TRW and Motorola Develop Innovative In-Vehicle Network Architecture
2 March 1999
TRW and Motorola Develop Innovative In-Vehicle Network Architecture, The Industry's First Open Standard for Advanced Safety Systems
DETROIT, March 2 -- TRW Inc. and Motorola
announced today that they have cooperatively developed an advanced
network interface standard for the automotive industry that will simplify and
speed development and installation of next-generation occupant safety systems,
which will consist of multiple restraint devices.
Known as the Distributed Systems Interface (DSI), the new technology
enables, for the first time, simultaneous support for sensors and actuators
using a simple two-wire bus that provides both power and communications.
Initial markets include automobile manufacturers and vehicle systems suppliers
worldwide. Many other uses are anticipated because the architecture is suited
to any application requiring distributed intelligent sensors and actuators.
"The high growth rate in automotive occupant safety systems over the next
decade will demand a re-thinking of the way sensors, actuators and control
functions are partitioned and controlled within the vehicle," said Thomas J.
Doyle, vice president, operations, worldwide, and lead North American
executive, TRW Automotive Electronics. "The Distributed Systems Interface
allows automakers to add safety components, such as side-impact air bags,
kneebags, tubular restraints, pretensioners and occupant sensors, without
redesigning the entire restraint system. This capability provides flexibility
and saves time and resources."
To drive the new architecture as an industry standard, TRW and Motorola
have agreed that third-party adopters of the standard will have access to the
key technologies needed to implement the standard without having to pay
royalty or licensing fees.
"We believe an open standard is key to bringing to market the best and
most cost-effective system to benefit vehicle owners and their families," said
Denis Griot, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's Body
Electronics and Occupant Safety Division. "TRW and Motorola have combined
their expertise to assist the automotive industry in delivering advanced
occupant safety systems."
The DSI bus specification currently is available on the Web sites of both
companies -- http://www.mot-sps.com/automotive and http://www.trw.com.
Several electronic components that comply with the new bus standard have been
developed, and samples are currently available for evaluation by potential
system adopters. Other devices compatible with the standard are in various
stages of design and qualification.
Through its two-wire serial bus, the Distributed Systems Interface links
remote sensors and actuators to a central electronics control module. The bus
architecture is a master/slave system, with the central control module being
the master and the remote sensors and actuators acting as the slave devices.
The protocol was chosen to minimize message lengths and, therefore, reduce
message time.
Unlike conventional systems, the size of the connector for the control
module does not need to grow to accommodate every new sensor or actuator. A
new sensor or actuator can be added to the bus without reconfiguring the
system design, thus, reducing costs.
The Distributed Systems Interface will be available by model year 2002.
About Motorola
As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's
Semiconductor Products Sector offers multiple DigitalDNA(TM) solutions which
enable its customers in the consumer, networking and computing,
transportation, and wireless communications markets to create new business
opportunities. Motorola's semiconductor sales were US $8 billion in 1997.
Motorola is a global leader in advanced electronic systems and services.
It creates software-driven products that provide integrated customer solutions
and Internet access via wireless and satellite communications, as well as
computing, networking and automotive electronics. Motorola also liberates the
power of technology by providing essential digital building blocks in the form
of embedded semiconductors, controls and systems. Sales in 1997 were US $29.8
billion.
About TRW
TRW Inc. is a leading producer of electronic safety, security and
convenience products for the global automotive market. Its major electronic
products include air bag crash sensors, smart restraint electronics, remote
keyless entry systems, switch and control systems, advanced theft-deterrent
and security systems, tire monitoring systems, driver information systems,
body controllers and electrically assisted steering control units. In
addition to electronics, TRW's automotive business supplies inflatable
restraint systems, seat belt systems, steering wheel systems, chassis systems,
commercial steering systems, engine components and engineered fasteners.
TRW is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and has sales of nearly US $12
billion. The company is one of the largest independent automotive suppliers
in the world with more than US $7 billion in worldwide automotive sales in
1998. The company also provides advanced technology products and services for
the space, defense and information systems markets worldwide.