May 29, 2007Print this page
“The mechatronic chassis, which requires no compromise in comfort, driving dynamics or safety, plays a key role in our future plans,” said Dr. Veit Held, Head of Chassis Control Systems at Opel’s Product Development department, during a chassis workshop at the GM Test Center in Pferdsfeld (Rhineland-Palatinate). His viewpoint summarizes the opinions of engineers from the International Technical Development Center (ITDC) in Rüsselsheim. Controlled by sensors, mechatronic chassis adapt to every situation almost instantly and without the need for driver intervention. In certain Astra, Vectra and Signum models, the Continuous Damping Control (CDC) in IDSPlus adjusts chassis tuning so that optimal grip is available during avoidance maneuvers or when cornering, and that a softer set-up is provided for more comfortable highway driving.
Dr. Held emphasized that Opel will make even greater use of this technology in the future, which is revolutionizing chassis development. The chassis’ basic set-up – such as its suspension characteristic – will have a more profound importance in differentiating between specific brands. It could also open the door to a whole new dimension in personalization, as many parameters, such as specifying a sportier set-up, can then be programmed independently by the driver. Opel’s next steps toward the mechatronic car will be the early-activation collision protection, as well as Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication (V2V). This system wirelessly networks automobiles to exchange information such as vehicle position and speed, giving cars a type of ‘sixth sense’.
V2V makes it possible to recognize potentially dangerous situations early, helping to avoid accidents and to improve traffic flow.
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Dr. Held emphasized that Opel will make even greater use of this technology in the future, which is revolutionizing chassis development. The chassis’ basic set-up – such as its suspension characteristic – will have a more profound importance in differentiating between specific brands. It could also open the door to a whole new dimension in personalization, as many parameters, such as specifying a sportier set-up, can then be programmed independently by the driver. Opel’s next steps toward the mechatronic car will be the early-activation collision protection, as well as Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication (V2V). This system wirelessly networks automobiles to exchange information such as vehicle position and speed, giving cars a type of ‘sixth sense’.
V2V makes it possible to recognize potentially dangerous situations early, helping to avoid accidents and to improve traffic flow.
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Wow, great SUV !b