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

F. Baronti, F. Lenzi, R. Roncella, R. Saletti,

Dipartimento di Ingegneria dellinformazione

Universit di Pisa, Italy

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
Same application domains for both cars and motorcycles Body and comfort Powertrain Active and passive safety Security Infotainment X-by-wire
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In-Motorcycle Electronics
Body & Comfort Powertrain Active & Passive safety Security Infotainment X-by-wire State-of-the-art Semi-automatic Digital commands preload adjustment Automatic heated-grips Semi-automatic Remote seat-opening damping coefficient system adjustment Engine Control Unit (reconfigurable maps) ABS Tires pressure control Traction Control Immobilizer Intercom GPS Brake pad wear indicator Airbag Alarm system FM-radio

Sequential / Automatic gear

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In-Motorcycle Electronics: Today

ABS (BMW) Airbag (Honda)

Sequential gear (Aprilia)

GPS (Kawasaki)
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In-Motorcycle Electronics
Upcoming & Future Body & Comfort Powertrain Fully-automatic preload adjustment Vocal commands Semi-active suspensions

Electric/Thermal & Electric/Hydrogen Hybrid drive train Adaptive Headlights Driving Assistance

Wearable airbag Active & Passive safety Collision Avoidance Security Infotainment X-by-wire On-board PC-like devices Handle-bar

Physiological parameters-based alarm system

Brakes

Accelerator
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In-Motorcycle Electronics: Future

Blue Team DARPA Personal Air and Land Vehicle

Bombardier EMBRIO 2025

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In-Car Electronics
State-of-the-art Body & Comfort Powertrain iDrive (all-in-one control) Heated-seats Electronically adjustable drive position Engine Control Unit ABS Electronic Stability Program Traction Control Parking assistance Night vision GPS alarm Intercom PC-like device interface Semi-active suspensions Electro-chromic rear-view mirrors Hybrid Drive Train Brake pad monitor Airbags Tires pressure control Cruise-control (radar) Adaptive headlights

Active & Passive safety

Security Infotainment X-by-wire

Smart Key DVD-player GPS

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Sequential / Automatic gear

In-Car Electronics: Today

Night Vision (Mercedes) Proximity collision avoidance (Volvo)

Infotainment (Maserati)

Rear camera (Audi)

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In-Car Electronics
Upcoming & Future Body & Comfort Powertrain Active & Passive safety Security Infotainment X-by-wire Replaceable cabins Plug-in Hybrids Driving assistance Biometric based alarm PC-like on-board devices Autonomous vehicle Collision avoidance Reconfigurable cockpit

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In-Car Electronics: Future

Mercedes Silverflow Transition

Stanford Racing Teams Autonomous Car

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Middle-end Cars Vs High-end Motorcycles

Cars Anti Blocking System Airbag Brake-Pad Wear Indicator Electronic Stability Program Adjustable Suspensions Adaptive Headlights Tyre Pressure Indicator Traction Control Global Positioning System Intercom
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Motorcycles

Low-end Cars Vs Low-end Motorcycles

Cars Anti Blocking System Airbag Brake-Pad Wear Indicator Electronic Stability Program Adjustable Suspensions Adaptive Headlights Tyre Pressure Indicator Traction Control Global Positioning System Intercom
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Motorcycles

Spreading of electronics
Difficult in middle and low-end motorcycles Not for low-end cars Because 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 middleand 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

Digital Display User Commands Analog Instrumentation Back Lights

NODE2 (Dashboard)
Front Lights External Temperature Key Switch Phonic Wheel Cooling Fan Horn Electrical Centerstand Circuit

NODE3 (Back)

CAN BUS
NODE1 (Front) NODE4 (Seat)
Engine Sensors

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Bluetooth-based Communication Unit

User Interface
Bluetooth Helmets

ACU
Audio Communication Unit

Wireless Intercom Access to infotainment sources

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Embedded Control System for Suspension Preload Self-tuning

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Motorcycle Indicator Automatic Off

x Magnetic North Heh Hehx HALL SENSOR a b Hehy y

Magnetic North
He

Azimuth A
Direction
3

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 100 200 300 400

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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 Intl 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)
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