New Electronic Module Safeguards Autonomous Vehicles
BERLIN—Despite the inherent benefits of autonomous vehicles, critics are concerned by a number of unresolved questions. For instance, will an automatic system remain reliable in the event of an emergency? And, what happens if the safety system breaks down due to a short circuit or other electrical fault?
“In today’s electrical system architectures for automated vehicles, it is standard practice that areas affected by a fault are isolated by means of an overload protection system,” says Phillip Arnold, a research associate at Fraunhofer IZM. “This setup means that the affected component is shut down completely in the event of a fault.