OREANDA-NEWS. September 03, 2015. For decades, Bosch has stood for progress in automotive manufacturing. It will be presenting its solutions for the electrified, automated, and connected car of the future at the 66th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main. You can find Bosch at booth A03 in hall 8.

Raising pressure in diesel and gasoline engines
Diesel injection: Bosch is increasing the fuel pressure in diesel engines to 2,700 bar. Increased injection pressure is key to reducing an engine's nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions. The higher the pressure, the more finely the fuel is atomized and the better it mixes with the air in the cylinder. This means that the fuel burns as cleanly and as completely as possible.

Digital rate shaping: This new diesel technology significantly reduces emissions, fuel consumption, and combustion noise all at the same time. Unlike the system of pilot and main injection used up to now, the injection process is divided up into many tiny injections of fuel. The result is a gentle combustion process, with extremely short intervals between the individual injections of fuel.

Gasoline direct injection: Bosch is increasing the fuel pressure in gasoline engines to 350 bar. The result is improved fuel atomization, more efficient mix preparation, reduced film formation on the cylinder walls, and shorter injection times. Compared with a 200-bar system, these measures significantly cut particulate emissions. The advantages of the 350-bar system come to the fore at moments of high load and dynamic engine operation – in other words, during intense acceleration or at high speeds.

Turbocharging: An engine's air system plays a significant part in ensuring that the engine complies with rigorous emissions standards. By tuning the combination of turbocharging, exhaust-gas recirculation, and the relevant control unit functions, it is possible to attain a further significant reduction in basic engine emissions (including nitrogen oxides) in real driving situations. It is also possible to cut fuel consumption by a further 2 to 3 percent in the European driving cycle.

Variable turbine geometry: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems (BMTS) has developed a new generation of variable turbine geometry in exhaust-gas turbochargers, based on a principle that can be more widely employed in gasoline engines in the future. The key breakthrough is that the turbochargers are less prone to deformation at higher temperatures and are capable of withstanding sustained temperatures of 900 degrees Celsius – BMTS is even working on demonstrators that can cope with up to 980 degrees Celsius. Engines fitted with this new technology deliver more performance or are more fuel efficient. The same holds true for diesels, in which a reduced guide-vane gap further enhances the efficiency of the variable turbine.

Connected powertrain: reduced emissions and consumption
Connected particulate filters: Thanks to connectivity, Bosch can regulate the regeneration of the particulate filter via the electronic horizon – that is to say, on the basis of data about the route ahead. This might involve the filter regenerating itself while on the freeway, for instance, so that it is fully functional when the vehicle hits city traffic.

Predictive powertrain: The electronic horizon offers an in-depth look at the route ahead. For example, the navigation software knows that a downtown area or traffic-calmed zone is coming up just a few kilometers down the road. The vehicle will then charge its battery in preparation, so that it can pass through the area in full-electric, zero-emissions mode. In the future, these navigation data will be supplemented with current traffic updates from the internet, so that the vehicle also knows where to expect congestion or mobile construction sites.

Active gas pedal: The Bosch active gas pedal helps save fuel, providing a gentle haptic signal to show the driver the most fuel-efficient pedal position. Consequently, the technology helps to achieve fuel savings of up to 7 percent. And if the vehicle has an assistance system such as adaptive cruise control, the pedal becomes a warning indicator: coupled with the navigation system or a camera that recognizes road signs, the innovative Bosch gas pedal gives drivers a haptic warning signal if, for example, they are approaching a dangerous bend at too high a speed.

Electrification: increased range thanks to consistent system optimization
Lithium-ion technology: If electric cars are to become even more widespread over the coming years, they must become significantly cheaper. Battery technology will play a key role here: by 2020, Bosch expects batteries to provide twice the energy density, but at half the present cost at most. To research the next generation of lithium-ion batteries, Bosch has joined forces with GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation in the Lithium Energy and Power joint venture.

Battery system: Bosch is using multiple approaches to drive forward the development of high-performance batteries. As part of the battery system, innovative Bosch battery management monitors and controls the cells in the system as a whole. Intelligent battery management can increase a car's range by up to 10 percent.

