26 Sep 2012

NMI launches Automotive Electronic Systems Innovation Network

The UK electronic systems trade association NMI has launched the Automotive Electronic Systems Innovation Network (AESIN).

The network is supported by many of the country’s largest car manufacturers and supply chain partners, including Jaguar LandRover, Lotus, Nissan, McLaren Electronic Systems, Freescale, Infineon, Renesas and Visteon.

Nissan's Malcolm Holmes said: “The ever increasing use of electronics throughout our vehicles has allowed us to make leaps forward in safety and efficiency. EVs [electric vehicles] have become a reality and electronics continue to significantly reduce the CO2 from our IC vehicles. Working more closely with the key innovators within the UK electronics industry allows us to steer our product strategy towards our goal of providing innovative and valuable technology to everyone.”

AESIN’s programme of initiatives will work in alignment with the UK Automotive Council and activity will include technology days that showcase innovation, innovation seminars to reduce technical and business model constraints and incubation sessions to progress ideas with UK Funding support.

“One of the key agendas of AESIN is to take a step away from what’s currently done and determine the true best practice,” said Tim Strafford from McLaren Electronic Systems. “The constraints and competition in F1, Indycar and NASCAR have made for an excellent environment for innovation.

“One good example comes in the system architecture; from engine control to the electric seats, there are now countless electronic control units in today’s road cars, which each add weight, space and cost," he continues. "In F1, the drive to cut space and weight allowed us optimise the electronic architecture and we now use a single ECU at the heart of the car to control and monitor everything; from torque based engine control with precise fuel injection & ignition timing of an engine rotating at up to 18,000rpm, right through to elementary control of the driver's drink pump.”

Most popular news in Broadcast technology