Convergence(R) 2004 Spotlights Safety in Three Technical Sessions

Active safety, X-by-Wire and changing vehicle interiors examined at world's leading automotive and electronics conference

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 6 -- Shifting its focus from occupants surviving auto crashes to accident avoidance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has set the stage for rapid growth in consumer awareness and demand for so-called active vehicle safety systems. Way ahead of the curve, the world's automakers and suppliers are primed to further explore in three technical sessions at Convergence 2004, Oct. 18-20, in Detroit, the dynamics of bringing to market advanced safety systems.

Active Safety -- Session 10, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. -- will look at accident avoidance, impaired driver and intelligent vehicle systems, which are designed to enhance safe vehicle movement in many driving situations. This two-part discussion will focus on whole vehicle systems and needed hardware. Active Safety is chaired by Dave Baxter, Toyota Technical Center, and co-chaired by Doug Patton, DENSO International America, Inc.

  Session 10 white papers:

  1. Sensing in the Ultimately Safe Vehicle
     Author: Randy Frank, Randy Frank & Associates, Ltd.

  2. Accident Statistics and the Effect of Vehicle Dynamic Control Systems
     Author: Thomas Breitling, DaimlerChrysler AG

  3. Obstacle Detection Systems for Vehicle Safety
     Author: Masayuki Furutani, Toyota Motor Company

  4. Sensors for Forward Obstacle Detection
     Author: Yoshihiko Teguri, DENSO Corporation

5. Pre-Crash Sensing for Vulnerable Road User Protection Applications Using Data Fusion

     Author: Reiner Deorfler, Siemens VDO Automotive AG
     Co-Author: Matthias Tons, Siemens VDO Automotive AG

  6. Active Safety: Bosch Electronic Stability Control (ESP)
     Author: Edwin Liebermann, Robert Bosch Corporation
     Co-Author: Klaus Meder, Robert Bosch Corporation

Two additional sessions look at the growing complexity of vehicle interiors -- a potential safety issue -- and X-by-Wire, which is replacing traditional mechanical and hydraulic components in steering and braking systems with fault tolerant electronic sensors and actuators.

User Interface Challenges Amid the Increasing Complexity of Automotive Interiors -- Session four, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. -- examines the potential impact on safety from increasingly complex interiors. Jim Geschke, Johnson Controls, Inc., and Norimasa Kishi, Nissan Motor Co., serve as session chair and vice chair respectively.

X-by-Wire -- Session eight, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2 - 5 p.m. -- addresses the steps needed to further the promise of this developing technology and its impact on improved occupant safety features.

Convergence 2004 will feature a record 86 white papers, 15 technical sessions, three interactive panel discussions, keynote speeches from industry leaders, and nearly 200 exhibits from international automotive and electronics companies. This year's theme is "Vehicle Electronics to Digital Mobility: The Next Generation of Convergence."

Ford Motor Company is hosting Convergence 2004 and is a Gold Sponsor for this year's conference. Additional Gold Sponsors include Robert Bosch Corporation; Delphi; DENSO International America, Inc.; Freescale Semiconductor; General Motors Corporation; IBM Corporation; Motorola Automotive; Toyota Motor Corporation; and Yazaki North America, Inc.

Convergence attracts automotive and electronics engineers, scientists, executives and journalists, from around the globe.

The Convergence Transportation Electronics Association sponsors Convergence 2004. Conference proceeds will benefit the Convergence Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 to support mathematics and science education for disadvantaged school-aged children.