Siemens VDO Automotive's CESAR Modular Cockpit Offers Increased Design Flexibility
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"CESAR is based on the idea of modularity, taking the extreme variations in interior content and the variety of differing cockpit designs and technologies and allowing them to be combined like building blocks," said Siemens VDO Automotive President and CEO John Sanderson.
The cockpit concept construction is based on four fundamental modules, which appear as one complete element when integrated. The magnesium support module is the backbone of the cockpit and houses its electrical wiring and electronic controls. The driver, center console and passenger modules are the visible areas of the interior and attached to the magnesium support structure at strategic mechanical points and through a standardized software interface.
"The construction allows for cockpit components and design to be changed more easily during production and updated and serviced at any time," said Sanderson. "In addition, the plug-and-play approach of the individual modules enables authorized service operations to make quick exchanges."
The CESAR cockpit concept's classic design uses deep black and ivory-colored surfaces, accentuated with gleaming black control surfaces and air outlets. The structure and color of the support is reflected in the panels of the center console and tunnel and ivory inlay decorates all the controls.
Under the surface is a refined electronics architecture, which also is modular in construction. All three graphic displays - in the instrument cluster, the head-up display and on the passenger's side - use the same control unit to present different information. This networking ensures the Man-Machine-Interface (MMI), colors and screen brightness are precisely matched to one another, increasing the efficiency of the system, will improving cost effectiveness.
Functionality and ease of viewing are the CESAR's most visible driver benefits. All driving-related data is displayed through the head-up display and the twin-tube instrument cluster. The central display in the center cockpit module provides all non-essential travel data, such as air-conditioning and audio system settings. The driver can access these functions through the feedback knob located on the center console.
One of the concept's more obvious innovations is the large 8.8-inch display on the passenger's side. The driver is not able to see the display while the vehicle is moving, but the passenger can watch movies on the DVD player or surf the Internet. The passenger also can enter a new route and then pass it on to the driver from this information access point. Using millivolt-range voltage measurements, the system can detect whether the entry was made by the driver or the passenger, preventing the accidental switching of functions. In addition, the system automatically registers driver or passenger location-specific cabin temperature change input.
Siemens VDO Automotive is a tier-one supplier of automotive electronic/electrical systems and components with applications covering gasoline and diesel powertrain technologies, safety and chassis systems, body electronics, plus interior products including infotainment systems. Worldwide sales reflecting fiscal year 2002/2003 totaled $9.5 billion (EUR 8.375 billion). For more information: www.usa.siemensvdo.com.
Siemens AG is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $80.5 billion in fiscal 2003. Founded more than 150 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Automation and Control, Information and Communications, Lighting, Medical, Power and Transportation.
With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 423,000 people in 192 countries. For more information on Siemens in the U.S.: www.usa.siemens.com.