Automotive Journal
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AUTOMOTIVE JOURNAL ni.com Q2 + 2021 Accelerating the Path to Vision Zero by Enabling Product Performance The ambition of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion is a reality we are seeing come together before our eyes. Two critical roadblocks between here and there remain: testing the new software-defined capabilities in the car and building the trust of a doubtful consumer market. What role does test play in Vision Zero? We believe test is the key enabler for accelerating timelines regardless of the component involved. Ensuring the safe and reliable operation of an autonomous vehicle is a complicated process. At NI, we understand not only the individual requirements of the vehicle components but also how they harmonize. Though each element has its own technology and supply chain requirements, the interdependency is undeniable. NI is here to help bridge the gap between the test needs across the entire automotive supply chain—at a speed our competition cannot meet—while building consumer trust along the way. Our portfolio of modular hardware and open software has a proven track record in helping companies keep up with the technological innovation driving their industry. Our commitment is to partner with you to accelerate product performance for your company, delivering new capabilities to market faster, more reliably, and more profitably. Our team of expert connectors is here to help you Engineer Ambitiously. CHAD CHESNEY VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS, NI National Instruments is now NI. Table of Contents 04 What’s Between Us and Vision Zero? 18 Working Together to Accelerate the Path to V2X FEATURED ARTICLE INTERVIEW 08 Data: As Essential as Water 20 Designing and Developing a Digital Twin for Low-Voltage FEATURED ARTICLE Vehicular Power Systems CUSTOMER STORY 12 Konrad and NI Team Up to Better Serve Auto Companies EDITORIAL 24 Leading the Way with the Force of Our Partners SOLUTION BRIEF 14 Unlocking the Potential of a Vision Zero Future with Redefined Body and Chassis Testing SOLUTION BRIEF What’s Between Us and Vision Zero? As I write this, Texas is experiencing a historic winter storm. Our infrastructure is not equipped to handle this, and it shows. Due to unfortunate circumstances yesterday, I had to drive some 500 miles from Terlingua to Austin, a picturesque but harrowing expedition as we crawled through congestion on icy highways divided by medians littered with the skeletons of overturned 18-wheelers abandoned to the elements. Throughout the 12-hour journey, I couldn’t help but think of the urgency with which we need to move toward Vision Zero and the future of mobility it promises. What if transportation produced zero emissions, so the cars and trucks congesting the road weren’t contributing to the climate change causing the storm we are struggling through? What if efficient rail infrastructure replaced the need for 18-wheelers sharing the road or even my personal vehicle being required for this journey? What if my car was equipped with an autonomy package I trusted to get me through the icy conditions, letting me ease my clenched grip on the wheel? We are not there yet, but that vision of zero emissions, zero collisions, and zero congestion is at least in sight. The FIGURE 01 timeline shows how far our industry has come over the last decade, which is certainly worth pausing to celebrate. However, this next decade is going to require great advancements in ACES—autonomous, connected, electric, and shared mobility—vehicle technologies that are the backbone of achieving Vision Zero. This decade is all about taking the brilliant IP developed in research labs across the world and making it a reality, which means standing up to the test of government regulation, production ramp-up, and public perception. We believe that testing is not just crucial; it will be the game changer in the ACES advancements of the next decade. Testing will be how we ensure safety, inspire confidence, and validate the impact of these innovations. FEATURED ARTICLE 05 20th anniversary of the Uber and Lyft IPOs Toyota Prius Volvo launches pedestrian Harley-Davidson launches LiveWire detection with full auto brake Volkswagen Tesla reaches production Dieselgate scandal volume with the Model 3 electric motorcycle Nissan releases Cruise founded Mcity Campus opens for Ford commits to V2X technology in 2022 first-generation Leaf Chevy Bolt launches Audi upgrades connect services testing connected and Porsche launches Taycan EV Tesla buys NUMMI after to offer high-speed internet and autonomous vehicles GM Super Cruise GM bankruptcy real-time traffic information Tesla Autopilot launched launches on Cadillac CT6 Ford announces electric Mustang 2010-2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 th Tesla launches the Model S Zoox founded GM buys Cruise for $1 billion First recorded case of a BYD delivers 100 battery-electric pedestrian fatality truck