Automotive Electronics: a Perspective on In-Motorcycle and In-Car Electronic Systems

F. Baronti, F. Lenzi,R. Roncella, R. Saletti,Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’informazione

Università di Pisa, Italy

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Outline

• The spreading of Automotive Electronics– Background– Application domains

• Current, upcoming and future In-Motorcycle and In-Car Electronics– Analogies and differences

• Hints for in-vehicle electronic system design: our research experience

• Conclusions

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The Spreading of Electronics

• New requirements need to be addressed:– Safety– Performance and Comfort– Pollution

• Semiconductor technology improvements– Affordability– Reliability

• Replacing mechanics with electronics

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Application domains

• Body and comfort• Powertrain• Active and passive safety• Security• Infotainment• X-by-wire

Same application domains for both cars and motorcycles

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In-Motorcycle Electronics

• GPS

• Alarm system

• FM-radio

• Semi-automatic preload adjustment

• Semi-automatic damping coefficient adjustment

State-of-the-art

• Brake pad wear indicator

• Airbag

• Sequential / Automatic gearX-by-wire

• IntercomInfotainment

• ImmobilizerSecurity

• ABS• Tires pressure control• Traction Control

Active & Passive safety

• Engine Control Unit (reconfigurable maps)Powertrain

• Digital commands• Automatic heated-grips• Remote seat-opening

system

Body &Comfort

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In-Motorcycle Electronics: TodayABS (BMW) Airbag (Honda)

GPS (Kawasaki)Sequential gear (Aprilia)

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In-Motorcycle Electronics

• Accelerator• Brakes

• Semi-active suspensions

Upcoming & Future

• Adaptive Headlights• Driving Assistance

• Handle-barX-by-wire

• On-board PC-like devicesInfotainment

• Physiological parameters-based alarm systemSecurity

• Wearable airbag• Collision Avoidance

Active & Passive safety

• Electric/Thermal & Electric/Hydrogen Hybrid drive trainPowertrain

• Fully-automatic preload adjustment

• Vocal commands

Body &Comfort

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In-Motorcycle Electronics: Future

Bombardier EMBRIO 2025

Blue Team DARPA

Personal Air and Land Vehicle

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In-Car Electronics

• Hybrid Drive Train

• Smart Key• DVD-player• GPS

• Semi-active suspensions

• Electro-chromic rear-view mirrors

State-of-the-art

• Brake pad monitor• Airbags• Tires pressure control• Cruise-control (radar)• Adaptive headlights

• Sequential / Automatic gearX-by-wire

• Intercom• PC-like device interfaceInfotainment

• GPS alarmSecurity

• ABS• Electronic Stability

Program• Traction Control• Parking assistance• Night vision

Active & Passive safety

• Engine Control UnitPowertrain

• iDrive (all-in-one control)• Heated-seats• Electronically adjustable

drive position

Body &Comfort

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In-Car Electronics: TodayNight Vision (Mercedes) Proximity collision avoidance (Volvo)

Infotainment (Maserati) Rear camera (Audi)

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In-Car Electronics

• Reconfigurable cockpit

Upcoming & Future

• Collision avoidance

• Autonomous vehicleX-by-wire• PC-like on-board devicesInfotainment• Biometric based alarmSecurity

• Driving assistanceActive & Passive safety

• Plug-in HybridsPowertrain

• Replaceable cabinsBody &Comfort

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In-Car Electronics: FutureTransition

Stanford Racing Team’sAutonomous Car

Mercedes Silverflow

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Middle-end Cars Vs High-end Motorcycles

Adjustable Suspensions

Brake-Pad Wear Indicator

Tyre Pressure Indicator

Anti Blocking SystemAirbag

Electronic Stability Program

Adaptive Headlights

Traction ControlGlobal Positioning System

Cars

Intercom

Motorcycles

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Low-end Cars Vs Low-end Motorcycles

Adjustable Suspensions

Brake-Pad Wear Indicator

Tyre Pressure Indicator

Anti Blocking SystemAirbag

Electronic Stability Program

Adaptive Headlights

Traction ControlGlobal Positioning System

Cars

Intercom

Motorcycles

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Spreading of electronics

• Difficult in middle and low-end motorcycles• Not for low-end carsBecause of• Production volume

– 1 order of magnitude (in Europe):• 14M cars vs 1.4M motorcycles*

• Costs (percentage weight rises)

*Year 2006, source: UNRAE, ACEM

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Our research experience • Encouraging the spreading of electronics in middle-

and low-end motorcycles• Valuable examples:

– CAN-based communication infrastructure (1)– Bluetooth-based audio communication unit (2)– Embedded control system for suspension

preload self-tuning (3)– Motorcycle indicator automatic off (4)

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CAN-based Communication Infrastructure

NODE1 (Front)

NODE2 (Dashboard)

NODE4 (Seat)

CAN BUSFront Lights

External Temperature

Horn

Key Switch

Cooling Fan

Phonic Wheel

User Commands

Digital Display

Analog Instrumentation

Electrical Centerstand

Circuit

Engine Sensors

Back Lights

NODE3 (Back)

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Bluetooth-based Communication Unit

ACU

UserInterface

Audio Communication Unit

Bluetooth Helmets

•Wireless Intercom•Access to infotainment sources

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Embedded Control System forSuspension Preload Self-tuning

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a

b

He

Heh

Hehy

Hehx

Magnetic North

HALLSENSOR

x

y

z

Motorcycle Indicator Automatic Off

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

0 100 200 300 400

Direction

Magnetic North

Azimuth ADirection

Magnetic North

Azimuth A

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Design hints• Adopt solutions from the automotive sector

having in mind the unique feature of motorcycles– Motorcycles are open-loop unstable systems!– Reduced budget available for electronics

• Apply a structured design methodology to:– Increase reusability– Shorten development times

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Challenges to face• Zero ppm defect level after tests

– As a motorcycle rider I would hardly accept a motorcycle breakdown caused by an electronic subsystem failure

• Make technological improvements also available to low-end motorcycles– in particular to motor-scooters which are going

to play a very important role in private transport

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Conclusions

• State-of-the-art, upcoming, and future in-vehicle electronic systems

• Description of interesting case-studies coming from our research activity in this field

• Discussion of some design hints to manage the spread of electronics in two-wheel world effectively

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References(1) F. Baronti, et al. “Low-cost CAN-based communication system

for high-end motor-scooter”, SAE paper 2002-01-2154, (2002) (2) R. Roncella, et al. “Wireless Audio Communication Network For

In-Vehicle Access Of Infotainment Services In Motorcycles”, Proc. of the 17th Annual IEEE Int’l Symp. on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (2006)

(3) R. Saletti, et al. “Embedded Electronic Control System for Continuous Self-Tuning of Motorcycle Suspension Preload”, Proc. of the 15th Mediterranean Conf. on Control and Automation” (2007)

(4) F. Lenzi, et al. “Using a Very Low-Cost Hall Sensor for Motorcycle Indicator Automatic Turn-off: an Experimental Study”, to be presented at the next IEEE Intelligent Vehicle Symp. (2008)