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Compact central driving controller unit makes automated
driving possible
Ingolstadt, April 10, 2015 - The central driver assistance
controller (zFAS) is the core of future systems for automated driving currently
under development by Audi AG. This mastermind unit uses cutting edge, high
performance processors and will work its way into the Audi model range step by
step in the foreseeable future. It is a key milestone on the road to new,
automated driving functions and a demonstration of the pioneering role that
Audi is assuming in the field of piloted driving. The technologies specialist
Delphi has been awarded the contract for series production of the units.
Audi developed this elemental control centre unit in
collaboration with internationally leading technology partners. Under the
direction of Audi AG, a team of specialists from TTTech, Mobileye, nVidia and
Delphi jointly developed the various hardware and software components. Audi has
chosen Delphi as the future system supplier for the zFAS electronics board.
A wide range of sensor information comes together in the
zFAS unit. The controller uses this to quickly compute a complete model of the
vehicle surroundings and makes this information available to the various
on-board assistance systems. It is thus the central interface for all piloted
driving functions.
At the moment, most driver assistance systems are managed by
separate control elements. In the future, Audi will be the first automobile
manufacturer to implement this function in a single, central domain
architecture. Audi has taken a holistic approach to consolidate the portfolio
of functions, the sensors necessary, the electronics hardware and the software
architecture into a central system. From the very beginning, the primary focus
was on the safety concept.
High performance electronic components are a prerequisite
for high powered computing in a compact package. The zFAS board is equipped
with both the EyeQ3 mobile processor from Mobileye and the new Tegra K1 from
nVidia. The tremendous computing power provided by this solution corresponds to
the complete electronics architecture of a well-equipped mid-size car. Thanks
to the high degree of integration, the new board is barely the size of a tablet
PC. Its modular concept makes the zFAS flexible, scalable and thus future-proof
in every respect.
Audi is also working with leading suppliers such as Bosch,
Continental, Valeo and Delphi on the sensors and actuating elements, such as
braking and steering systems. The objective is to develop common standards and
offer customers modern driver assistance systems for greater safety, comfort
and convenience on the road to fully automatic driving.
In the near future, Audi connect will enable the piloted
cars from Audi to also learn continuously as they drive. The data computed by
the zFAS board will be transferred via the cellular phone network — via LTE,
where available — to an IT backend in the cloud. This will process these data
using algorithms for machine learning and artificial intelligence before
sending the data back to the car. The zFAS board will in this way continuously
extend its capabilities to master even complex situations increasingly better.
The piloted cars from Audi thus learn more every day and with each new
situation they experience.