in the US (and over 12,000 Waymo One launches from the former Google involving a self-driving car zero-emission trucks globally) Self-Driving Car Project Virgin Hyperloop completes first human passenger test Didi Chuxing establishes autonomous driving unit Announcements of several EV pickups including Tesla Cybertruck, Porche Connect services launch GMC Hummer EV SUT, Ford F-150, Rivian R1T, Lordstown Endurance AutoX rolls out fully driverless robotaxis in Shenzhen The EU sets goals for 30 million AUTONOMOUS ELECTRIC CONNECTED SHARED MOBILITY electric cars by 2030 FIGURE 01 The 2010s saw significant advancements for the automotive industry. Autonomous the burden on AV sensing and planning. May 14, 2020). The fidelity of this simulation Legislation is also essential to allow AVs is essential to make sure that those 5% With Level 2+ vehicles on the road to be tested on public roads and ensure of miles driven on the road are used for today, developing, testing, and producing consistency in road quality and markings fine-tuning instead of detecting major faults. Level 3 and above automobiles will be to ease the burden on AV algorithms. the challenge of this decade. We believe The simulation and test of sensors and government regulation and simulation By providing technical standards for AVs algorithms have a larger role to play than technologies will be two key enablers of and uniform test methods, this regulation just validating the technology. Instilling this technology. allows automotive companies to focus public trust in AVs is going to be a big on the technology itself. The latter is a hurdle to success. We have a long way In February 2021, Germany’s Minister state we currently see many teams in— to go before the public is ready for broad of Transportation submitted a draft developing test requirements and standards adoption; 20% of Americans studied for legislation to regulate up to Level 4 in parallel to product design. Though NI by the Partners for Automated Vehicle autonomous driving (Bridie Schmidt, The has the expertise to help and solutions Education (PAVE) believe AVs will never Driven, February 11, 2021). If it passes the to recommend in this space, we believe be safe (PAVE Poll 2020). Similarly, only German Federal Parliament and Council, stronger government recommendations, 35% of Japanese consumers desire a Germany will join the ranks of countries especially if they are consistent globally, will fully self-driving AV, with 79% believing such as Singapore, the Netherlands, lead to more rapid innovation. that they will never be safe (Seth Lambert the UK, and Finland in building strong and Nicole Kareta, MES Insights, policy and legislative frameworks for the Once these requirements are created, October 14, 2020). However, there is hope, development and test of autonomous the task is nowhere near complete. The as the PAVE Poll 2020 revealed that vehicles (AVs). This is exciting because as sheer volume of driving scenarios that 60% of Americans would trust AVs more we move further up the levels of driving need to be validated is overwhelming and if they understood the technology more. automation to Level 4, at which point cars would be impossible without simulation. This means that the more we can share can steer, accelerate, brake, and navigate BMW reports that 95% of all test miles about the vehicles, how they work, and without a driver, government regulation are driven on a virtual, simulated basis how rigorously they were tested, the more can play a large role in easing (BMW, “The Road to Autonomous Driving,” consumer acceptance we can build. 06 FEATURED ARTICLE 0 1 2 3 4 5 No Driver Partial Conditional High Full Automation Assistance Automation Automation Automation Automation Zero autonomy; Vehicle is controlled Vehicle has combined Driver is a necessity, The vehicle is capable The vehicle is capable the driver performs by the driver, but automated functions, but is not required to of performing all of performing all all driving tasks. some driving assist like acceleration and monitor the driving functions driving functions features may be steering, but the environment. The under certain under all conditions. included in the driver must remain driver must be ready conditions. The driver The driver may have vehicle design. engaged with driving to take control of the may have the option the option to control tasks and monitor vehicle at all times to control the vehicle. the vehicle. the environment with notice. at all times. FIGURE 02 The Society for Automotive Engineers defines these five levels of driving automation. Connected because of the delay we will see before significantly on their data protection laws, the full benefits. We will need a certain with some countries requiring constant AVs benefit greatly from the ability to threshold of vehicles on the road to be reporting of AV locations, while others communicate with surrounding vehicles, equipped with V2X technology before the require anonymization of all data.