85 Brose‘s BRAIN software links functions in the vehicle to enable comprehensive comfort experiences. Five questions for Christoph Maag, Senior Vice President Electronics Brose Group Which factors will influence the mobility of the future? Automated driving, electrification, connectivity, and shared mobility are changing the way we get from A to B and what we do in the meantime. Working, relaxing, or driving ourselves – these and other options have one thing in common: the design and thus the flexibility of the interior are becoming more important. New software architectures also offer the opportunity to further develop interaction with and access to the vehicle. We will not only use vehicles differently, but also experience mobility in a new way. This is all the more important for vehicle manufacturers because the drive system will become less important as a differentiating factor for electric vehicles in the future. What is Brose‘s vision for such new mobility experiences? Imagine the following situation when entering the car: The car greets you with projections in the windshield. It shows you what appointments you have, where you need to go, how long the journey will take, where there are free charging stations, etc. While the door opens automatically, the steering wheel and seat adjust for more comfortable entry. Then the interior, which is pre-tempered according to your preferences, adjusts itself just the way you like it. Our vision is to use software to network existing components in the vehicle, such as side-door drives, electrically adjustable seats, air conditioning or infotainment, to create additional benefits for end customers. Future mobility experiences will therefore also be characterized by a significant increase in individualization and comfort. Which of your components and systems are particularly important for this? Our mechatronic systems for the vehicle entrance and interior form the basis. Connectivity is only achieved with intelligent electronics, i.e. sensors and software. Our radar sensors, for example, provide collision protection for automatically opening side doors and monitor the vehicle interior. Our BRAIN software performs the main task. It is the integrator. It networks the individual components to form intelligent overall systems. It evaluates sensor data, controls and coordinates individual components and adjustments. The software can also enable new, digital business models. Brose already employs a total of more than 1,000 people in the fields of electronics and software. This number will increase significantly in the coming years. Is networking limited to the Brose components in the vehicle? Definitely not. We want to offer a platform on which third-party components can also be integrated via standardized interfaces. A vehicle that recognizes you could play your favorite music after a long day at work, adjust the interior lighting and activate the massage function in the seat. The advantage of software-based functions is that they can be downloaded from the cloud to the vehicle at any time. Experiencing mobility in a new way first means rethinking mobility. Where do the ideas for such use cases come from? We are intensively looking at how people want to use their time in the vehicle, or rather what problems arise in everyday life. Think of buying furniture. Up to now, you load packages onto the shopping cart in the store. When you arrive at the parking lot, you have to fold down the back seat in the rain, open side doors to move the front seat, etc., only to realize that your purchase has no place in the vehicle. The solution to this problem is a “furniture store app.” Already in the store, your smartphone measures the items you have purchased. Intelligent software from Brose uses the sensor signals to determine whether there is enough space in the car. Back at the vehicle, seats and consoles have already adjusted themselves and created an optimal loading area. The user can stow the items directly. With our system understanding, we can make this customer experience possible in the near future.
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