Design of Intelligent Body Networks

With additional new or more intelligent functions emerging in the vehicle, engineers are facing new challenges in the design of the Automotive Electric/Electronic System. New ECUs, actuators and sensors have to be provided with information, energy and control signals. In order to limit the weight of the wiring harness and to guarantee the electrical supply of the components an improved design and architecture of the body network is required.

Communication is being handled by several bus systems which are connected via gateways. Sensors and actuators are getting smarter. The existing 12V electrical supply system will be supplemented or replaced by a 42V network. Several new functions (e.g. extended systems diagnostics) will be added without additional actuators but just by additional software, requiring more computing power in the vehicle.

All this will require a systems approach for the body networks resulting in an improved functionality and reliability keeping the costs and complexity of the system limited.