From 20th – 27th September 2018, the eyes of the commercial vehicle sector will be on Hanover. OEMs, suppliers and engineering service providers will be coming together at the 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles, the world’s leading trade fair for transport, logistics and mobility, to present their latest developments and products. At Stand B33 in Hall 13, EDAG will be presenting its solutions for future-proof mobility and vehicle concepts in the commercial vehicle industry, taking as its main themes digitalisation, sustainability and future mobility.
As the world's leading engineering specialist for vehicles and production plants, EDAG has proactively developed new solutions to promote the ecosystem mobility. The company will be presenting more than 15 solutions and concepts at its stand. The following three engineering highlights represent the EDAG Group's innovative, fully integrated concept:
Sustainability: economical lightweight door for commercial vehicles ("WiLeitNu")
It might sound simple at the outset, but this is nevertheless a far-reaching change: the weight of a door for long-distance trucks designed to meet future legal requirements has been reduced by 20% – at no extra cost. The door gives the driver a maximum viewing angle, and has been optimised to provide pedestrian protection. "WiLeitNu" is a project sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, on which EDAG worked in close cooperation with partners Fischer Hydroforming and Muhr Metalltechnik. A virtual model will be presented for the first time at the IAA, with the real prototype following in 2020.
Digitalisation: environmental data analysis
EDAG´s “BFFT SRD fusion engine” is used for sensing the environment of a vehicle on the basis of sensor raw data. Using radar, LIDAR and camera data, static and dynamic elements in the vehicle's environment are identified and can be employed to interpret or predict complex situations. Depending on the desired requirements, the SRD fusion engine can be utilised for benchmarking ADAS sensors, as a reference model for safeguarding autopilots, or for data fusion for level 4 und autonomous driving (SAE J3016). This makes the SRD fusion engine a future-oriented tool for greater safety, which lays the foundation for the future of autonomous driving in the commercial vehicle sector.
Future mobility: BatteRANGE, a modular, scalable chassis concept
For years, EDAG has been pursuing the vision of the commercial vehicle chassis 2.0. Taking into account the requirements of alternative drive trains, an innovative concept has been created: BatteRANGE offers full variability and scalability, and features a modular chassis architecture, which makes it possible to configure the appropriate chassis for every application from the diesel engine to the fuel cell. For the wheel for-mulas 4x2 and 6x2, it enables different drive trains to be fitted to everything from the semi-trailer truck to the motor coach, according to their specific requirements. To make this possible, the truck chassis is divided into three. As in the EDAG concept from the last IAA show, the front section is made up of large cast parts, which create the space necessary for the integration of an independent wheel suspension. The scalable centre section of the chassis accommodates the energy storage system and drive components. In the rear section, the axle combinations required are conventionally connected.
Digitalisation: VR training tool for car body painters
Visitors to the IAA Commercial Vehicles show can test a new VR training tool for car body painters at the EDAG stand: state-of-the-art technology transports car body painters to a virtual paint shop where, holding a real though empty paint gun, they can practice their painting technique under realistic conditions – wherever they are, and without wasting resources. An integrated feedback system supplies notes on paint thickness, spray angle and speed.
"Our display and highly innovative solutions for future products for the commercial vehicle industry underline our position as the leading, independent engineering and production specialist for the mobility of the future. In addition to the solutions at our own stand, five more of our innovations are on display at the stands of our customers – and are to be presented to the public for the first time in Hanover," explained Cosimo De Carlo, CEO of the EDAG Group.