able to produce 210 horsepower, making it a pretty fun and sporty car to drive. About a year later I was riding with my brother one hot summer night in Tempe, Arizona when steam started pouring out from under the Talon's hood. He pulled over to a gas station and popped the hood, allowing even more of the evaporated coolant to escape.

"Need some help?" two guys in a Civic quipped. I don't remember the exact response my brother shot at them, but it was pointed to say the least.

Fast forward several years, and I have owned two problematic turbocharged vehicles. Both of them were Volvos, which after finally consulting with a mechanic worth his salt about the second one, I have decided were both really bad ideas. Supposedly the first turbo Volvo was a lemon, as I had mechanics and Volvo aficionados swear to me that turbo Swede bricks often went to 300,000 miles or more without major mechanical problems.

The first turbo Volvo was horrible. The car drove fine at first, but eventually it started to spew out steam from evaporated coolant. I added coolant to the car constantly, but it regularly would threaten to overheat. I had a mechanic try to track down coolant leaks on multiple occasions, but it was to no avail. And then I started to notice the car's exhaust was white all the time--the surefire sign of a blown cylinder head. I didn't have the cash for a new head gasket, and then the car started to overheat all the time. It started running sluggishly. Rather than shoulder the huge repair bill it was sure to need, I dumped the car as quickly as possible.

The second turbo Volvo kindly waited until we were in the stretch of desert between Las Vegas and Los Angeles to manifest its forced induction problems. More specifically, smoke plumed out from the undercarriage, the result of an oil leak that traveled along the underside of the car until it reached the catalytic converter. As if that weren't enough, oil also spewed in tiny droplets out of the tailpipe, spraying all over the back window. The back window's wiper couldn't clear the sticky mess away, leaving the driver to look through a distorted and sickly yellow film to view traffic from behind. After many repair bills trying to track down the oil leaks, which seemed to crop up in new places after the old ones were fixed, I finally escorted the car to automotive heaven.
   
If it had been up to just these experiences, I wouldn't be conflicted at all about turbos. I would swear off ever, ever owning another forced induction vehicle. The fact of the matter was these two turbocharged Volvos happened to be a lot of fun to drive, when they were running at least reasonably well. Even though neither one had a large engine, they both accelerated strongly and provided a large power band. I live around large mountains with steep canyon roads, and both vehicles pulled strong up the steep inclines. The fact they had turbos also meant I didn't have to shell out a bunch of money for gas.

What made me feel even more conflicted about turbochargers was owning my Saab. Not too long after having purchased my Saab I realized its turbocharger system was much more advanced than the ones included in either of my Volvos. The turbo response was much faster, and the turbo pulled the car harder. Even better, I didn't have to deal with oil or coolant leaks, overheating or any of the other problems my turbo Volvos had almost from the get-go. The Saab was also a lot more fun to drive.

My turbo Saab

As I watch with great interest a sudden surge in turbocharger use by manufacturers such as Ford and BMW part of me gets excited while another part of me shrinks back in terror. Are these turbochargers like the one I had in my Saab (which was the newest of the three vehicles) or are they like the horrible ones in my Volvos? I know with any turbocharged vehicle you have to watch the coolant and oil levels like a hawk, but I also know from experience that being faithful about watching the car's fluids doesn't mean the turbocharger won't give you major headaches.

Let's just put it this way: I have declared to my wife that if I do buy another turbocharged car it won't be a Volvo and it will be a hobby car.


Monaco will become soon a connected city thanks to Bosch

The Principality of Monaco and Bosch have agreed to create together the “connected city” concept, which outlines the possibilities for connecting information and communications systems, buildings, institutions, and elements of the infrastructure.
Bosch will draw up a feasibility study. Over the past years, the company has devoted a lot of attention to the subject of connectivity, and worked in the areas of smart sensors and the internet of things and services. In addition, Bosch has extensive know-how when it comes to controlling complex systems.
The Principality of Monaco is interested in preserving the exceptionally high quality of life in the city state, and regards the concept as a further extension of its activities to promote sustainability. It hopes to develop and implement solutions in areas such as mobility, energy, healthcare, and communications.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Does Gen Y Really Want Ugly Cars?

2011 Nissan Juke

Automotive manufacturers seem to be desperate to capture business from the seemingly elusive Generation Y. They are employing all kinds of tricks and gimmicks, even trying out things they would never dream using on Gen X or the Boomers, all with little to no success. GM and other automakers have even tried ads that use "cool" language popular with the generation. Perhaps the most jarring and interesting marketing technique is the manufacturing of ugly automobiles as a way to lure Generation Y to buy.

The list of ugly cars seems to be growing all the time. First there was the Honda Element, which isn't completely hideous. Most of the people I see driving them are older than I am. Other cars like the Nissan Cube or Scion IQ took the ugly factor further. Perhaps the ugliest car on the road today is the Nissan Juke.

I have to admit that ugly cars are nothing new. The Gremlin looked like it had been hit by the ugly stick a few thousand times. Some people may hate me for it, but I find the Fox platform Mustangs (from the 80s to early 90s) to be quite hideous. Then there was the horrible last generation of the Toyota Celica, which seriously looked like an angry rabbit. Of course there is always that ultimate in automotive ugliness: the Pontiac Aztec. When I think of all the ugly cars from the past I begin to think the ugly trend is one of the constants in the automotive industry. 

