DETROIT Jan. 10, 2017 – Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, today announces the global debut of its Electric Power Steering (EPS) system with fail-operational function at the North American International Auto Show. The system, which enables either a driver or auto pilot system to make a safe stop in the rare case of a single failure, is a key requirement on the path to fully automated driving. The fail-operational technology will enable OEMs to comply with the fall back strategies as proposed in the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy documents from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and National Traffic Highway Safety Association (NHTSA).
“Highly automated driving can make a significant contribution to improving road safety and weve seen great interest from our OEM customers as well as the public in this technology,” said Mike Mansuetti, president of Robert Bosch LLC.
“The addition of automotive steering after the acquisition of our former joint venture ZF Lenksysteme GmbH allows us to better serve our customers with integrated system solutions on the path to highly automated driving. The new EPS with fail-operational function represents a milestone of the integration of automotive steering into our mobility solutions portfolio and is an essential technology to safely realize automated driving.”
EPS with fail-operational function from Bosch enables an independent return to a minimal risk condition with about 50 percent electric steering support via an electrical fallback solution. This functionality is possible through a fully-redundant electronic architecture where a second actuator can take over should there be an error with the first actuator. The system is able to detect a failure in the steering system and move to the electrical fallback solution. If the driver is still in the loop, they can safely steer the vehicle without the sudden increase in steering force.
For highly automated driving, the EPS with fail-operational function will enable the system to recognize the situation and automatically steer the vehicle to a safe stop without bringing the driver back into the loop. This high level of redundancy enables automakers to comply with guidance in policy documents for highly automated driving from the U.S. DOT and NHTSA.
Bosch has designed the system in a highly integrated way that leads to a costeffective solution for OEMs. Start of production for the EPS with fail-operational function in a scalable modular kit is planned for 2020.
About Bosch Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs some 31,000 associates in more than 100 locations, as of December 31, 2015. In 2015, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $14 billion in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 375,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2015). The company generated sales of $78.3 billion (70.6 billion euros) in 2015. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Boschs global manufacturing and sales network covers some 150 countries. The basis for the companys future growth is its innovative strength. Bosch employs 55,800 associates in research and development at roughly 118 locations across the globe. The Bosch Groups strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com and twitter.com/BoschPresse. Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.1095
