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automotive

Magna acquires Haptronik to advance ‘touch control’ features in cars

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Drivers and passengers will enjoy a more intuitive experience thanks to technology which relies on motion and the sense of touch inside and outside of the car.

To continue developing these advanced technologies for the automotive market, Magna has signed a deal to acquire Haptronik GmbH, further investing in advanced motion-control software and adding to Magna’s mechatronics products.

Haptronik is a technology company that specialises in software to control the motion of mechatronic products. Based in Dresden, Germany, the company develops algorithms that enhance motion control and the touch and feel of power systems such as doors and liftgates.

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DuPont releases new thermoplastic for automotive components

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DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers, a newly formed business segment within DowDuPont’s Specialty Products Division, is introducing DuPont Hytrel HTR8745 BK320, a new grade of TPC-ET developed for blow moulding of constant velocity joint (CVJ) inboard boots.

An industry leader in co-polyester elastomer solutions for CVJ boots, DuPont has engineered a next-generation, high-performance thermoplastic elastomer with excellent heat and fatigue resistance.

“Introduced in 1984 for automotive CVJ outboard boots, Hytrel is the industry standard for excellent balance of grease resistance, high-temperature durability, low-temperature flexibility and historically proven performance,” said Laurent Lefebvre, marketing manager, DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers.

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Veoneer introduces autonomous driving supercomputer 

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Veoneer, Inc., which claims to be the world’s largest pure-play company focused on Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD), has developed the “Zeus” supercomputer.

It has been designed to meet the requirements for level 4 Autonomous Driving with Zenuity’s Autonomous Driving software stack, based on the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Xavier running NVIDIA DRIVE OS.

The supercomputer Zeus is an ADAS/AD ECU, a “brain” that fuses data from cameras, radars and other sensors, interprets the situation and takes required action.

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Denso invests in software developer eSOL for automated driving

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Denso Corporation has taken a 2% equity stake in eSOL Co., Ltd., a leading developer of real-time embedded software solutions. Denso will use eSOL’s technologies to develop software for the systems and products required for automated driving.

To improve the performance of automated driving and the utilisation of external data for safety, in-vehicle electronic products must be integrated to ensure seamless control of the entire vehicle system.

As in-vehicle systems become increasingly more complex, it will be necessary to update, rewrite or add software to coordinate with new electronic systems and electronic control units for automated driving.

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NXP launches automotive radar solution

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NXP Semiconductors N.V., leader in automotive radar 2, has expanded its radar portfolio with an automotive radar solution that combines its S32R processors, RF Transceiver and Antenna design on a new reference platform.

Created through a partnership with Colorado Engineering, the company says its solution is the only currently available automotive-grade radar development platform designed to meet the stringent functional, performance, and safety requirements of the industry.

This new radar solution is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of radar into production vehicles and includes a full portfolio of tools that aim to lower development costs and spur radar application adoption worldwide.

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Volkswagen and Microsoft announce strategic digital partnership

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Entering into a strategic partnership, Volkswagen and Microsoft Corp. will collaborate to develop the ‘Volkswagen Automotive Cloud’, one of the largest dedicated automotive industry clouds for all future Volkswagen digital services and mobility offerings.

The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG approved the conclusion of an agreement to this effect between Volkswagen and Microsoft on September 28, 2018.

With Microsoft as its strategic partner, the company is taking a decisive step in its digital transformation into a mobility provider with a fully connected vehicle fleet and the digital ecosystem “Volkswagen We”.

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Magna and Altran form joint venture to create auto engineering centre in Morocco

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As Morocco emerges as a competitive export-focused production base for global automakers, Magna and Altran Technologies SA have joined forces to create a new resource for vehicle engineering services.

Magna’s complete vehicle engineering and manufacturing group and Altran, a global leader in engineering and R&D services, each hold 50 percent of the joint-venture company.

The joint venture – located in Casablanca, Morocco, under the name MG2 – brings together Magna’s complete vehicle know-how and process competence and Altran’s strengths as a locally established partner. Approximately 500 engineers from the two companies will initially staff the joint venture.

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Dow DuPont groups its offer to automotive industry

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DowDuPont Specialty Products Division is launching AHEAD – a new initiative designed to bring customers solutions and material capabilities from across the new DuPont.

Utilising adhesives, high-performance elastomers, engineered thermoplastics, fluids/specialty lubricants, electronic materials, high-performance fibres and safety materials, AHEAD will provide innovative solutions for automotive applications.

These include: lightweighting; Battery pack components and assembly; Thermal management/safety; Electric motors; Powertrain/chassis; Electrical/electronic applications for improved automation including driver assists and self-driving capabilities; and Support infrastructure (plug-in and induction charging stations, etc.)

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Volkswagen takes first step on road to 3D car production

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Volkswagen will use a new 3D printing process to print design elements such as individualised gear knobs in small production series and is pressing ahead with the development of the technology for mass production.

Volkswagen is using the “HP Metal Jet” process, which it claimed to simplify and speed up metallic 3D printing. The biggest advantage claimed: productivity improves fifty times compared with other 3D printing methods and depending on the component.

Together with printer manufacturer HP and component manufacturer GKN Powder Metallurgy, Volkswagen  presented the new process for the first time at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago.

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Denso in joint venture for automated driving software

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Denso Corporation is forming a new joint venture company to  to develop integrated electronic control unit (ECU) software for automated driving and vehicle dynamics control.

Denso will own 65% of the company with Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd taking a 25% stake, ADVICS Co., Ltd. taking 5% and  JTEKT Corporation taking 5%.

Details are still being discussed and the plan is for the new company to launch in March 2019.

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