Classic vehicle production had limitations in bringing the driving commands to the actuators for vehicle motion (engine, steering and braking). Steering columns, hydraulic tubes or steel cables needed to be placed between the driver and actuator.
Change began with the introduction of e-gas systems. Mechanical cables were replaced by thin, electric signal wires. The technical solutions and legal standardizations for addressing the steering and braking systems, were not defined at this time.
Today, OEMs are starting E/E-Architecture transformations for manifold reasons and now have the chance to remove the long hydraulic tubes for braking and the solid metal columns used for steering.
X-by-wire is the way forward and allows for higher Autonomous Driving (AD) levels for automated driving vehicles. This offers new opportunities to design the vehicle in-cabin space.
This paper will start with the introduction of x-by-wire technologies. It will cover the three aspects of the transformation from line to wire; functional safety (fail operational), security, and availability.
It will also provide examples of two different implementation approaches, one from a classic OEM with a basic platform vehicle architecture and concept, and the other from the start-up company, REE Automotive, with their skateboard architecture and brand-new concept of REEcorner™ Vehicle Motion.