Volkswagen joins FlexRay consortium
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 10/1/2003
In August, Volkswagen joined the FlexRay Consortium as a Core Partner. FlexRay is a flexible communication system that supports the future requirements of advanced automotive high-speed control applications.
Key FlexRay applications include steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, and other "x-by-wire" applications. In these applications, fault-tolerant electric and electronic systems replace mechanical and hydraulic control systems, allowing manufacturers to provide increased safety and comfort.
In addition to x-by-wire, manufacturers can use FlexRay in automotive powertrain and safety electronics that require high-speed data transfers. FlexRay could, for example, serve as the central electronic "backbone" bus that interconnects the different bus networks within a vehicle.
The consortium claims that standardization of the FlexRay protocol will enable automobile manufacturers to lower development and production costs. http://www.flexray.com.
