Bosch: Predictive navigation data lower fuel consumption and emissions

Innovative functions reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 percent Cross-systems networking of powertrain, driver assistance and braking systems with the electronic horizon Individualized solutions to suit brand-specific driving behavior and the features of different vehicle models It is common knowledge that driving with foresight can significantly reduce fuel consumption. A system called the electronic … Continued

  • Innovative functions reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 percent
  • Cross-systems networking of powertrain, driver assistance and braking systems with the electronic horizon
  • Individualized solutions to suit brand-specific driving behavior and the features of different vehicle models

It is common knowledge that driving with foresight can significantly reduce fuel consumption. A system called the electronic horizon greatly extends the driver’s range of view by creating a detailed preview of the road ahead based on enhanced digital map data, including topographical data such as the grade of inclines and the radius of bends, together with information derived from infrastructural features such as road signs indicating maximum speed limits. “By linking automotive systems with electronic horizon data, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 percent,” says Bernhard Bihr, president of Bosch Engineering GmbH.

Data from the electronic horizon are already being used to provide driver assistance functions such as recommending gear changes, alerting drivers to upcoming bends, and automatically adapting the inclination of headlamps when entering a curve. In future, when the electronic horizon is linked to the navigation system, it will be possible to distribute these data to other control devices via the vehicle communication bus using the standard ADASIS v2 (Advanced Driver Assistance System Interface Specification) interface protocol. By logically linking such data with the ACC adaptive cruise control and engine management systems, it will be possible to implement new functions that reduce the driver’s workload and cut fuel consumption.

ACC with “foresight”
The adaptive cruise control functions available today already simplify the driver’s task by regulating the speed to a preset value defined by the driver, and automatically maintaining a safe distance to the vehicle in front. Bosch intends to widen the scope of these functions by integrating electronic horizon data in the ACC. A control unit calculates the vehicle’s future velocity curve using the data from the electronic horizon, which provides information on the route ahead extending well beyond the next bend. It is not necessary for the navigation system’s route guidance function to be activated. If it is, the electronic horizon uses the route data calculated by the navigation system. If the route guidance function is not active, a control device repeatedly calculates the vehicle’s probable route. When the ACC function is activated, it now automatically regulates the vehicle’s speed, reducing it if necessary when approaching bends and road signs indicating speed restrictions or built-up areas, as well as when it detects obstacles or slow-moving vehicles ahead. This enhanced functionality means greater comfort and safety because it allows the driver to concentrate on steering the vehicle and observing the traffic.

Predictive engine management
In future, Bosch integrates data from the electronic horizon in the operating strategy and energy management functions of vehicles with internal combustion engines and hybrid or electric drives. The potential to improve efficiency by configuring the driving strategy on the basis of predictive data, thereby reducing fuel consumption by up to 15 percent, is particularly high in the case of hybrid vehicles. The engine management system can use the route preview to calculate how much energy the powertrain will need and control the dynamics of the internal combustion engine and/or electric motor according to the anticipated requirements.

“For instance, when the system identifies a segment of the route in which a hybrid vehicle will be able to recuperate more energy than it expends, it can engage the electric motor to discharge the battery before reaching this point,” explains Bihr. Different methods can be employed to reduce the vehicle’s speed depending on the operating strategy: using the engine brake, or recuperating more energy from the electric motor, or coasting. The operating strategy can be configured to different settings ranging from an eco mode that emphasizes fuel efficiency to a sport mode that emphasizes dynamic performance.

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