Developments in electronics and information technology have revolutionised the automotive industry, thus providing the Volvo Group with completely new ways of developing systems for enhanced safety and reduced environmental impact. These days, the robustness of a system can mean the difference between life and death.
Virtually every component found in a modern vehicle is supported in some way by a piece of electronic software or hardware. The first stand-alone electronics-based solutions for cars were developed in the late 1970s. These days, more rigorous demands are imposed on a comprehensive architecture which effectively supports all the electronic applications. While a mobile phone or PC may occasionally have poor coverage or even crash, the automotive industry must demand more from its electronic systems. When the reliability of an application means the difference between life and death, there is no room to compromise on quality.
The automotive industry has understood that, as the number of systems and their complexity continues to grow, there is a need for a common, standardised platform, upon which to build the applications of the future. Autosar (Automotive Open System Architecture) is an industrial consortium incorporating most of the major global automotive players and their suppliers. The aim of this initiative is to agree on a common platform for basic software, to ensure that the system modules which are developed by each manufacturer in the future are compatible, reliable and applicable across the board.
In the late 1980s, the Volvo Group participated in a European research project known as Prometheus, focusing on the improvement of safety using electronics. Prometheus was the starting point for a large number of research projects, many of which have been implemented today, such as GPS tracking and communication systems, while others are yet to come.
The foundations laid by Prometheus are being followed up by another EU project, ATESST (Advancing Traffic Efficiency and Safety through Software Technology). ATESST will examine the next phase after Autosar, namely the model-based development of a common Architectural Description Language (ADL) and a process for the development of new applications, once a standardised platform has been created.
TIMMO is brand-new project which also follows on from Autosar. TIMMO stands for Timing-Modelling and aims to establish a modelling language to describe timing behaviour in the early design phase. This will secure the cost-efficient and reliable development of real-time systems, in which correct timing is essential. Another EU project, SMMART (System for Mobile Maintenance Accessible in Real Time), is seeking to enhance the technology behind guided diagnostics, to the point where a vehicle is able to self-diagnose its faults and identify upcoming service requirements in order to maximise uptime and keep unplanned stoppages to a minimum.
In the 1990s, Volvo introduced the first electronic GPS-based fleet, driver and vehicle management system, known as Dynafleet. While it has evolved considerably over the past decade, Dynafleet is still the system of choice for truck operators who wish to plan their assignments, track their vehicles and monitor the activities of their drivers.
The Volvo Group’s core values are quality, safety and environmental care. In each of these areas, the Volvo Group’s ability to continue to produce new, ground-breaking systems and solutions depends largely on the availability of the electronic technology required to support them.