Are Automotive Ancillaries Products Ensuring Vehicle Safety and Efficiency?

Highlights

• Introduction
• Increasing vehicle safety through ADAS, ECS, and airbag sensors
• Start-stop systems, electric power steering, and regenerative braking boosting vehicle efficiency

The automotive ancillaries include a wide range of systems and components that support and complement primary vehicle functions like airbag protection, anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring systems, and others. They also include HVAC, infotainment, power windows, mirrors, and advanced driver assistance systems that enrich both the drivers’ and passengers’ experience. These essential components, often overlooked, contribute in multiple ways to the holistic performance and reliability of modern vehicles. In the next sections, we attempt to discuss and highlight their role in ensuring safety and efficiency in modern vehicles.

Increasing vehicle safety through ADAS, ECS, and airbag sensors

Advanced driver-assistance systems utilize ancillary components like cameras, radar, and LiDAR sensors to detect obstacles and assist in lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking. These systems strengthen driver awareness and response, significantly reducing the risk of accidents. Mobileye develops vision-based ADAS technology that includes features like lane departure warning, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control, aimed at enhancing driver safety and reducing accidents on the road. Apart from this, integrated sensor systems development and AI algorithms enhance the performance of advanced driver-assistance systems, making vehicles safer and more efficient.

Electronic stability control, however, uses sensors to detect and reduce loss of traction. When it detects loss of control or skidding, it selectively applies brakes to individual wheels and adjusts engine power to stabilize the vehicle. This intervention helps drivers maintain control during emergency maneuvers or slippery conditions, reducing the risk of accidents caused by loss of vehicle stability. Bosch is a leading supplier of automotive technology and offers electronic stability control systems that help prevent skidding and loss of control by automatically applying brakes to individual wheels and adjusting engine power as needed, thereby improving vehicle stability and safety. Airbag sensors can assess crash severity and adjust deployment force which minimizes injury risks. These sensors ensure timely activation of airbags, protecting occupants from direct impact with vehicle components and reducing the force of collision impact, thereby enhancing overall vehicle safety standards.

In 2023, 3M and Autoliv collaborated to develop advanced airbag sensor technologies for the betterment of reliability and sensitivity. This was aimed at timely deployment and optimizing occupant safety during crashes. These systems collectively enhance driver awareness, vehicle stability, and occupant protection, significantly reducing the likelihood and severity of accidents on the road.

Start-stop systems, electric power steering, and regenerative braking boosting vehicle efficiency

Start-stop systems automatically shut off the engine when the vehicle is stationary, such as at traffic lights or in traffic jams. This prevents unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions. When the driver releases the brake or engages the clutch, the engine restarts swiftly, conserving fuel and reducing environmental impact during frequent stops and starts in urban driving conditions. BMW and Bosch began to collaborate in 2007 that intended to integrate efficient start-stop technology into BMW's vehicles, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by automatically turning off the engine when the car comes to a stop and restarting it when the driver resumes driving.

Electric power steering uses an electric motor instead of a hydraulic system to assist steering. It improves fuel efficiency by reducing the load on the engine compared to traditional hydraulic power steering systems. Regenerative braking uses ancillary components like electric motors to convert kinetic energy during braking into electrical energy. This energy is stored in the battery and used to power ancillary systems, improving overall efficiency. Tesla collaborated with Brembo to develop regenerative braking systems for their electric vehicles in 2008. This system captures kinetic energy during braking and stores it in the battery, improving overall efficiency and extending the driving range on a single charge.

Additionally, advancements in materials, manufacturing processes, and collaborative efforts in the automotive ancillaries’ product industry improve the reliability and longevity of ancillary components, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing user satisfaction. Continental and BMW Group jointly produced brake-by-wire system, improving efficiency, safety, and scalability. This helped them in winning the Automotive News PACE Award. ZF Friedrichshafen and BMW Group also partnered in 2023 to develop next-generation electric power steering systems. ZF's advanced EPS technology with BMW's electric vehicle platforms to optimize steering performance and energy efficiency.

Closing lines

Automotive ancillaries are indispensable components that contribute significantly to vehicle safety, efficiency, and overall performance. integration can enable vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, enhancing safety and traffic management. Advanced infotainment systems and AI-powered assistants will improve personalized experiences, making travel more comfortable and convenient for passengers and car owners. Collaborative efforts are also projected to bring new innovative, actionable perspectives and preventive measures for future progressions, contributing to secured mobility and enjoyable drives in the upcoming years.

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