2019 Shanghai Auto Show: Schaeffler showcases Space Drive by-wire technology for autonomous driving

Autonomous driving will play an important role in building future urban transportation and meeting people's travel needs. At present, many countries around the world are actively promoting the development of autonomous driving. For example, the Chinese government pointed out in the "Energy-Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap" that by 2025, the market share of highly autonomous driving vehicles in China will reach about 15%; by 2030, the market share of fully autonomous driving vehicles will be close to 10%. 

With new market opportunities, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and sensors have developed rapidly, but solutions with fail-safe mechanisms at the vehicle chassis level have not received enough attention. Without fail-safe steering and braking systems, the safety of autonomous driving cannot be guaranteed. Schaeffler Palawan's wire control system "Space Drive" fills this technological gap and lays the foundation for the development of autonomous driving solutions. The system has been used in the market for 17 years and has a record of 1 billion kilometers of accident-free driving on public roads. It is a mature technology that can be put into market application immediately. 

Schaeffler Palawan's "Space Drive" drive-by-wire system has been in use on the market for 17 years and has a record of 1 billion kilometers of accident-free driving on public roads. It is a mature technology that can be put into market application immediately.

Space Drive: Key technology for autonomous driving

In future self-driving vehicles, steering rods, brake and accelerator pedals will no longer be retained. The vehicle's intelligent perception unit transmits instructions to the steering or braking system through the wiring harness to achieve vehicle control. This technology is called "wire control" technology. Schaeffler demonstrated the world's leading Space Drive wire control technology at this exhibition, providing a mature and reliable technical solution for the rapidly developing autonomous driving market. 

Wire control is a key technology for autonomous vehicles, and safety and reliability are the basic requirements of this technology. Space Drive uses triple redundancy to ensure high availability and safety of the control system. The system has passed the extremely strict ISO 26262-ASIL D functional safety certification and public road certification. Space Drive provides the electronic and software foundation for safe and reliable chassis control, which can help achieve L4-L5 autonomous driving.  

In the "Schaeffler Intelligent Steering Drive Module", all drive and chassis components are integrated into a compact unit, including the in-wheel motor drive system, the wheel suspension system including the suspension and the electromechanical steering actuator unit.

Innovative drive concept: Schaeffler intelligent steering drive module

Future autonomous vehicles will require a completely new drive concept, such as the innovative "Schaeffler Intelligent Steering Drive Module" exhibited by Schaeffler at this auto show. In this module, all drive and chassis components are integrated into a compact unit, including the in-wheel motor drive system, the wheel suspension system including the suspension and the electromechanical steering actuator. The Schaeffler Intelligent Steering Drive Module can help the vehicle achieve a 90° steering angle, park in a small space, facilitate passengers to get on and off, and even achieve on-site steering.

Schaeffler Mover is a platform solution developed by Schaeffler for future urban transportation. It has a very high adaptability and can be flexibly matched with different car bodies to realize a variety of vehicle concepts.

Zero-emission, automated and connected urban mobility

These innovative technologies have been verified on Schaeffler's future urban transportation concept car Schaeffler Mover. In this concept car, Schaeffler's intelligent steering drive module provides driving force for the four wheels, and the steering system adopts an electromechanical "wire-controlled steering" method, which is controlled by Space Drive technology. In addition, considering the importance of networking functions to autonomous urban vehicles, Schaeffler Mover was also designed with networking needs in mind, and the vehicle's operating status data is continuously analyzed through the "digital twin" located in the cloud to determine the vehicle's future maintenance needs in advance. 

Matthias Zinke, CEO of Schaeffler Group's OEM business unit, said: "With its leading drive-by-wire technology and energy-efficient drive solutions, Schaeffler is fully prepared to create future vehicle concepts to achieve zero-emission, automated and connected urban transportation."