Modular Smart Corner Systems for Next-Generation Electric Vehicle Architecture

The transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) necessitates a paradigm shift in both control strategies and vehicle architecture. The EU-funded SmartCorners project addresses this challenge by developing integrated smart corner systems (SCS) that combine in-wheel motor propulsion, brake-by-wire, active suspension, and steer-by-wire functionality in a single module. These SCS are embedded within a highly adaptable skateboard chassis architecture, enabling scalable deployment across diverse vehicle platforms. The central approach of this paper is the utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning to implement multi-layer, data-driven control strategies, facilitating real-time actuation, fault mitigation, and a user-centric vehicle architecture. The SmartCorners project targets to demonstrate significant advancements, including improvement in real-world driving range, reduction of component and system costs, and development time drop of the EV systems enabled by digital-twin-based design methodologies. Beyond these performance gains, SmartCorners establishes the foundational principles of modularity, adaptability, and software integration that underpin the evolution toward SDVs. These achievements highlight a critical bridge between electrified component innovation and the holistic software-defined mobility systems of the future.