Vitesco Technologies and Cebi Group Develop Key Technology for Autonomous Electric Driving
Development
partnership between Cebi Group and Vitesco Technologies
Advanced Sensor Cleaning System ensures the cleanliness of environmental sensors in autonomous electric vehicles
Technology from both partners results in a complete system that can clean more than ten sensors simultaneously
Hyderabad,, August 30, 2023: Vitesco
Technologies, a leading international manufacturer of advanced powertrain
technologies and electrification solutions and Cebi Group, a specialist in
washer systems, are partnering to develop the Advanced Sensor Cleaning System
(ASCS), a highly integrated all-in-one solution that can keep more than 10
environmental sensors clean with water pressure of up to 7 bar, using just a
single infrastructure.
This
addresses an important requirement for autonomous electric driving:
Environmental sensors such as cameras and lidars must be kept free from dirt
and adverse effects caused by wind and weather conditions for the safe
execution of the autonomous driving function – and thus also of the powertrain.
As future autonomous vehicles will generally be electric, the connectivity
between the sensor and the electric drive is a key subject for this
partnership.
“The
all-in-one sensor cleaning system is a key product for autonomous electric
driving. A single high-pressure pump is sufficient to supply several sensors,
and with lower water consumption. Thanks to its high degree of integration, it
is also very easy and economical to accommodate in the vehicle,”
said Robert Paul, head of Actuators business unit, Powertrain Solutions
division at Vitesco Technologies.
Etienne
Jacqué, head of R&D at Cebi Group, reiterates the benefits of the
partnership for vehicle manufacturers: “Combining our globally successful
technology for washer systems with the electronics and electromechanical
expertise of Vitesco Technologies creates a complete system that is a key
enabler for autonomous electric drive systems.”
Vitesco
Technologies supplies three core components for the new sensor cleaning system
and ensures functional integration: A brushless and compact high-pressure pump
with 2 to 7 bar delivery pressure provides the cleaning water for the complete
sensor equipment of a vehicle. A special distributor redirects the flow from
the pump to the correct sensor. The control electronics also come from Vitesco
Technologies.
Cebi Group
provides the large reservoir with up to four individual washer pumps for the
classic windshield and headlamp cleaning, the complex hosing, the nozzle
technology as well as the overall mechanical system integration in the vehicle.
Production
is scheduled to start at the end of 2026.
Vitesco Technologies is a leading international
developer and manufacturer of modern drive technologies for sustainable
mobility. With intelligent system solutions and components for electric, hybrid
and combustion drive trains, Vitesco Technologies makes mobility clean,
efficient and affordable. The product portfolio includes electric drives,
electronic control systems, sensors and actuators as well as exhaust gas
aftertreatment solutions. Vitesco Technologies recorded revenue of €9.07
billion in 2022 and has around 38,000 employees working at some 50 different
locations. Vitesco Technologies is headquartered in Regensburg, Germany.
Cebi Group is a worldwide leader for pumps and washer systems and is the
European leader on the temperature sensors market. With more than 3000 people
employed around the world, Cebi Group is composed of 11 production sites
(Brazil, China, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Switzerland) and six
sales offices (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, UK, USA). In addition,
Cebi has 7 research and development centers with 260 experts and develops and
manufactures its own automatic assembly lines.