| Spanish-owned Ficosa has set up a project to investigate ways of managing electromagnetic interference and predicting the behaviour of vehicle telecommunication systems. It will be working with the Autonomous University of Barcelona and EMC specialists Applus+.
The three-year project, based at the university, will focus on two main areas: the best place to position car aerials to maximise performance and reception, and how this position will in turn affect electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in vehicles that feature increasing numbers of electronic devices and face more stringent constraints in terms of legislation.
The project will develop a working, computer generated simulation model to be used as the basis for developing a system to be implemented on current production cars. Although names have not been specified, Ficosa’s antenna systems have so far been incorporated in models from Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat. Ficosa also said that it hoped to become involved with German manufacturers.
The main legwork in the project will be carried out by a team of four students and at least one postgraduate from the specialist antennas and microwave systems group of the University of Barcelona, working in the telecommunications and engineering department.
Ficosa’s main contribution will be through its antenna systems unit, providing background knowledge on the market and final product, especially in terms of final design and integration of the antenna in the vehicle.
This business unit has its origins in a technological joint venture, called 3A, Advanced Automotive Antennas, created in 2002 by Ficosa with antenna design and manufacturing company Fractus, with the aim of developing antenna systems for automobiles. It was acquired in its entirety by Ficosa in July 2005. The final member of the trio, Applus+, will bring to the table its experience with EMC testing and verification of automobile instruments and equipment.
The project is the first time that Spain has become involved in electromagnetic compatibility testing and research, says the general manager for Ficosa, Edouard Rozan.
“This kind of activity is very new for Spain. Some of the most important antenna manufacturers are German and Germany in general is a very important country in terms of electronics for cars and they have been involved in that field for a long time, some of them working with universities such as Munich and Stuttgart, but this is a very new way for Spain to innovate.”
The long-term goal is a simulation tool that allows the team to model EMC sources such as wiring, dashboard, engine function and display and to compare the readings to real measurements.
Rozan said: “That’s why Applus+ is involved, as it has an important laboratory here in Spain which used to do EMC evaluation of vehicle components. By applying this model into whatever car model we have from the manufacturers, we will be able to anticipate problems and say to the actual manufacturers, ‘look, if you place this wiring here you will have an EMC problem, but by moving it to the left, you’ll solve it’.
“The problem we face is that people always think of antennas only at the very last minute, then the suppliers are called, also at the very last minute, and we are expected to do miracles. We want to develop tools that enable us to catch problems before and ensure that our product will behave in the very best manner.”
According to Ficosa, “20 per cent of an automobile is electric” at present and the demand for devices is set to grow to an estimate of 40 per cent by 2015.
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