Where to go? What to see first?

What a week! Last week, technics aficionados had the choice between three tremendous trade shows – each one of CeBIT (1 to 5 March), embedded world (1 to 3 March) and 81. International Motorshow Geneva (3 to 13 March) is said to have “performed extremely well” and of course to have been “highly successful”. All of the events had their own key trends, hot topics and even a few highlights.

 Traditionally CeBIT is focussing mainly on consumer electronics showcasing the gamut of digital innovations. But this year automotive entered through a side door as “apps” take hold in the automotive industry. Several manufacturers presented connectivity solutions for automobile cockpits, combined with Internet access, voice control and touch screens. Todays drivers can have their e-mails read aloud, dictate a reply or use infotainment services, and the equipment options available in today's cars also include ‘intelligent’ navigation services for fleet operators and logistics service providers. These systems interact with virtually any kind of communication device, from joysticks to smartphones. The motor vehicle literally becomes a wireless LAN hotspot on wheels. And far from being limited to luxury models, these technologies are also provided for compact automobiles, as could be seen at CeBIT 2011. This year's show also focused on intelligent traffic management systems, because as well as creating needless CO₂ emissions, constant traffic jams cost billions of euros.

Picture: CeBIT-Deutsche Messe/Rainer Jensen

Research institutions and telematics companies used CeBIT 2011 to present technologies that will soon allow the improved management of traffic flows – from intelligent traffic lights signalling the optimum driving speeds to keep traffic moving in regular "green waves" through our city streets to the TMC successor TPEG  (transport protocol expert group), which combines traffic data from a range of sources to provide almost real-time navigation. The electromobility sector benefits from advanced IT solutions as well, as numerous application scenarios demonstrated in Hannover.

Picture: CeBIT-Deutsche Messe 

embedded world 2011

This leads directly to the next topic of the week: the trade show embedded world 2011 which was “successful, dynamic and innovative”, as the organizer NürnbergMesse jubilated. “The embedded world Exhibition&Conference 2011 ended on a very successful note with more records for the number of visitors and exhibitors”, emphasized Richard Krowoza, Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse. More than 800 international exhibitors, 10 % up on last year, and 19,022 trade visitors (+4 %) from all over the world confirm the success of this year’s event. The two conferences, embedded world conference and electronic displays conference, grew slightly too with five per cent more participants.

The embedded awards were bestowed right at the start of the show to pioneering products and developments in the categories of Hardware and Software. This year’s prizes were handed to the winners by Prof. Dr. Matthias Sturm, Chairman of the embedded world Exhibition Committee, and Bernd A. Diederichs, Managing Director of NürnbergMesse. Freescale won the award in the Hardware category for its Microcontroller MPC5646C, which uses hardware-based components for protecting automotive control devices against software attacks. The special feature of this microcontroller is its hardware-based cryptography function. Tool maker Hitex  convinced the jury with its Safety Carefree Package for TriCore. This system solution for users of Infineon controllers is supposed to smooth the rocky path to certification of safety-critical applications. A special award went to the Fraunhofer Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen, Erlangen, which won with a miniaturized HD camera with integrated DVB-T transmitter.

Picture: Freescale

Green and Glamorous: 81st International Motor Show

By the end of the first weekend, the 81st Geneva International Motor Show has registered some 304,000 entries – not bad for a car exhibition. 170 world and European premiers were presented in the sectors of private automobile constructors, automotive designers, and preparation specialists, among them 40 that involved alternative and ecological technologies. The 36 exhibitors in the Green Pavilion were very much the centre of motor show hubbub. The 13 “green” vehicles made available for test drives rarely got a moment’s rest.

 
Both Pictures:  Gerard Chardonnens, Geneva International Motor Show

Worth to be mentioned is Bulli: The Comeback of an automotive free spirit, affirms Volkswagen who claims that Volkswagen Bulli was the first van in the world and represents the spirit of freedom. Remembering tales from Hippie veterans, it certainly stood for the freedom of spirit and/or everything that can be inhalated. Well, there are worse reputations.

 
Picture: Hippie-Bus, Cruiser Art Gallery

It debuted over 60 years ago in 1950 with a contagiously simple design. Now, the relaunch has pure electric drive. The Bulli being shown in Geneva is what is referred to as a ‘zero emissions vehicle,’ because the concept is electrically powered. The electric motor outputs 85 kW power and 270 Nm torque. As is usual with this type of drive, its maximum forces are generated from standstill. The silent motor is supplied with energy from a lithium-ion battery with a maximum storage capacity of 40 kWh. This enables driving ranges of up to 300 km. When the Bulli’s battery is charged at an "electric refuelling station", the charging process takes less than one hour.

Picture: VW, Bulli presentation at 81st Geneva International Motor Show

The new Bulli accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds, its top speed is 140 km/h (electronically limited). The new edition of the Bulli is 3.99 metres long, 1.75 metres wide and 1.70 metres tall. The T1 was somewhat longer and taller, but narrower. With a wheelbase of 2.62 metres, the Bulli utilises its overall length rather well.

 
Pictures: Volkswagen

 

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