Case Study
Agile Auto Architecture
GM's Autonomy
and the i-Solo/Duo
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
1
AUTOnomy is the “Reinvention of the Automobile” and is the first vehicle to be
designed from the ground up around a fuel cell propulsion system and combining
drive-by-wire control technology and electric wheel hub motors.
The GM AUTOnomy is a powerful vision of what the future of auto-mobility may
become and as such offers an endless variety of all-wheel-drive vehicles built
from a limited number of common “skateboard” chassis with unlimited plug-andplay body styles. The skateboards include all of the essential systems: a fuel cell
stack, an electronic network, electric drive motors, and an on-board hydrogen
storage system. The result is a vision of a future based on hydrogen fuel, a future
where the only emission from the tailpipe is water.
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
2
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
3
With AUTOnomy, an almost endless variety of affordable, all-wheel-drive vehicles
could be built from a limited number of common chassis - possibly as few as two
or three - emitting only water from the tailpipe and using renewable energy.
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
4
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
5
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
6
POWER: Fuel Cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and
heat as the only by-products. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.
CONTROL: Drive-by-wire allows steering, braking, and other vehicle systems to be
controlled by electrical signals rather than mechanical joints and linkages.
SKATEBOARD: A six-inch thick chassis with the entire propulsion system housed within;
wheel hub motors at the wheels enable four-wheel drive and four-wheel independent
steering, acceleration, and braking; four electrical mechanical body attachment mounts to
lock the body in place onto the skateboard; pre-configured and validated perimeter
structural impact zones; external side mounted optimized cooling fins; a smart single
access docking port to connect and link power, control, heating and cooling systems to the
body from the skateboard; a refueling port for hydrogen, and an exhaust outlet dispersing
water in the form of vapor.
MANUFACTURING: By decoupling the body and skateboard in the manufacturing process
and using modular assembly and accelerated vehicle development techniques, millions of
skateboards can be manufactured at one location to achieve economies of scale. The
various bodies and body styles would then be built and customized at satellite assembly
plants around the world for both emerging and established markets. This freedom and
flexibility allows the vehicle to adapt to the needs of unique global markets, changing
lifestyles, and various customer requirements around the world.
BODY INTERCHANGEABILITY: The body of an AUTOnomy vehicle can be tailored to a
manufacturer type, to a desired interior vocabulary, and to any exterior form or desired
style.
SOFTWARE CUSTOMIZATION: The body and skateboard are programable and customizable
and can learn from and adapt to the user. Software--in combination with hardware--can
adapt to a user or be pre-conditioned for certain driving characteristics, such as braking,
cornering and acceleration.
UNVEILING: Revealed January 2002 at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
The General Motors AUTOnomy body has a futuristic two-seat roadster body (one of many
possible interchangeable body styles)
inspired
by motorcycle
and fighter jet designs.
7
rick.dove@stevens.edu,
attributed
copies permitted
It looks like an ordinary Opel Astra, one of Europe’s most popular compact
sedans. But slip into the driver’s seat and you quickly realize there’s something
a bit unusual about this high-tech prototype. The oddly shaped steering wheel is
probably the first clue, though the lack of foot pedals is a definite giveaway. The
particular Astra TheCarConnection had the chance to drive at California’s
Buttonwood racetrack uses the latest in so-called “drive-by-wire” technology,
and could very well be a sign of things to come.
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
8
Named for its combination of hydrogen fuel cell and drive-by-wire technology, the
Hy-wire incorporates the features envisioned in the AUTOnomy concept vehicle.
All of its propulsion and control systems are contained within an 11-inch-thick
skateboard-like chassis, maximizing the interior space for five occupants and
their cargo.
