New cluster project SmartLoad started

The demands we make on future vehicles are high: safety and reliability rank first. Even if the complexity of the vehicle systems is increasing as a result of automation and electrification, the systems must work in a failsafe manner. Just like airplanes that already fly today in a highly automated way, this has been guaranteed up to now through the use of redundant and thus costly system components. How can possible component failures be recognized and mastered at an early stage? The project SmartLoad follows up on this and other important questions. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, researches new efficient methods to prove the required reliability of the relevant components and subsystems of an autonomous electric vehicle. The project started in October 2018 under the management of AVL Deutschland GmbH. The Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion at the University of Stuttgart contributes its skills together with seven other partners from Baden-Württemberg. The idea for the project was developed in the research network Cluster Elektromobilität Süd-West (Electric Mobility South-West).

“Smart Load represents an important step forward in the case of new mobility solutions. The project stands for the validation of new products and processes and is thus more than mere prototype development“, said Franz Loogen, Managing Director of the state agency for new mobility solutions and vehicles, e-mobil BW GmbH.

The project SmartLoad pursues the aim of developing a reliable system design of highly automated vehicles with highly integrated longitudinal and lateral control. In so doing new methods for preventing and predicting faults are to be developed that ensure the reliability in the whole life cycle of the vehicles. This refers to the development, approval and operation. Therefore standard-based test tools and architectures for efficient detection methods in the simulation, on test benches and in practical application are to be created in the project. The evidence of the researched architectures and methods are shown on a demonstrator vehicle as well as on reference applications from the fields of interurban private transport, commercial vehicles and public transportation.

AVL Deutschland GmbH, FAST Institut für Fahrzeugsystemtechnik (Institute of Vehicle System Technology) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI Research Center for Information Technology), IEW Institut für Elektrische Energiewandlung (IEW Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion) at the University of Stuttgart, IPEK  Institut für Produktentwicklung (IPEK Institute for Product Development) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, RA Consulting GmbH, Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, SET Power Systems GmbH