Safety Innovations Focus at Convergence 2002

Vehicle safety systems have evolved from aircraft seatbelts and padded dashes in the 1960s to today's antilock brakes and passenger sensing airbags; therefore few people will argue that the industry hasn't come a long way.

But we've barely scratched the surface, say promoters of Convergence 2002.

Safety-related issues are a key topic at this year's global automotive electronics conference, to be held Oct. 21-23 at Cobo Center in Detroit. The bi-annual Convergence covers all aspects of the automotive electronics industry; with the proliferation of many new safety innovations, that facet will be of primary importance.

“There are many safety-related technologies and products available that are not being used because they are either too expensive or require too many product changes,” says Bernard I. Robertson, senior vice president at DaimlerChrysler AG and chairman of Convergence 2002.

Convergence's goals in this sector are to push for change in the automotive industry and find ways to reduce costs on some of these new innovations, leading to the implementation of the technologies.

Some topics being covered are “Feasibility Studies of High Speed Wheel Torque Control and its Effects on Vehicle Dynamics,” “Reducing the Stopping Distance Through Chassis System Networking,” “Advances in Tire Pressure Monitoring Technologies and Systems” and “Interior Sensing.” Drive-by-wire and night vision systems also will be addressed.

The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) issue will be of particular importance this October, as auto makers struggle to settle on an industry standard for the technology.

At the moment there are two prevalent systems on the market; one senses tire pressure directly, and the other senses wheel speed. There are many arguments as to which is better.

Indirect systems measure pressure via wheel speed, as a tire that is low rotates faster. These systems are inexpensive yet are slow to register pressure loss and do not work well above 70 mph. The direct system measures tire pressure via a sensor and is more expensive, but is faster and more accurate.

Federal law mandates that all new cars built after November 2003 be equipped with TPMS, but gives manufacturers the choice of which approach to use. The dilemmas this will create will be discussed at Convergence.

The show also will focus on collaborative product creation and manufacturing, product integrity, diagnostics and comfort and convenience. Convergence will feature more than 180 exhibits and a number of distinguished speakers.

Convergence 2002 runs from Oct. 21-23 at Cobo Center in Detroit, MI. Additional information can be found at www.convergence2002.org. On-line registration is available, or contact Denise (denny) Freitag at (248) 944-0975.