Article published Philippe Gasnier (Delphi)
“We saved ourselves two years of R&D!"
A world leader in mobile electronics, transport systems, communication technologies and on-board entertainment, Delphi launched a research programme in 2006 to demonstrate the feasibility of porting a technology developed for nuclear safety to the automobile sector.
The programme, called Oasis Automotive, is part of the Num@tec Automotive project at the System@TIC competitiveness cluster. It was conducted in close cooperation with CEA LIST and Sherpa Engineering, a systems engineering firm. The last two years of research set out to develop a motor vehicle demonstrator targeting three objectives: first, provide a technologically and economically feasible solution to the increasingly complex demand for improved reliability in passenger compartment computers; second, comply with the ISO 26262 standard; and third, build a device compatible with the Autosar standard architecture used by manufacturers. “We have just completed the feasibility phase,” said Philippe Gasnier, director of the Passenger Compartment Electronics and Safety Business Unit for Delphi France. “We have successfully proven that the technology can be ported to the automobile. We now aim to make Oasis Automotive a standard that can be (and will be) used by carmakers around the world”.
In April an official consortium will be formed by Delphi, CEA, a French SME from the machine-tool sector, and other important stakeholders in the car industry. The consortium remains open to other partners. “It is important for CEA to continue developing this technology to ensure that this future standard evolves in the same direction as other standards,” explained Philippe Gasnier.
With locations throughout the world, Delphi aims to maintain the development and engineering capability required locally by its customers. “We are dedicated to keeping a close relationship with industry,” continued Philippe Gasnier. “One way of doing this is obviously through innovation. Public-private technology transfers significantly boost the success rate in research, guarantee a quick return on investment, and stimulate the development of company skills. It is undeniable that by working together with CEA, we saved precious time... at least two years! Not only that, it has allowed R&D to take root in the region”.
Another project is underway between the two partners, focussed on a tool for detecting and locating breaks and defective connections on connectors.
