Prior to the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September, 2019 will introduce a number of innovations reflecting the three main trends of the industry summit with the slogan “Mobility is the Rhythm of Life Continental. Continental Chairman of the Board Mar Intelligent connectivity and comfort will ensure zero accidents, zero emissions and zero stress, El Elmar Degenhart said. Our pioneering technologies help. Technology is our strength and Continental has outstanding expertise in this field..
In the past year alone, the company has invested more than EUR 3 billion in research and development in the next generation of mobility. A significant portion of this amount will be used for technologies for new in-vehicle functions.
Gen With our investments in research and development, we have been shaping the largest revolution in the automotive industry since its inception, and we are in a leading position in this field, De Degenhart said. Our alternative driving systems, as well as Continental's automatic and autonomous technologies, as well as our connected vehicle technologies, are essential elements of a healthy mobility ecosystem. Our goal is to develop new technologies that are environmentally sensitive and socially accepted. So we want to protect not only the ecological climate, but also the economic and social climate. ”
First fully integrated electric drive production begins
Today, millions of vehicles are already on the road with Continental technology. This year, we will continue to see Continental's important innovations related to automotive trends, the first of which began to be produced. Vehicle manufacturers in China and Europe accept the success of Continental's electric drive. The module, which weighs less than 80 kilograms, includes electric motor, gearbox, power electronics and motor control. Thanks to the integration, many cables and plugs do not need to be used. Thus, fully integrated driving reduces the weight of electric vehicles by about 20 kilograms.
More production success with autonomous driving and 5G connection
Another production this year is a turning point for developments in autonomous driving. The EZ10 autonomous service vehicle of the French company EasyMile was the first vehicle to be developed exclusively for driverless vehicles using the ready-to-use Continental radar system. A total of seven radar sensors, each with a range of approximately 200 meters, constantly monitor the perimeter of the vehicle. With this data, the system adapts the driving strategy, avoids obstacles and thus detects dangerous road conditions at an early stage. This system protects pedestrians and cyclists in particular, as such autonomous service vehicles will be used in urban areas in the future.
In addition, the development of the first 5G solution worldwide for a vehicle manufacturer of Continental continues. In this new platform, Continental's connectivity experts combine the capabilities of fifth-generation cellular communications with short-range radio technologies that allow direct data exchange between different tools and infrastructure. The vehicles speak to each other faster and less interrupted than ever before. For example, they can warn each other of an accident at the end of a bend or traffic congestion ahead. Here again, Continental reduces the weight of the vehicle by combining previously independent functions. This makes a significant contribution to the environmental awareness of the vehicles and to the improvement of road safety.
Naturally speaking language assistants develop in the car
Another result of Continental's research is the intuitively designed operating systems. With the help of a voice-activated intelligent digital road assistant and three-dimensional displays, simple communication between the driver and the vehicle helps the adoption of new vehicle technologies. Continental is working on a voice-activated digital road assistant that responds to natural speech and is fully adaptable to vehicle conditions. This makes driving easier, so drivers don't have to take their eyes off the road. In this way, the attention paid to traffic is increased while the risk of accidents is reduced and the driver is relaxed.
Another concept that determines trends is the connected windows in the car. They can be particularly dimmed to prevent glare caused by, for example, sunlight. They also reduce the energy needed to cool the interior of the vehicle and increase passenger privacy.
Smart intersections come to smart cities
In the pilot cities of North America and Asia, Continental is exploring the possibilities of more connections between all drivers. In this project, ordinary intersections are transformed into highly intelligent test sites equipped with intelligent sensor technology. Traffic lights with sensors and street lights exchange data with nearby vehicles to protect pedestrians and cyclists in particular. This technology can alert the driver to pedestrians and other more vulnerable people who suddenly start off, for example, on left turns. Traffic data from street lights can reduce emissions. Signal changes in traffic lights can be controlled to optimize traffic flow and reduce waiting times at intersections.
Electric driving for every need becomes possible
Prior to the IAA, Continental is demonstrating its outstanding system expertise in the field of electric driving with more exciting innovations. In addition to fully integrated high-voltage drive for mass production, the company is also developing a new technology for hybrid vehicles. With the 30 kilowatt output power, the 48 volt high-power driving system makes it possible for even the first long distances to be driven entirely by electric power. To date, this has not been possible with 48 volt technology, but with the use of high-voltage driving systems. As a result, vehicle manufacturers can now offer new and attractive hybrid vehicles worldwide.
More safety, more comfort, more connections
Continental is setting not only technological milestones in electric driving, but also in autonomous driving development, the second major trend of this year's IAA. This is progressing with the gradual realization of the company's Vision Zero initiative, which aims for accident-free mobility. Powerful in-car sensors form the basis of this technology. Continental combines new radar and camera sensors that support improved functions for support systems with intelligent data processing in the cloud. Continental, for example, introduces predictive stability control, which warns the driver in advance of cornering on the road if the vehicle travels too quickly according to the current road conditions and automatically brakes to adjust the speed of the vehicle if necessary. This provides more safety and comfort.
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