The Audi Technology Magazine 1/2012 The Audi Technology Magazine Technology The Audi Issue 1/2012 ultra Lightweight Design How Audi intelligently combines state-of-the-art materials connect My MMI How Audi facilitates personalization at the touch of a button by-wire Drive-by-wire How Audi is working on the new networking assist Assistance Systems How new in-car intelligence helps to avoid accidents e-tron Test in Munich How Audi is gathering experience with electromobility in everyday use The Audi Technology Magazine 1/2012 Encounter Augmented Reality Experience video footage with your iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone. Download the junaio app from Start up the junaio app and the App Store or Android search for Audi. Marketplace to your phone or mobile device. Audi Audi Encounter Open the channel Scan this magazine’s images Audi Encounter. tagged with the Audi Augmented Reality Logo. In this new issue of the Audi Technology Magazine we Working on the future of the automobile present you with a great many of our ideas. We would like to show you that we are working on new mobility concepts, how issues like is one of the most exciting jobs of our time. efficiency and lightweight design shape our thinking and our ac- tions, and how we use state-of-the-art technology to increase the Michael Dick level of driving fun while, at the same time, significantly reducing Working on the future of the automobile is surely one fuel consumption. of the most exciting jobs of our time. The challenges have never Every Audi is a unique product with a clear character and been so great, the path to solutions so complex and the techno- distinct genes. But it should also fit perfectly to the individual life- logical approaches so varied. style of its owner and driver. At time of purchase, an Audi can be Yet our task is clear – to secure an individual mobility for designed from a virtually inexhaustible range of options and pos- the future that conserves resources. And we will be successful, be- sibilities to suit his very own style. With Audi drive select, the vehi- cause we will make determined use of technological progress cle can be adapted to the preferred driving style every day and at across all disciplines – in new kinds of drive, as well as the opportu- any given moment. And in future, it will be possible to individualize nities presented by the networking of knowledge and functions. even the sound of the vehicle or its display systems and operating “Vorsprung durch Technik” is the genetic core of the Audi brand – elements. and a challenge set for our employees every single day. It is in this spirit that we at Audi are working on a great Take a look through this magazine and discover a few of the ideas many good ideas – on technologies and functions that, just a short with which we are approaching the future. Happy reading. time ago, seemed impossible. But the enormous progress made in electrics and electronics in particular has given the automobile a Yours truly, whole new kind of intelligence. It communicates with its environ- ment, it recognizes the threat of danger and it avoids accidents. Over the next few years we will see a whole host of new assistance systems that not only add significantly to comfort levels, but, more importantly, deliver a whole new level of road safety. Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Technical Development 2 Encounter Technology 3 Encounter Technology Drive-by-wire In by-wire technology, steering, braking and shift commands are transmitted by wire. Electrical components replace mechanical and hydraulic parts. Audi is researching all aspects of this topic. 1:1 is the scale of the by-wire technology model. → page 54 4 Encounter Technology 5 Encounter Technology Exterior Refinements The Audi R8 e-tron high-performance sports car has a battery-electric drive. Its refined aerodynamics make a significant contribution to its intelligent energy management and to its range. 0.32 is the current cd figure for the technology showcase. → page 24 7 Encounter Technology An Audi – as personal as a finger print In its Audi exclusive division, quattro GmbH fulfils even the most unusual customer desires. Individual one-offs are created in the workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. 3 hours is the time it takes to clad a steering wheel manually with leather. → page 124 8 Encounter Technology 9 Encounter Technology The right material in the right place Audi is extending its leadership in lightweight design. A team of experts is developing the new Multimaterial Space Frame, which brings together metal and fiber-reinforced polymers. 