Nexteer and Continental JV CNXMotion innovates brake-to-steer technology for autonomous vehicles

CNXMotion a 50:50 joint-venture between Continental and Nexteer Automotive was established in 2017 to innovate movement management options for superior purposes and speed up R&D actions for the dad or mum firms. Leveraging know-how constructing blocks from its dad or mum firms CNXMotion has introduced Brake-to-Steer (BtS) know-how, which offers driver security via a further layer of directional management for extremely automated and autonomous autos.

The corporate says in extremely automated car purposes, steering programs function a number of protecting layers to make sure the steering security web is all the time on. As well as, BtS provides one more layer by utilizing the digital brake system to securely steer the car whereas concurrently controlling its pace. In a completely autonomous car with no steering wheel current, BtS will negotiate a commanded path till a secure pull-over might be achieved.

Alan Davis, common supervisor, CNXMotion stated: “Maybe probably the most vital problem in extremely automated and autonomous driving is guaranteeing the robustness of system redundancies to maintain drivers, passengers and highway customers secure. CNXMotion’s Brake-to-Steer know-how gives one other steering security layer for a variety of automated driving situations.”

The corporate says its BtS know-how gives an economical manner for automakers to realize security wants by leveraging the car’s current braking and steering programs.

Hiren Desai, head of Technique, Autonomous Mobility and Security, Continental North America stated: “As we progress towards greater ranges of automation in autos, secondary and tertiary redundancy turns into essential in executing profitable minimal danger manoeuvres. This helps preserve car occupants and highway customers secure. Cross-domain functionalities similar to Brake-to-Steer are enabled by, and housed on, current {hardware}, like Continental’s MKCx brake-by-wire programs, eliminating the necessity for added, pricey parts.”

Robin Milavec, SVP, Government Board Director, CTO and CSO, Nexteer Automotive stated: “Whereas steering historically manages the lateral management of a car, Brake-to-Steer allows braking to contribute to lateral management as nicely. When mixed with superior steering programs like Nexteer’s Excessive Availability Electrical Energy Steering or Steer-by-Wire, Brake-to-Steer provides a further layer of redundancy – additional enhancing the protection web.”

How Brake-to-Steer Works
The BtS operate resides within the Movement Management System (MCS), which acts as an middleman between the car’s path planner (the automated driving system) and the actuators (steering, brakes and powertrain) to find out one of the best path ahead.

Built-in with a Efficiency Supervisor, the car’s supposed path is in comparison with the system’s capacity to steer the car through BtS, whereas always negotiating the most secure route forward.

Within the occasion that BtS wants to interact, BtS reacts in one in every of 3 ways: 

1. Continues on the supposed path earlier than finally transferring to the primary or second choice,

2. Performs a minimal danger manoeuvre, similar to slowing and braking to steer the car to the facet of the highway, or
3. Stops within the lane.

The corporate says it was initially developed for steering redundancy in Degree 4+ autonomy, the function might be tailored to help a driver in a number of situations for decrease ranges (Lane Hold, Impediment Avoidance, and so on.) whereas a driver remains to be current, following the intentions offered from the motive force’s steering enter.