“Making future mobility happen, today!” is Continental’s tagline for this year’s IAA MOBILITY in Munich, where the technology company will present its portfolio of software-based and sustainable mobility solutions. These range from high-performance computers and solutions for the rapid, cost-efficient implementation of digital mobility, to sustainable vehicle interiors of the future and concept tires for energy-efficient urban driving, the company said.
“From the road to the cloud: our technology portfolio ranges from premium tires to software solutions, putting us in a unique market position,” said CEO Nikolai Setzer. Pointing to the technologies to be presented at the IAA, he added: “We’re developing the new horsepower for the mobility of the future. Today, four out of every five new cars worldwide are already fitted with hardware and software solutions from Continental – ensuring safety, comfort and convenience, and sustainability.”
Visitors to the trade fair will be able to experience Continental’s latest solutions firsthand at booth B10 in hall A2. Some highlights from Continental’s booth at the show include:
Intelligent Vehicle Computers
Continental is helping to shape the transition to software-based cars, with around 21,000 software and IT specialists working on new and improved products such as high-performance computers (HPCs), the company said.
Smart Cockpit HPC
A new addition to Continental’s HPC portfolio is the Smart Cockpit HPC, a preconfigured system combining the instrument cluster, infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems. At the IAA Mobility, Continental and a tech-industry partner will show, using a demonstration vehicle, how the Smart Cockpit HPC can make the mobility of the future a reality at minimum cost and within a short development time.
Virtual Development with Amazon Web Services
With automotive manufacturers bringing new models to market faster and providing customers with regular software updates, new approaches to accelerate and broaden the development and testing of automotive software is needed. Continental believes the solution is the new virtual Electronic Control Unit (vECU) Creator based on Continental Automotive Edge (CAEdge), a platform for hardware and software development launched by Continental and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2021. Automotive software developers are already able to use the vECU Creator to decouple hardware and software decision-making, while the virtual simulation of digital functions enables engineers to quickly and continuously improve microcontroller-based ECUs, zone controllers and high-performance computers. Thanks to vECUs, software applications can be 90% programmed before they are deployed on the target hardware, increasing the efficiency of product launches, the company said.
Integrated Full-Stack Systems for Assisted and Automated Driving
In partnership with US semiconductor specialist Ambarella, Conti is developing integrated full-stack systems for assisted and automated driving. These scalable multisensor systems operate using AI and an energy-efficient chip system from Ambarella, as well as high-resolution cameras, radar and lidar sensors and associated control units from Continental. Continental and Ambarella recently received the first customer order for these jointly developed solutions as a complete Level 4 fallback system. At the trade show, Continental will provide insights into how the system solutions interact and make mobility more autonomous and safer.
Greater Protection for Vulnerable Road Users
At the IAA MOBILITY, Continental will present a compact, easy-to-integrate system solution for dynamic near-field projections based on micro-LED technology, the company said. This system will be able to signal when a vehicle is changing direction, for example, by projecting dynamic warnings or vehicle dimensions in the vehicle’s immediate surroundings with micro-LEDs.
Safe and Sustainable Brake Systems
At the IAA MOBILITY, Continental will present its roadmap for future brake systems that increase safety and sustainability in equal measure. One example is a semi-dry brake system, which uses “dry” electromechanical brakes on the rear axle that do not require brake fluid. The advantage for automotive manufacturers is that there is no need to fill and bleed the brake system during production. This reduces the amount of hazardous old brake fluid that has to disposed of properly after every change by many millions of liters, the company said.
Space D Design Concept
Wellness is set to play a major role in vehicle interiors as well, transforming vehicles into a new space to live in and enjoy, Conti said. In Munich, Continental will offer a glimpse into the interior space of autonomous mobility with its Space D design concept. The “D” in the name stands for the high design standards, the company said.
Also on display will be surface materials Benova Eco Protect, which makes a lasting visual impression and is certified with the PETA label for vegan products; Acella, which is especially sustainable with its bio-based raw materials and recycled content; and Xpreshn Hylite Concept, a translucent surface material that allows for new designs and functions.
UltraContact NXT
The UltraContact NXT shows how quickly sustainable products at Continental are going into production and onto the road. Continental first unveiled its sustainably produced tire at its TechShow this summer. Comprising up to 65 percent renewable, recycled and mass balance-certified materials, the UltraContact NXT combines a high share of sustainable materials with maximum safety. Production of the tire started in July, and all 19 sizes are now available in select markets.