198 kilograms is the weight of the R8 bodyshell made from CFRP and aluminum. → page 60 10 Encounter Technology 11 Encounter Technology Light becomes 3-dimensional With MID technology, Audi is opening up the third dimension of vehicle lighting. And the lighting engineers still have plenty more irons in the fire. 52 LEDs are in the two hemispheres of the the MID light unit. → page 84 12 Encounter Technology 13 Encounter Technology Mindset It was the courage to innovate that put Audi at the top. The company wants to build on that progress, with a constant Mindset. flow of new ideas and with a clear approach. 16 Out of the box 24 e-rodynamic 30 China Daily 38 Science Faction 44 Powered Up 14 Encounter Technology 15 Encounter Technology Innovation Out As head of think tank “Bauhaus Luftfahrt”, Prof. Dr. Mirko Hornung is one of the foremost minds in the field of aviation. He speaks with Audi Board Member for Technical Development Michael Dick about lifecycles, regenerative fuels and of the box cars that can find their own parking spot – or even fly. Ideas for new mobility – Michael Dick (left) in conversation with Professor Mirko Hornung. 16 Encounter Technology 17 Encounter Technology Text Photos Today’s new aircraft models will still Hermann Reil Myrzik und Jarisch be flying in 2040. After that, however, there will have to be some very different air- craft concepts – most likely with a radical departure from the current designs. Mirko Hornung Herr Hornung, Herr Dick, you are both working on the future of mobility, on the road and in the air. And you both have to think beyond the fa- miliar construct. How will we fly tomorrow and how will we drive? Hornung: For civil aviation passengers rather little is likely to change over the next few decades. This is due to the product cycle being far longer than for, say, automobiles. Today’s new aircraft such as the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A 350 will still be flying in the year 2040. After that, however, there will have to be some very different aircraft concepts – most likely with a radical departure from the current designs. You have brought along a model that looks very unusual indeed. Hornung: The Claire Liner is an aircraft concept devel- oped by Bauhaus Luftfahrt for transfer between the mega-cities of the future. With its circumferential airfoils and decoupled drive, we were able to reduce significantly its kerosene consumption and noise emissions. Our drive concept separates the core drive unit and thus the power generation from the means of forward propul- Professor Dr.-Ing. Mirko Hornung heads up the Bauhaus sion, known in the trade as “fans”. This enables the use of a larger Luftfahrt e.V. in Munich as Director of Research and Technology. Hornung is also a professor in the Aviation proportion of the airflow for propulsion and delivers a far higher Systems Department at the Technical University of degree of efficiency. Two turbines at the rear drive the four fans. Munich. Previously, Hornung held management positons We now have the first gearboxes actually capable of transmitting with aerospace group EADS. these hundreds of megawatts of power. Dick: What is the purpose of the unusual wing shape? Hornung: These box-wing airfoils deliver greater effi- ciency, less drag and less weight. With a conventional wing, the turbulence at the tips generates the largest proportion of drag. A closed wing eliminates this turbulence. Dick: When can we expect to see a prototype? Hornung: For us, the Claire Liner is primarily an integra- tion platform for new technologies. A flying prototype would call for a great deal more development work and financial investment. Herr Dick, you, too, have brought an unusual idea with you – in one-to-one scale. With the Audi urban concept, we have pre- Dick: With the Audi urban concept, we have presented sented an idea of how we envisage the a proposal for how we might imagine tomorrow’s driving in these way we might drive in metropolitan areas in metropolitan areas – as a new, young mobility concept with electric drive, with a high standard of safety and with a clear promise of future – with electric drive, a high level driving fun. During the development process we showed the project of safety and a clear promise of driving fun. to our children, who gave a lot of good input. At the end of the day, Michael Dick the urban concept is a minimalist concept for young people, to suit their habits and their changed approach to many of life’s issues. The reaction at the Frankfurt Auto Show was amazingly good and, since then, we have discussed it with more potential custom- er groups like parents with children. We are still working on this concept, which could enter series production, although we have yet to reach a decision on that. 1 1 Idea for new flying – the Claire Liner concept air- plane promises considerably lower emissions.