Automotive Design and Production

MAR 2014

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AD&P; > March 2014 > FEATURE > On Electronic Advances > Gary S. Vasilash > gsv@autofeldguide.com world." MyLink integrates with iOS and Android devices. "We had a model mix expectation. In some markets we fgured that there would be a 30% take." It turned out that it was just the opposite: a 70% take. What's more, he said, "There was a much younger demographic coming it." So apparently, infotainment does work to draw in those who are driven by connectivity. A tour de force of electronics techno- logy on the market is the Mercedes S Class. Think of it as an electronics platform that can take you from A to B in comfort and luxury and more safely than other vehicles. The car is ftted with a forward-facing stereo camera. To provide driving comfort, the camera looks at the road surface15 meters ahead of the vehicle. This information, combined with the driving parameters, results in adjustments to the suspension accordingly. The camera has an aperture angle of 45° and because of its stereo capability, can generate a three-dimensional view of up to about 50 meters in front of the vehicle and 500 m overall. In addition to what's called the "Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera," there is an array of radar sensors mounted in the front, there is a veritable radar array, with long- (200 m, 18°) and medium- (60 m, 60°) range detection. There is also radar at the rear. What is notable about the use of these sensors is that they're used to provide data to algorithms that perform a number of functions, like determining what is ahead of the vehicle (car, pedestrians, etc.). While this is used for adaptive cruise control, it goes beyond that as there is what Mercedes calls "Steering Assist with Stop&Go; Pilot." Based on camera data of both trafc in front and lane markings, information is sent to the electric steering system so that at speeds up to 200 km/h (124.3 mph), the appropriate steering torque is applied to keep the S Class in its lane. At speeds up to 60 km/h (37.3 mph), the vision and radar data are integrated with the control units for the engine, transmission, brakes, and steering such that the car can operate semi-autonomously, tracking a vehicle in front or following lane markings. While arguably Steering Assist would allow the driver to do little as regards steering the vehicle in order to stay in his or her lane and would adjust the speed as required pedal-free, there are sensors in the steering wheel to determine whether there are hands on the wheel and if it is determined that the driver isn't engaged and the conditions warrant it, then warnings are provided to bring the driver's hands back to the steering wheel. Given, however, the right conditions (e.g., driving essentially in a convoy or in stop-and-go trafc), the driver can drive in a hands-free mode. p Phil Abram is GM's CIO—but in his case, it is Chief Infotainment Ocer. He believes that the proliferation of apps and other electronics-based amenities is going to continue to happen in a big way in the automotive space. 42 0314ADP FEATURE Electronics.indd 42 2/18/2014 3:31:14 PM

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