Vehicle wiring system / cable loom development
The cross-linking of all electrical components (for example in vehicles) is called the vehicle wiring system. In an average midrange vehicle approximately 3 km of cable with a weight of about 50 kg are installed.
Since modern and innovative vehicles require more and more electricity, 48 volt networks will become the standard (currently: 12 volt networks).
The investments in the E/E sector will continue to grow strongly and will, in future, become more and more important.
Among the electrical components of a wiring system respectively the total cabling of a vehicle are, for example:
- Basic power supply / energy management (ignition, motor control, fuel pump, extractor fans, wipers, etc.)
- Safety E/E (brake systems, ABS, ESP, light, steering wheel, etc.)
- Comfort E/E (heating, air conditioning, infotainment, driver assistance systems, seat and window adjustment, etc.)
The experts of the inform GmbH work in the complete development process for vehicle wiring systems/cable looms. From the system architecture, design and cable path optimisation, installation analyses for components up to release for series production.
- System engineering – functional development, system architecture.
- Product development – hardware development, prototype, validation.
- Project management – release for series production.
- 2D design / check and release – creating drawings for the manufacturing plants.
- 3D design for DMU and simulation.
- etc.
Driver assistance systems
Driver assistance systems (DAS) support the driver of a vehicle and, in certain cases, take over his job. They are mainly computer systems, that are linked to input and output devices and have access to some components and functions within the vehicle. As a rule the technologies are integrated, in the sense of fixed installed hardware with embedded software.
Together with the OEMs the inform GmbH develops solutions and possibilities for the use of DAS. Here it is a matter of increasing driving safety (e.g. emergency braking system), increasing driving comfort (e.g. autonomous driving) and improving the efficiency (e.g. by reducing consumption). Many of the systems are so designed that the driver has the possibility of temporarily activating or deactivating the system, thus a manual control or an individual command are possible.
Examples of our services:
Functional development
- Model based functional development
- Defining functional concepts on the basis of product requirements and relevant standards.
- Reconciling technical concepts with the product management, the software and the hardware development
- Analysing and optimising software architectures and identifying design weaknesses at a module level.
- Conducting functional and technical reviews to ensure a high standard of quality
- Support for system integration, testing and field tests
Modelling and simulation
- Creation of residual bus simulations (soft-ECUs, i.e. simulated control devices) for engine, transmission and power electronics.
- Primary model creation and extension for motor single HiLs (motor controller is actually installed, everything else is simulated)
Experiment compound
- Communication tests (e.g. ethernet, CAN, LIN, etc.):
- Test case creation and definition
- Test execution and defect verification
- Contracting for the creation of new tests (obtain quotes/reconcile/define scopes etc.)
- Management and monitoring of the running contracts
- Configuration and ordering of new hardware (among others for the extension of the test bed)
- Defect reporting and monitoring
Testing on the vehicle
- Installing and putting into operation/configuration of measurement technology (VX-boxes, VN-boxes, MI4, vector-tools and MTS)
- Vehicle upgrading (flashing, coding)
- Execution of measurement and safeguard test drives (e.g. LCA; lateral collision avoidance) and test drives to check and verify defects.
Electro-mobility
In an age of increasing fuel prices and stricter emission regulations electrical propulsion is becoming more and more popular. Not only as a single drive concept but also as a hybrid drive, the importance of electro-mobility is increasing rapidly.
The energy storage (battery or fuel cell) as well as the electric motor drive concepts can be combined with each other in many different ways and confront our customers with extensive development work.
inform supports its customers in the area of electro-mobility with highly specialised staff for, as an example, following tasks:
- Energy storage concept analyses
- Drivetrain concept analyses
- Component development and optimisation
- Electrotechnical analysis and experiment
- Development of sensor and actuator systems
- Vibration engineering analysis and evaluation
- Development of hydrogen tanks
- Electric motor developments and design
- Hybrid control application
- etc.
Infotainment
In the age of mobility and connectivity the car is no longer just a means of transport, but can also be understood as a living environment. For this reason a modern vehicle should not only be safer and more economical, but, above all, more intelligent.
The links with the environment and internet should – as at home – make day-to-day life easier when travelling. Besides an attractive audio system and the integration of mobile devices and the navigational system, in a modern “connected car” more importance is increasingly being attached to online and telematic functions, speech input and output, apps, the complete integration in the vehicle and the realtime communication with the outside world.
Intuitive operating concepts and an intelligent HMI concept require a trouble-free integration of all infotainment components in the background as well as their precise coordination in the respective vehicle.
inform works with many vehicle manufacturers and system suppliers on the development, the validation and the integration of modern and groundbreaking infotainment systems. Within their own development centres (sector electrics / electronics) and on-site at the customer.
The cornerstone for such successful development work is the detailed knowledge of the customer specific system, process and tool chain.
Coupled with the many years of experience in the automotive sector we can press ahead with our customers’ projects in the area of component development and project management with a high standard of quality.
Functional project support:
- Connected car
- Displays and instruments
- Navigation
- Head-up Display
- Telephony
- Speech input/output
- Apps
Thematic project support:
- Design development of infotainment components and their mounting and fastening concept.
- Packaging analysis in the subsystem and complete vehicle
- Project coordination and component management from the start of project up to production ramp-up
- Hardware and software development
- Validation and test fleet management
- Planning and execution of tests in the area of infotainment, connectivity and telematics
- Creation and customisation of test specifications
- HiL applications and test automation
- Definition of test concepts and the development and construction of test beds
- Prototype construction and vehicle modifications
