Top technologies of the year
Harman develops first MOST network
The Harman/Becker automotive division of Harman International Industries is the first supplier of MOST-based navigation and multimedia systems for the automotive industry by way of the new BMW 7 Series. The implementation is the enabling technology of the car's iDrive system, which allows the passengers to control more than 700 driving, comfort, communications, navigation, and entertainment features. The MOST network also enables full integration of the 7 Series' rear-seat entertainment system.
The Harman/Becker division played a key role in the development of MOST technology, along with DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Audi, and Oasis Silicon Systems. MOST is now supported by 17 international carmakers and more than 50 key component suppliers as a de facto multimedia network standard.
A MOST network replaces upwards of 250 m (820 ft) of copper cable with a single, lightweight, plastic fiber-optic cable capable of routing audio, video, communications, and control signals simultaneously throughout the car. It enables automakers to provide sophisticated onboard multimedia systems at far less cost and with many more capabilities than possible with conventional approaches. It also has tremendous bandwidth capabilities, enabling transmission of 15 channels of uncompressed CD audio, up to 15 MPEG-1 audio/video channels, or several high-quality MPEG-2 audio/video channels.
For more information from Harman/Becker, circle 54
Nanocomposite TPO for GM vans
 Examining the GM TPO-based nanocomposite step-assist are, left to right, Basell's Thomas Katchmark, GM's Chuck Biebelhausen, and Blackhawk's Mark Bennett. |
With a nanocomposite thermoplastic olefin (TPO) step-assist for the 2002 Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari vans, General Motors Corp. was named winner of the International Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Division's Grand Award in 2001. The company walked away with first place in four of six categories judged as part of SPE's 31st Innovation Awards Program. More than 60 nominations were submitted for the contest. The nanocomposite TPO step-assist went on to become the overall winner after having been selected as the top entry in the Materials category—one of six.
Thomas Katchmark, GM Account Manager for Basell Polyolefins, described the material as a "major breakthrough in olefin technology." The part was molded by Blackhawk Automotive Plastics, Inc. and is said to be the first global automotive exterior application of a nanocomposite TPO.
Developed jointly by GM and Basell after two years of development and testing, the material features microscopic clay-particle reinforcement for improved performance in the areas of stiffness, low-temperature ductility, and mar resistance. It also offers high surface gloss, Katchmark added, and a mass savings of 10-20%. Another benefit of the material is that it can be used in existing equipment.
For more information from Basell Polyolefins, circle 55
Cadillac first with XM satellite radio
Late last year General Motors Corp. began equipping Cadillacs with XM Satellite Radio-capable Delphi receivers, making it the first automaker to bring satellite-radio technology to the market. The new form of radio delivers 100 channels of digital-quality music, news, and entertainment from coast-to-coast in the U.S. for owners of 2002 DeVilles and Sevilles. Customers who lease or finance through GMAC can roll the $9.99 monthly fee into their car payments.
Cadillac General Manager Mark LaNeve said the XM technology roll-out is one of the fastest in GM history, with the company expanding availability to over 25 additional models in 2003. GM expects to offer XM on all of its models within the next few years.
XM Satellite Radio says the technology has succeeded because of its combination of digital sound technology, signal coverage, chipset technology, and programming. The company bases its sound quality on customized CT-aacPlus audio encoding with Neural Audio optimization for near-CD-quality sound. The key to the third-generation technology is the combination of Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), a global standard combining the perceptual-audio-encoding expertise of AT&T, Dolby, Fraunhofer, and Sony, with Coding Technologies' Spectral Band Replication (SBR) technology.
Neural Audio created a customized version of its process for XM designed to enhance CT-aaPlus results by optimizing temporal and spectral elements prior to encoding, improving soundstage clarity and increasing intelligibility. In addition, Neural Audio's "stereo transcoder" algorithm preserves the imaging and spatiality of stereo and surround-sound content that XM broadcasts.
For more information from XM, circle 56; from Delphi, circle 57; from Neural Audio, circle 58
BMW's "infinitely variable" V8
The gasoline-fueled V8 engines powering BMW's new 735i and 745i feature a combination of three significant "infinitely variable" technologies for valve timing (via BMW's Double VANOS system), valve lift (Valvetronic), and intake-tube length—the last an industry-first. These systems enable the V8 in North American tune to produce 242 kW (325 hp) and 447 N•m (330 lb•ft).
Double VANOS (VAriable NOckenwellen Steuerung: German for variable camshaft control or variable valve timing) steplessly varies intake- and exhaust-valve timing by 40 and 25°, respectively.
Valvetronic adjusts intake-valve lift infinitely and facilitates breathing without a throttle butterfly. It adjusts both the effective cam lift and the opening cross section of the valves via an intermediate lever between the camshaft and the two intake valves of each cylinder. The distance between this intermediate shaft and the camshaft is varied infinitely by an additional, electrically operated eccentric shaft. Via the eccentric shaft, the lever converts cam movement into valve lifts from 0.3 to 9.7 mm (0.01 to 0.38 in) for idle/deceleration and full power, respectively. Elimination of the throttle reduces engine-pumping losses, increasing engine efficiency particularly during low-load operation. Light-load engine operation is exceptionally smooth due to a relatively small 0.5-2 mm (0.02-0.08) valve lift. Along with a servomotor and an inductive eccentric-shaft position sensor, Siemens VDO Automotive provides the Valvetronic controller that networks with the 40-MHz, 32-bit primary engine computer.
The continuously variable intake manifold consists of two intertwined helical elements that, when rotated by an electric servomotor, vary the effective intake length steplessly between 215 and 607 mm (8.5 and 23.9 in).
For more information from Siemens VDO Automotive, circle 59
