Siemens VDO's By-Wire Technology Turns the eCorner
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DETROIT, Oct. 17 /Siemens VDO's evolution of by- wire technology and system integration is advancing down the road to zero emissions. Expanding on the company's recent introduction of the electronic wedge brake (EWB), which opened the door to the advantages of an electronic drivetrain, Siemens VDO is developing eCorner. This technology is designed to replace conventional wheel suspension, hydraulic shock absorbers, mechanical steering, hydraulic brakes and traditional internal combustion engines with four electric wheel hub motors, which will directly drive the wheels to accelerate the car.
"Siemens VDO is developing the technology in response to the increasingly strict emissions regulations, rising fuel prices and the demand for improved flexibility," said Siemens VDO Board of Director Dr. Klaus Egger. "We consider the electric motor to be the actual long-term drive solution for fulfilling even the most stringent emission laws in the future, as opposed to hybrid drives, which represent an interim solution on the road to future propulsion technologies."
Siemens VDO's eCorner concept integrates an automobile's drivetrain, steering, shock absorbers and brakes into its four wheels, completely removing the need for the traditional engine architecture. The transition from an internal combustion engine to an eCorner wheel hub motor will result in decreased emissions, increased energy efficiency and lower costs for consumers due to the elimination of hydraulic systems to maintain and service.
Siemens VDO's eCorner also will allow car manufacturers to completely redesign a vehicle's look with the removal of the large combustion engine and transmission. Integration of the various vehicle components will offer further modularization of cars and manufacturers will only need different drive wheel configurations for equipping a wide variety of platforms. For consumers, the four independently operating wheel hub motors will offer enhanced driving performance under different road conditions. Also, driver assistance systems using eCorner will offer drivers new possibilities, such as parking sideways using pivotal wheels or electronic steering aids.
The EWB can decelerate each wheel separately with maximum precision and enormous braking power to meet the driver's needs. Drivers will be able to pivot each wheel to the specific needs of the driving situation, control the acceleration of individual wheels for better stability and monitor the tire pressure to ensure optimal contact between the wheel and road.
The drive-by-wire technology is projected to use up to 96 percent of the available energy needed for vehicle propulsion, whereas current gasoline and diesel engines use less than 50 percent of the energy and future full hybrids systems are expected to use approximately 85 percent. eCorner saves and stores useful energy when the vehicle reduces speed, because the wheel hub motors act as auxiliary brakes using a generator effect, which helps to charge the battery.
Siemens VDO's EWB technology is an important milestone towards the realization of eCorner. EWB will demonstrate the advantages of a completely electric brake system, opening the door for other functions, like eCorner, to be integrated into the wheel. The most immediate step toward eCorner will be integrating the corner module to all wheel systems with the exception of electronic shock absorbers and electronic steering. Siemens VDO expects that during the next decade, this by-wire system will integrate all systems into the wheel, with series production beginning by 2015.
Siemens VDO is a leading international automotive electronics and mechatronic supplier. The group is part of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) and generated sales of $11.3 billion (euro 9.6 billion) in the 2005 business year (ending Sept. 30).
Source: Siemens VDO
CONTACT: Brad Warner of Siemens VDO, +1-248-209-5826, brad.warner@siemens.com
Web site: usa.siemensvdo.com/