Toyota Celica

I'm really at the tail end of Gen X or the beginning of Gen Y, depending on how you draw the cutoff. Because of my unique position, perhaps I have a perspective not shared by many automotive executives. I don't think Gen Y is looking for ugly cars any more than any other generation has had an affinity for them. There will always be those tasteless people in every generation who wear white socks with dark pants and shoes, but they're always a minority. Instead, I think the real issue is affordability.

Gen Y has the unique pleasure of being the generation who gets to graduate into adulthood in a world that is in the throes of economic turmoil. Most people from the generation have also seen the horribly negative consequences of their parents' spend thrift mentality (a stereotypical trait of the Boomers) that is fueled by image consciousness. The result is many members of Gen Y cannot or do not want to afford an expensive vehicle. Because they are thinking about more than image, younger car buyers also want a vehicle that works in a day-to-day practical way. This means the car cannot be constantly needing maintenance, has enough cargo room, gets good gas mileage, etc.

While everyone is focusing on the ugly cars populating the roads (it's kind of hard to not gawk at them in horrid disbelief) many are missing some of the beauties that are favored by Gen Y. Sure, the Subaru Impreza WRX and STI that are so beloved by younger kids started out ugly, but they have transformed from ugly ducklings into curvy hatchbacks and sedans. The new Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ is another example of an attractive car that appeals to Gen Y. These are cars that provide a certain automotive experience or utility for significantly less money.

2012 Subaru BRZ

Perhaps the biggest factor fueling the ugly car movement is that kids just plain don't want to drive a car like mom's or dad's. There are a few exceptions to this, but most kids feel the intense desire to form their own identities. There's no denying that cars have been and for the foreseeable future will continue to be deeply tied to our personal identities. This is why so many of my generation are squeezing their kids into the cramped third rows of new crossovers rather than drive the more practical minivan that looks too much like what mom drove back in the day.

So automotive industry executives, listen up: Gen Y will buy attractive cars if they are affordable and don't look too much like the cars of the last thirty years.


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part four

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, as member of the Executive committee, he gives his vision of this international event.

"CESA is a true forum. In France, we are not very familiar with open discussions on technology. There is a tradition of secret. There is a dialogue between PSA, Renault and Valeo, but it was not the case with our colleagues from other OEMS.
This event is the opportunity to discuss with top experts the latest trends and main challenges. We can have direct conversations on hot topics.
From my point of view, CESA should be the mirror of what we are doing in France with VeDeCom institute in Paris area. This facility is dedicated to research on carbon free vehicles of the future, connectivity, automated driving and new mobility services".

Sunday, August 5, 2012

CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part three

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, he talks about next generation powertrains.

"The evolution of powertrains is very similar to the evolution of species on Earth. OEMS have to adapt themselves to a new landscape, due to regulations for CO2 and pollution. Thanks to new technologies, in the field of combustion or admission, the average consumption will be reduced by 10 to 15 per cent in 2020. That's very important in only ten years.
Of course, electrification is the main topic today. Up to 8 billion dollars have been invested in battery technologies in the whole world. There is now a very large offer, from Stop & Start to range extender, including battery electric vehicles and plug in hybrids. I think that all these solutions will compete for the next decade. After 2020, the market will then choose the best options.
We already have electric vehicles and we have identified synergy effects in that field in our alliance with General Motors.
At PSA, we have decided to focus on diesel hybrid. This technology has been deployed on several vehicles and have been well welcomed by our customers. It is still a premium feature, but we are working to make it more affordable.
Our company has been also the first to promote Stop & Start system. We think it can be improved, in conjunction with a 48 volt architecture. It would be possible then to offer new functions, such as  active coasting and boost effet, with a 15 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions. The european approach for hybrids is more cost effective".

Next, Marc Duval-Destin will be discussing CESA event.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part two

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, he talks about automated driving.

"In a few months, our Peugeot 208 will be offering automated park assist. This feature is not that new on the market place. Many other OEMS have implemented that technology that lets the car park by itself, calculating if there is room enough and turning automatically the steering wheel. But, it will be the fist time ever that this equipement will be available on a mass production vehicle.
With EuroNCAP decision, to promote AEB (Automated Emergency Braking systems), the OEMS will integrate more and more sensors to enhance safety. Thanks to cost reduction, radars, cameras or lidar will spread on model series between 2015 and 2020. The technology already enables the car to evaluate the driver concentration with accurate sensors and algorithms.
We are also working on comfort features. A function such as traffic jam assist should give peace of mind to the driver. In slow traffic, he would then have time to make something else and let the car manage the accelerator and the brake, thanks to ACC.
In France, we have a common position with Renault. We would like to avoid expensive technologies and to give the benefit of accident free technologies for a majority of drivers, and not only for high end models. Our vision is to develop car to car communication and to promote a dialogue between the vehicle and the infrastructure. That's why we have created VeDeCom institute in Paris area. Public authorities, pedestrians and drivers should be able to interact for a better mobility".

Next, Marc Duval-Destin will be discussing next gen powertrains.