Automotive Systems Integration

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The CU-ICAR definition of Systems Integration is an interdisciplinary, collaborative engineering and management approach that derives, evolves and verifies an integrated optimal solution that satisfies all customer needs. This includes includes

  • Design space
  • Functional requirements
  • Manufacturing costs
  • Time to Market
  • Weight
  • Regulations

The CU-ICAR Systems Integration technical focus is on:

  • Requirements engineering (including requirement analysis and identification of coherences and conflicts),
  • Describing and modeling of system dynamics of singular nature,
  • Describing and studying interactions among system components and functions/properties,
  • Identifying sensitive parameters for target achievement,
  • Finding concepts, alternative concept variants, and evaluation and comparison of solutions considering target achievement, weight, cost and design space,
  • Promoting building blocks (modules), modular architectures, functional clustering/differentiation, integral architectures, extensibility and flexibility,
  • Improving product maturity and reduction of hardware validation,
  • Improving product reliability and serviceability by applying fault diagnostics of complex inter-connected (mechatronic) systems, and
  • Adapting organization structure to modularization strategy; splitting up core competences between OEM (target setting, concept development, design, system integration, purchasing, performance evaluation, assembly) and suppliers (series development, modular production).

Strategic Areas of Research Focus

  • Integrated CAE-driven Concept Design focusing on parametric multi-physics systems integration and multi-disciplinary optimization tools for concept development in the early design phase.
  • Vehicle Architectures for Platforms and Commonality with the focus on to optimizing product/purchasing costs and establishing efficient (standard) manufacturing processes that maximize economies of scale and balance necessary means of flexibility/extensibility.
  • Finding Solutions for Sustainable Mobility in the near future, including alternative power trains minimizing energy waste in automobiles, lightweight vehicle design, energy management and interactions with existing and future infrastructures.
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