Trucks automatically driving behind one another on the highway, 'platooning', or cars automatically changing lanes: Here vehicle movements have to be calculated and executed precisely and quickly without a human driver. Software and AI algorithms safely control the drive, brakes, front and rear wheel steering and damping systems. The more efficient the AI algorithms are, the better the available computing power can be used.

The ZF Group and Infineon Technologies AG have jointly developed and implemented AI algorithms for the development and control of vehicle software as part of the EEmotion project. The project was co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The AI algorithms developed in the project, proven in a test vehicle, control and optimize all actuators during automated driving according to the specified driving trajectory.

ZF has added AI algorithms to its two existing software solutions cubiX and Eco Control 4 ACC, which have been implemented on Infineon’s AURIX^T TC4x microcontroller (MCU) with integrated Parallel Processing Unit (PPU). The result: More efficient artificial intelligence algorithms and better utilization of computing power. This in turn leads to better driving performance and increased driving safety. Compared to conventional approaches without AI, the two companies have now proven that their solution can for example carry out automated lane changes much more accurately. The energy efficiency of driver assistance systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control has also been increased. The improved driving performance combined with lower computing power demands paves the way for cost-efficient Level 2+ assistance systems.

"The EEmotion funding project shows that our artificial intelligence-based algorithms provide our customers with new advantages: AI makes it possible for products to be equipped with new functions and to be developed faster and more efficiently," said Torsten Gollewski, head of research and development at ZF.

“With our world-leading semiconductor products, software and services, Infineon enables customers to develop their own AI applications,” said Peter Schiefer, president of Infineon’s Automotive Division. “Our AURIX TC4x is ideally suited for in-car AI applications because its Parallel Processing Unit enables the fast and parallel processing of data that is essential for artificial intelligence, heralding the next stages of automated and ultimately autonomous driving."

"The EEmotion project successfully integrated artificial intelligence into the safety-critical functions of the vehicle control system; this was validated on the software side, making further progress towards highly automated driving possible," said Ernst Stoeckl-Pukall, head of the digitization and Industry 4.0 department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. "The project has thus provided important impetus that has strengthened the innovative power and competitiveness of the German automotive industry."

zf.com