Source: LSP Innovative Automotive Systems GmbH post

UNTERFÖHRING, Germany – The challenge – developing an additive manufacturing-based modular pressure actuator for driving dynamics applications for autonomous (AD) and electric vehicles – is expected to keep LSP’s engineers busy until February 2022.

Thankfully, they are not alone in their task. They are teamed up with a well-known project partner in additive manufacturing, the Fraunhofer IGCV (Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology).

Another development partner has also been identified for the application in electric vehicles: Kreisel Electric. Kreisel was founded in 2014 and will supply the drive module for the planned FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) plug-in hybrid rally series starting in 2022.

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Together, the six approaches envisaged by LSP for developing the new type of pressure actuator will be a reality. To ensure the most flexible possible use with differing vehicle requirements, the design concept follows an innovative and modular structure. To keep system costs low and reliability high, primarily low-cost mass-produced components are being used, in particular for the ball seat valves and pressure transmitters.

The other basic ideas behind the development include two flexible solutions. On the one hand, additive manufacturing is intended to reduce both installation space and weight, while at the same time enabling optimization of hydraulic losses. On the other, a variety of configurations will be manageable with just one software application.

LSP has also envisioned powerful micro-controllers to ensure fail-safe software functions and diagnostics, and finally, they will integrate a basic, easily applicable ABS function to provide added safety benefits.

The LSP think tank is convinced that, together with its project partners, their modular pressure actuator will guarantee further progress on the way to autonomous driving.