CESA 2012 interview : Marc Duval-Destin (PSA), part one

Marc Duval-Destin is Research and Advanced Engineering VP at PSA Peugeot Citroën. For CESA blog, he explains how is organised R&D for the french OEM.

"When I arrived at the head of our R&D division (called DRIA*) three years ago, I decided to shift from engineering to innovation.
Our aim is to open ourselves to new partners, such as Open Labs and other industrial companies outside the automotive industry. For instance, we have common works with EADS. It helps in order to better integrate composite materials and to save weight.
We also want to integrate our customers in the loop. Usually, technology is pushed by R&D and comes then to market. What we try to do is to take in account the customers expectations, as expressed in our marketing surveys, and to evaluate which innovations in our portfolio should answer to their needs. That's why we created a small dedicated team, called UXIN (User Experience INnovation). We appointed a designer that thinks outside of the box, focused on user experience. This person helps to design services and interfaces, so that people forget the technology behind. We already have some new concepts, especially in the promising field of connectivity and smartphone integration".

Next, Marc Duval-Destin will discuss automated driving.

*Direction of Research and Automotive Innovation

1974 Triumph Spitfire Mark IV

1982 Mazda B2000 Sundowner

LG Chem and CEA to supply Renault with next generation batteries

The results achieved by the R&D Laboratory of Renault and the CEA* in new-generation batteries for electric vehicles have made it possible to enter the preparation phase for industrial production, to begin in 2017 in France. It will be made with the contribution of the South Korean battery manufacturer, LG Chem, a world leader in the sector.
As part of a three-party Renault-CEA-LG Chem agreement, to be signed in September 2012, LG Chem will work on developing the technology of the new-generation battery, to be produced in France. LG Chem will in particular contribute all its industrial expertise in large-scale battery production.
By taking part in the installation of an LG Chem battery plant in France, Renault and the CEA are demonstrating the country’s ability to invest in innovation with a view to developing industrial partnerships with a global reach and giving rise to vital technology for future energies.

*French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. Renault and the CEA signed a strategic partnership in 2010 on the development of innovative batteries for electric vehicles and, more broadly, on sustainable mobility. The partnership currently involves 200 people, two-thirds CEA, one-third Renault, working at the CEA sites in Grenoble and Saclay and Renault’s Technocentre in Guyancourt.

1981 Commuter Vehicles Comuta-Car

1968 Mercury Cougar XR7

1982 Isuzu I-Mark LS Diesel Fastback

1987 Shelby CSX

One of 750 made.

Valeo wants to give access to smartphone services through the central console

Valeo leverages the MirrorLink™ technology to give drivers access to their favorite mobile applications via the dashboard. It lets drivers use the vehicle's on-board control, display and sound systems, thus making the most of the central console, which is wider and more manageable in a car than a smartphone.
Valeo has drawn on the expertise of Nokia’s Qt team to design this interface between vehicle and smartphone. The MirrorLinkTM technology solution, developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium, of which Nokia is a founding member, offers access to phone services and applications from the vehicle's central console. The main advantages of MirrorLinkTM are convenience and ease of use. 

Among its portfolio of driver interface solutions, Valeo is actively developing connected solutions in which smartphone services can be integrated and controlled using the dashboard interface. Users gain access to smartphone applications such as phone, navigation, music, internet radio, weather forecast and real-time traffic information through the in-vehicle display and sound system. Valeo aims to provide users with innovative interfaces, where smartphone services are dynamically and smoothly integrated with the vehicle’ own services. 
For this, Valeo uses the Qt user interface and application framework to create simple, powerful, cross-platform and fluid interfaces. Valeo announces that it has become a core member of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), an organization driving global innovation for phone-centric car connectivity solutions. By joining the CCC, Valeo will help to accelerate the pace at which these new solutions of using a smartphone in a car with a seamless, safe and effortless user experience can be made available to drivers. This innovation responds to the trend that people want to remain connected to their everyday environment in the best possible conditions, even when in a vehicle.

1983 Datsun Maxima Wagon

A new partner for CESA 2012

CESA 2012 is happy to welcome a new media partner. ElectroniqueS is the first newsletter dedicated to automotive electronics. It's published by Pole Electro, a press company focused on electronics.

Link : http://www.electroniques.biz/lettres/thematiques/lettre_auto.php?date=2012-06-01

1971 International 1210 Camper Special

1984 Plymouth Turismo 2.2

CESA 2012 interview : Pierre Gattaz (FIEEC)

President of FIEEC*, Pierre Gattaz sees a convergence in the vehicle between energy and electronics 

CESA congress will give the opportunity to show how France and Europe can take the lead in the future, despite a very hard economic period. Automotive new trends are clearly electrification and intelligence on board.
The car of tomorrow will be a smartphone on wheels, communicating with other vehicles and with the infrastructure. It will be safer, cleaner and much more comfortable.
We, at FIEEC, consider there is a real convergence coming on in the vehicle.
Not only the car of the future will be intelligent and energy efficient, thanks to sensors on board, but the road will be intelligent too. With an infrastructure able to communicate information, Europe could save lives and money. If we consider road accidents in France only, 4000 people are killed and 80 000 are injured, for a cost of 25 bn euro yearly. Connected cars could help society.
The next step is also autonomous driving It’s technically feasible. However, the regulations don’t allow these technologies and insurance companies are not ready yet to approve driverless cars on the roads.
 At FIEEC, we gather companies such as Schneider and Legrand in the field of electrification, or Thales and STMicroelectronics for electronics. It helps to have a forward thinking and we participate to high level meetings. For instance, our federation has been involved in the creation of PFA (automotive platform), in order to restablish french automotive industry after 2008 crisis. We are also a member of CLIFA (French committee of automotive suppliers).
Europe and France have a strong basis and a real know how to face coming challenges concerning energy, mobility and safety. The aim is relocate jobs and to give our industry a real advantage.

*Federation of electric, electronics and communication industries
Link : http://www.fieec.fr/

1980 Volvo Coupe by Bertone

1977 Toyota Corolla SR5 Liftback

1981 Chevrolet Citation 5-Door

CESA 2012 programme overview day 2

On december 5, the second day of the congress will begin at 8.30 by a keynote from Béatrice FOUCHER-SYBORD, Director of product development at Renault.
Then, as for the first day, the programme will split in two parts in the morning from 8.55 to 1.15, with round tables (smart infotainment with Orange,  mechatronics and 48 v with BMW and NXP, new materials with CEA-Leti and Renault) and technical sessions (mechatronics and 48 v with Nissan, PSA, BPCE and Infineon, new materials and components with CNRS, Romeo Consiortium, STMicroelectronics, Valeo and Freescale, architectures with NXP, dSpace, Valeo, ESG, Sysgo, Fraunhofer, Conti Temic microelectronic, STMicroelectronics, Kemet Electronics and Berliner Nanotest und Design).
After the lunch break, starting from 2.55, the afternoon will be dedicated to a round table about architectures with Bosch and ESG and a technical session about infotainment with STMicroelectronics, Faurecia, Politecnico Di Torino and Elektrobit.
From 4.10, the congress will be concluded by keynotes from Jean-Marc GALES, Chief Executive Officer of CLEPA, Liam BRESLIN, Head of Unit Surface Transport at the European Commission and Rémi BASTIEN, Director of Research, Advanced Studies and Materials at Renault. As for the first day, Jochen LANGHEIM, Chairman of CESA 2012 (and VP from STMicroelectronics in France) will make the final speech.