UNICARagil – New architectures for disruptive vehicle concepts

This paper provides an overview of the research topics of the UNICARagil project with the focus on different architectures, such as the mechatronic, the software, and the mechanic architecture. The main research questions as well as possible solutions, which will be investigated in this project, are described. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany

In terms of the mechatronic and the software architecture, this paper focuses on the ECU concept: the main tasks of the automated driving process are executed on three ECUs, which are called the cerebrum, the brainstem and the spinal cord. This architecture supports the modular approach regarding functional safety, the ability of future updates and upgrades, and the service orientated architecture (SOA) of the software. The well-known SOA approach is transferred to automotive applications and becomes the automotive service orientated architecture (ASOA).

Furthermore, the mechanic structure of the four vehicles AUTOtaxi, AUTOelfe, AUTOliefer and AUTOshuttle is described.