Making the right turn

2015-03-30 | 000-005-673 DE-EN

SCHAEFFLER AG, KARLSRUHE / HERZOGENAURACH

New, Assisted Steering System with Optimum Energy Efficiency for Electric Vehicles Is Subject of a Joint Project by KIT and Schaeffler

Making the right turn

The project Intelligent Assisted Steering System with Optimum Energy Efficiency for Electric Vehicles (e -Lenk) subsidized by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) focuses on a new assisted steering concept. In conventional vehicles, the internal combustion engine not only accelerates the car but also supplies on-board assist systems with energy; such as the assisted steering system, which reduces the strain on the driver at the wheel. In electric vehicles, this energy comes from the battery and also reduces the range as a result. In this research project by the collaborating partners, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT) and Schaeffler, the steering system is assisted in an energy-efficient manner by intelligent control of the drive torques transmitted to the individual wheels. The project is being sponsored by BMBF with a sum of around 0.6 million euros over 3 years and was started in January 2015. The new assisted steering system would require less system components in an electric vehicle, this would mean savings in terms of weight and energy in an electric vehicle, explain project managers Dr. Marcel Mayer, Schaeffler, and Dr. Michael Frey, KIT. This would mean that an electric car would be cheaper and have a greater range. Materials and production steps can be saved due to the potential optimization of the design and weight.

The basic idea of the e -Lenk project is simple: The wheels in an electric car will be driven individually by electric motors in contrast to a car with an internal combustion engine where all the wheels are provided with equal force. If the wheels on the left side transmit more drive torque to the road than those on the right side, this will result in acceleration of the vehicle to the right without the need to turn the front wheels or consume additional energy for steering. Tracked vehicles or quadrocopters steer using the same principle. Steering assistance can be provided while driving by means of an intelligent control system and suitable wheel suspension, says Schaeffler engineer Mayer, Manager of the Automatic Driving Working Group, which is carrying out research as part of the collaborative research project SHARE (Schaeffler Hub for Automotive Research in E-Mobility) at KIT. Only steering when stationary remains a challenge with conventional designs.

The assisted steering system is part of the drive train with our approach, explains Frey who is researching at KITs Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology. Steering the front wheels is carried out without using additional energy. We also want to significantly increase the quality of driving. Customer benefit, comfort, safety and reliability go hand in hand here.

As part of the project, functional demonstrators are being built, with which the con-cepts can be validated and optimized in experiments. It is also planned to implement the system in last years Formula Student racing car KIT built by the university group KA-RaceIng with the participation of the students.

e -Lenk is the first publicly subsidized joint project as part of the collaborative research project SHARE at KIT between Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG and KIT. This joint project is being managed at KITs East Campus in a joint project management office run by SHARE at KIT and the Institute of Vehicle Systems Technology (FAST).

Leading Edge Cluster Electric Mobility South-West

Schaeffler and KIT are partners in the Electric Mobility Cluster of Excellence Southwest (ESW), which connects over 80 stakeholders from science and economics in the region Karlsruhe - Mannheim - Stuttgart - Ulm. The cluster strategy of the ESW cluster aims to achieve intensive regional collaboration in the field of electric mobility by means of new approaches and forms of cooperation. As a result, knowledge is developed, consolidated and ultimately advantages are achieved in international competition.

Schaeffler

The Schaeffler Group is a leading global integrated automotive and industrial supplier. The company stands for the highest quality, outstanding technology and strong innovative ability. The Schaeffler Group makes a decisive contribution to mobility for tomorrow with high-precision components and systems in engine, transmission and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The company generated sales of approximately 12.1 billion Euros in 2014. With more than 82,000 employees worldwide, Schaeffler is one of Europes largest technology companies in family ownership. It has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities and sales companies at approximately 170 locations in 50 countries.

The Mobility Systems Center is a public corporation pursuing the tasks of a Baden-Wuerttemberg state university and of a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. The KIT mission combines the three core tasks of research, higher education, and innovation. With about 9,400 employees and 24,500 students, KIT is one of the big institutions of research and higher education in natural sciences and engineering in Europe.Since 2010, the KIT has been certified as a family-friendly university.

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