Articles

Ford launches a global challenge based on apps for a better mobility

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Ford just launched its Innovate Mobility Challenge Series, inviting the developer and ‘maker’ communities to come together to find innovative mobility solutions in eight different locations* around the world. Each challenge was designed to address a specific issue, such as good deliveries, commuting, parking or health services. Developers are invited to use Ford’s OpenXC program. It's a non-production, open-source, software and hardware platform using real-time vehicle data. 15 types of vehicle data are available, including those related to vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel-level, and things like whether or not the windshield wipers are on or if a door is open. The aim is to integrate this real-time vehicle information into apps that relate to sustainability and mobility issues, whether by incorporating the data into existing apps or creating new apps from scratch. Link : http://fordsvl.com/innovatemobility  *Portugal, Los Angeles, United States, and Mumbai, India, before ...

Europe ready for Car2X deployment

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The EC co-funded project DRIVE C2X provides proof that cooperative systems work and demonstrates a positive impact on safety, travel efficiency and the environment, with high user acceptance. Moreover, it shows evidence of the economic viability of cooperative systems. These conclusions have been announced during the final review of this research project, on July 16 and 17, 2014 in Berlin. During this three and a half years project, more than 750 drivers tested eight safety-related functions of cooperative functions all over Europe. The operational tests took place in seven test sites in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. In total, more than 200 vehicles drove more than 1,5 million km. A faultless performance of the functions during these extensive field trials has shown that the system is mature for deployment. The tests have clearly demonstrated a positive impact of DRIVE C2X on safety and efficiency. Drivers reacted to information and warni...

Full programme now on line

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Good news : you can now find the full programme of CESA 3.0 on line. As you will see, we have now names and top experts from famous companies, both in panel and technical sessions. You will also find confirmed speakers for opening and closing keynotes. We hope you will appreciate our work and our efforts to make this 2014 edition a huge success. Here is the link : http://www.sia.fr/evenement_detail_cesa_3_0_congress_programme_1213.htm

EPIC Initiates Technology and Market Study on Photonics Technologies in the Automotive Industry

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EPIC has signed a contract with market research and consultancy firm TEMATYS for carrying out an in-depth market and technology report of photonics technologies used in cars and for its manufacturing. Manufacturing includes laser systems used in welding, cutting, marking … as well as for acquiring information such as machine vision, reflectometry, thermography, profilometry, shearography... Photonics technologies are extensively used in the car for sensing and imaging, optical communication (MOST networks, Flexray), delivering information (screens, displays, GPS), lighting, (LED, OLED, laser), and energy such as photovoltaic.   PSA Peugeot Citroën will be hosting EPIC meeting to validate preliminary findings of the study on October 20, from 1 to 5 pm in Vélizy-Villacoublay (Paris, France). The full report will be released in December in conjunction with CESA, the Congress on Automotive Electronic Systems, the most important automotive electronics conference in France. It ...

Germany believes in inductive charging

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Daimler and the BMW Group have signed an agreement on the joint development and implementation of a standardised technology for inductive charging of electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The advantage is the cable-free connection between the supply point and the vehicle’s high-voltage battery. The system consists of two components: a secondary coil in the vehicle floor as well as a base plate with integral primary coil that is located underneath the car, for example on the garage floor. The arrangement of the coils, and consequently of the field pattern, is based on a design derived from their circular shape that offers a number of crucial benefits. These include the extremely compact and lightweight construction along with effective spatial confinement of the magnetic field. The electrical energy is transmitted via an alternating magnetic field generated between the coils, contact-free, without charging cables and at a charging rate of 3.6 kW. With an efficiency factor of ...

Easymile : a new company dedicated to autonomous vehicles in France

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CESA 3.0 will welcome as a speaker Manuel Chaufrein, from all-new company Easymile. This is a joint-venture between Ligier (non-licensed cars OEM) and Robosoft (expert in software and robotics controls). Mr Chaufrein will join the panel about "new usage in automation", on december 3rd. Robosoft has been working in robotics since 1985. The company has a strong know-how and has build autonomous shuttles. One of them has already transported over 1 million people in Vulcania, the resort based in Auvergne region. Ligier, which knows the automotive industry (from motorsport, including Formula 1, and non-licensed cars today), launched its VIPA project a few years ago. A limited number of these electric and automated shuttles will run inside Michelin's R&D campus in the next months. The aim of the two partners is to offer autonomous vehicles dedicated to public transport and for short distances. Indeed, the name of the JV, Easymile refers to the last mile. CESA 3....

The virtual windscreen from Jaguar Land Rover

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Jaguar Land Rover will soon offer new ways to give drivers higher quality, life-like graphics and information that will offer an enhanced 'virtual' view of the road or race track. For example, ther Virtual Windscreen concept uses the entire windscreen as a display so the driver's eyes need never leave the road. High quality hazard, speed and navigation icons could all be projected onto the screen together. For performance drivers, imagery that could aid track driving includes: Racing line and braking guidance, Virtual racing lines on the windscreen appear to be marked on the track ahead for optimum racing line, with changes in colour to indicate braking guidance, Ghost car racing, Improve your lap times by racing a 'ghost car' visualisation of your car on a previous lap, or compete against a lap uploaded from another driver, Virtual cones can be laid out on the track ahead for driver training. These could be moved as the driver's ability improves. J...