OEM & Lieferant Ausgabe 2/2019 - OEM & Supplier 2/2019 by VEK Publishing

150 Products and Markets The future of autonomous driving is in the roof By Michael Respondek, Executive Vice President Sunroofs & Components Europe, Webasto The integration of sensors in autonomous vehicles presents vehicle manufacturers with new challenges: Highest safety requirements must be agreed with the vehicle architecture. Webasto, world market leader for roof systems, will be presenting an innovative solution at this year‘s IAA (hall 8, booth D10) to integrate sensors functionally and attractively into the vehicle as a whole, namely into the roof system. The positioning and long-term functionality of the sensors in autonomously driving cars are of the utmost importance for unrestricted all- round visibility. In addition, the sensors should be protected as far as possible from snow, mud, splash water, rockfall and minor damage during the journey. As the highest point of the vehicle, the car roof is therefore ideally suited for locating the sensors. As a long-standing system partner of almost all OEMs and with a broad product portfolio of panorama roofs and sunroofs, Webasto has all the expertise to offer such an integrated “Roof Sensor Module” (RSM). Close cooperation with automotive manufacturers and compo- nent suppliers in the development of the Roof Sensor Module means that the roof equipped with sensors fits perfectly into the vehicle as awhole. Since unattractive roof structures are avoided in this way, freedomof design remains with the automobile manufacturers. As a slid- ing roof expert, Webasto can also integrate the sensors into the roof system in such a way that transparent and openable roofs can also be realized in autonomous vehicles. For the Roof Sensor Module, Webasto uses state-of-the-art materials such as coated polycarbonate – a particularly scratch-resist- ant and 3D formable material. Thanks to these properties, the sensors can be seamlessly in- tegrated. In order to ensure functionality even under extreme weather conditions, Webasto offers a sophisticated heating and cooling sys- tem for sensors with many years of expertise in thermal management. To counter contam- ination, Webasto also integrates a targeted cleaning concept. To support car manufacturers, Webasto al- ready offers a production solution for roof systems that can be used to react flexibly to the respective market requirements – the „Multi Optional Roof“ (MOR). The idea: one vehicle interface – many roof variants. This means that different roof systems can be mounted on one vehicle body-in-white var- iant. The result: complexity is reduced and at the same time more flexibility is created in vehicle development. This concept is also important in the transformation phase from manually controlled to autonomously moving vehicles. With theMOR, a vehicle series can be produced simultaneously as a conventional car and as an autonomous driving car. With the Roof Sensor Module, Webasto is ac- tively shaping the future of autonomous driv- ing and offering automobile manufacturers the opportunity to maintain their individual vehicle architecture. Image: ©Webasto Webasto www.webasto-group.com Website Webasto‘s idea of a roof system with integrated sensors