Thermal management for electric vehicles: A larger battery is not the only way of extending the range of an electric vehicle. After all, the air-conditioning and heating can also significantly reduce range. Bosch now offers a smart thermal management system. Because it works much more efficiently than previous versions, it can extend range by up to 25 percent. A system of controllable pumps and valves collects cold and heat at source – in the power electronics, for example. The heat can then be used for things such as heating the passenger compartment. Such an integrated system of thermal management reduces the heating system's wintertime power requirement by up to 60 percent.

48-volt hybrid: At the IAA 2015, Bosch will be presenting the second generation of its 48-volt hybrid. This modified entry-level electrification solution reduces fuel consumption by up to 15 percent, as well as providing an additional 150 newton meters of torque. In this second generation, the electric motor is integrated into the transmission. Both the electric motor and the internal-combustion engine are separable via a coupler, which means that they can provide power to the wheels independently. This enables parking in full-electric mode, as well as fully electric driving for short periods, such as in stop-and-go traffic.

On the road to automated driving: help with evasive action, with making turns, and in heavy traffic
Evasive steering support: Evasive steering support helps drivers who need to avoid obstacles. Radar and video sensors detect and measure the obstacle. By deliberately intervening in the steering maneuver, the assistant helps even inexperienced drivers to take evasive action. The assistant helps achieve maximum steer angle 25 percent faster and keeps drivers safe even in extremely complex situations.

Assistant for turning against oncoming traffic: When turning against oncoming traffic, it is easy to miss an oncoming vehicle. This assistant uses two radar sensors at the front of the vehicle to monitor oncoming traffic. If the gap in the traffic is too small to permit a turn, the system prevents the vehicle from moving forward. Alternatively, if a collision with an oncoming vehicle is imminent, the system will stop the turn in time by performing an automatic emergency braking maneuver.

Highway pilot: The highway pilot is a highly automated driving function which takes over complete control of the car on stretches of freeway. Prerequisites for this include sensors that reliably monitor the vehicle's entire surroundings, highly accurate and up-to-date map data, as well as powerful, interconnected control units. Once the vehicle has been driven onto the freeway, the driver can activate the function and lean back. Before the highly automated part of the journey ends, the highway pilot alerts the driver and warns them to prepare to take control of the vehicle again. Bosch is already testing the function with specially equipped vehicles on public roads. Assuming that the necessary changes are made to the legal framework – above all to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, UNECE Regulation R 79 – the highway pilot could be production-ready by 2020.

Traffic jam assist: The traffic jam assist system is based on the sensors and functionality of ACC Stop & Go and of the lane-keeping support. Up to a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, the system automatically follows the vehicle ahead in heavy traffic. Not only does the traffic jam assist accelerate and brake, it also keeps the vehicle in its lane by way of steering interventions. Drivers are relieved of their burden. All they have to do is monitor the system.

Stereo video camera: With only a 12-centimeter distance between the optical axes of its two lenses, the Bosch stereo video camera may well be the smallest system of its kind currently available for automotive applications. It detects pedestrians and things such as traffic signs and clear spaces, and is a single-sensor solution for a range of assistance systems. The solution is a standard feature in the Jaguar XE and the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Both vehicles use the camera for their urban and interurban emergency braking systems (AEB city, AEB interurban). In vehicle demonstrations at New Mobility World, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Bosch are demonstrating further prototype solutions that are possible solely on the basis of the stereo video camera. These include pedestrian protection, a construction zone assistant, and an assistant for calculating overhead clearance.

More intelligent parking: find and report vacant spaces, park safely, or let the car park itself
Active parking management: Bosch active parking management makes it easier for drivers to find a parking space and helps parking garage operators improve capacity utilization. Sensors installed in the pavement indicate whether or not a space is occupied. The sensors wirelessly relay this information to a server, where the data is incorporated into a real-time map. Drivers can then access this map over their smartphones or the internet, allowing them to pick out an available space and navigate to it.