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
9
Hy-wire specifications
Vehicle:
Fuel cell and by-wire technology; front-wheel drive, new luxury sedan
Seating capacity: 5
Fuel storage system: Three cylindrical high-pressure tanks of carbon composite material, mounted in the
middle of the skateboard chassis
Length/diameter: 1,161/241 mm (45.7/9.5 inches)
Total capacity: 2 kg (4.4 pounds)
Total weight: 75 kg (165 pounds)
Fuel cell stack:
200 single fuel cells; connected in a series
Voltage:125-200 Volt
Length/width/height:472/251/496 mm
Pressure:1.5-2.7 bars
Continuous rating: 94 kW, peak of 129 kW
Power density: 1.60 kW/l, 0.94 kW/kg
Electrical traction system: Three-phase asynchronous electric motor with integrated power electronics
and planetary gear
Operating voltage: 250-380 Volt
Maximum rating: 60 kW
Maximum torque: 215 Nm (159 lb-ft)
Maximum rpm: 12,000
Transmission ratio: 8.67:1
Total weight: 92 kg (203 pounds)
Skateboard chassis: Length/width/height: 4,357/1,670/ 279 mm
(171.5/65.7/11 inches - taller in the back)
Aluminum frame
Body:
Steel and fiberglass
Length: 5 meters (195 inches)
Vehicle size/weight: Mass: 1,900 kg (4,185 pounds)
Wheel base: 3,114 mm (122.6 inches)
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
10
Overview: The Sequel, about the size of a Cadillac SRX, is the first fuel cell vehicle
that achieves 0-60 mph in under 10 seconds and has a 300-mile range. Unequaled
control on snow and ice, or uneven terrain. 42-percent more torque for
unparalleled acceleration. Shorter braking distance than an equal size vehicle
Sequel’s sophisticated by-wire system replaces the mechanical and hydraulic
linkages of conventional vehicles with electrical wires and actuators. This means
fewer parts to wear out, and because by-wire systems work like a fast computer,
Sequel has enhanced accelerating, braking and overall handling.
Jan, 2005 - The New York Times
G.M. unveiled the Chevrolet Sequel,
that runs on a hydrogen fuel cell, and employs the
Platform architecture Larry Burns has been spearheading.
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
11
I+Solo / I+Duo
http://www.solo-duo.hu/main.php?category=126
Hungarian Car project
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
12
“The Antro Solo concept is a three-passenger car, with a hybrid drive and solar
cells on its roof that the company says could generate enough electricity for up to
20km a day at city speeds. Antro intends to allow users to be able to connect two
Antro Solos to form a six-passenger Antro Duo. Or, owners of a Duo could split
the car into two smaller Solos should Mum have different weekend plans to Dad."
The Group’s view of the future
• responses with a perspective in
rapidly changing circumstances
• relationships based on human values
• an economy based on satisfying
needs
• rapid, flexible and decentralised
networks
• synergies emerging from cooperation
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
13
•
•
•
•
the large family car (DUO) can be separated to two identical minicars (SOLO)
the SOLO seats three passengers
the DUO seats six passengers
hybrid drive with renewable energies, running on
vegetable oil and alcohol + electric motor
• solar cells on roof for charging the batteries
• supplementary drive by pedal-generator, the
option of exercise during travel (fitnessmobile)
• use of only the electric motor + pedal drive at low
speed, within residential areas (silent, 0 emissions)
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
14
2006-2008 – Creation of an operational “concept car”
2009-2010 – Creation of the Solo+Duo prototype
2010-2012 – Production design, prep for manufacture
2012-2013
– Launch of large-scale serial production 15
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
The SOLO-DUO will need only one quarter of the fuel required by current cars.
When burning vegetable oil, alcohol, or
synthetic, renewable fuels, the amount of
carbon dioxide released is equal to the
amount the plant already absorbed
during its growth.
Its hybrid drive will be as dynamic and
quick as that of traditional cars,
so it will fit perfectly into
public road traffic.
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
16
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
17
Autos as Mobile Complex Computer Systems
Film-5:20
Feb 2010 email from recognized auto-expert academic/consultant
http://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/computing/it/us-national-highway-traffic-safety-administration-has-no-ees-or-sw-engineers-working-for-it
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/auto-professor-pinpoints-car-flaw-9916379
As the industry switches to drive-by-wire, the number of lines of code
in a vehicle these days exceeds those in aircraft. The statements made by
Toyota executives suggest that the top command failed to realize what
kind of new world the company had entered.
On the other hand Ford in July implemented a new record system
designed by Siemens. It starts a record of each vehicle at line off,
including all the software and updates to it. No two vehicles may be
identical, so when one comes in for service, you have to know what's
in it to diagnose. And updates and patches can be downloaded from
Ford, same as for computer software. Vehicles are becoming computers
and have to be managed as such.
Biggest problem in automotive advance that I see today is lack of
engineering software talent to integrate all this stuff. If you could
multiply that, you could retrofit much of the existing vehicle fleet
to quickly pump up fuel efficiency by 10-25%. Nonetheless, I suspect
that is coming fairly soon, and it will drastically change the
business model of the industry. Out of the last four automotive
development projects I have seen, on three, 75% of development staff
were software. You can no longer design one of these things without
constant simulations to see which combination "works better" (or has
unacceptable characteristics).
rick.dove@stevens.edu, attributed copies permitted
18