Smart trailer parking: The smart trailer parking system offers a convenient way for drivers to control their vehicle and trailer from the curbside using a smartphone or tablet computer. This is made possible by interfaces with the electric power steering, the braking system, the engine management system, the automatic transmission, and with a function measuring the angle of articulation. Using an app, drivers can preselect driving direction and speed from the curbside. And they can then use their fingertip to steer and safely park the car and trailer.

Community-based parking: In many residential and inner-city areas, on-street parking spaces are a scarce commodity. Bosch community-based parking makes the search for suitable spaces easier: using the sensors of their parking aid system, cars identify and measure the gaps between parked cars as they drive past them. The information they record is transferred to a digital road map. Using smart information processing, Bosch then corroborates the data to supply a prediction of the parking situation. Vehicles in the vicinity can access the digital map in real time, allowing drivers to navigate to a suitable spot. Once the size of the available parking spaces has been determined, it is also possible to search for spaces for a specific type of vehicle, such as a compact car or motorhome. The more cars participate in the community-based parking system, the more detailed and up-to-date the map.

Multi-camera system: Four near-range cameras fitted in the vehicle provide drivers with good all-round vision while parking. With an aperture of 190 degrees each, the cameras capture the vehicle's entire surroundings. Thanks to special visualization technology, the display unit provides 3D images that are practically distortion-free. Drivers are also free to choose any perspective they wish, so they can see even small obstacles in the parking area.

Fully automated parking: Automated valet parking is the name of the Bosch function which not only relieves drivers of having to search for a parking place, but also enables the vehicle to park itself. Drivers simply drop off their vehicle at the entrance to a parking garage. Using a smartphone app, they instruct the car to find itself a place to park. They instruct the car to return to the drop-off point in exactly the same way. Fully automated parking will require several things, including an intelligent parking garage infrastructure, on-board vehicle sensors, and connectivity for both. The car and parking garage communicate with each other: sensors in the pavement identify where free parking spaces are located, and transmit this information to the car. Bosch is developing all the necessary components for fully automated parking in house.

More safety, efficiency, and convenience for drivers: Bosch display and connectivity solutions
Display systems: Navigation systems, new vehicle sensors and cameras, and internet connectivity mean a flood of information for drivers. Display systems therefore have to prioritize and present information in a way that allows it to be processed as intuitively as possible. This is where Bosch's freely programmable displays come in. Not only are these solutions no longer mechanical, they also present all the relevant information electronically on a high-resolution display in a way that is flexible and specific to the current situation. The technology can be supplemented with the Bosch Combiner Head-up Display, which shows the most important information directly in the driver's field of view.

Bosch is also showcasing an innovative user interface in which visual and acoustic interaction is supplemented by haptic elements. When drivers are using the touchscreen, they get a haptic response that makes it feel like their finger is running over a button. They then have to press more firmly on the virtual button to activate it. This reduces driver distraction, as they no longer have to visually check what they are doing.

Connected horizon: Even today, the electronic horizon provides data on inclines and the sharpness of bends to complement navigation data. The connected horizon will build on this by adding current, dynamic data relating to things such as traffic jams, accidents, and mobile construction sites. This solution enables drivers to travel more safely and with an even better picture of the road ahead.

Bosch mySPIN is an appealing smartphone integration solution that smoothly integrates the smartphone into the vehicle, ensuring safe in-car use. This means drivers can continue to use their favorite apps safely and in the usual way, both for iOS and Android smartphones. The apps are pared down to show relevant information only, and displayed and managed via the vehicle display. To ensure minimum disruption and maximum safety, they have been specifically tested for use while driving.

Wrong-way driver alert: In Germany alone, some 2,000 warnings about wrong-way drivers are broadcast each year. In most cases, however, the warning comes too late, since such incidents generally end after an average of 500 meters – in some cases with fatal consequences. Bosch is developing a new cloud-based solution designed to provide a warning within ten seconds or so. As a pure software module, this alert function can also be inexpensively integrated into existing infotainment systems or apps.

Drivelog Connect: Drivelog Connect, provided by the Drivelog mobility portal, is a connectivity solution that is also suitable for older cars. All it requires is a compact wireless module, or “dongle,” and a smartphone app. It can then offers tips on how to drive more economically, present error codes in an easily understandable form, and contact a towing service and garage in the event of a breakdown.