Technology Developments Take Center Stage at Taiwan's First Automotive Summit

The Taiwan Automotive International Forum & Exhibition (TAIFE), the first of its kind, was held on Oct. 17-19 in Taipei. The aim was to boost the development of the domestic auto-parts industry and facilitate its transformation from pure manufacturing to system development, and to help give local producers the broader vision they need to market their products to large international automakers and tier-one parts brands.

Among the event's major organizers were the Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL) of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), the Chung-Shan Institute of science and Technology (CSIST), and Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC).

A large number of ranking executives from major automobile and parts brands were on hand to address the forum on a variety of topics related to the auto industry.

One of the highlights of the event was an introduction by the Taiwan Automotive Research Consortium (TARC) of the fruits of its joint development projects with local automakers and parts suppliers, including a hybrid power system, clean internal combustion engine, telematics on-board unit, adaptive front-lighting system, collision-avoidance radar, wireless tire-pressure monitoring system, dual-stage air bag, chassis structure system, and magnesium steering wheel.

Chen Bih-jang, deputy director of TARC's intelligence mobility technology division, explained that the hybrid power system developed by his group integrates a 2-liter gasoline engine with an 18kW electric motor. The system, Chen claimed, can cut gas consumption by 20% and deliver the performance of a conventional 2.4-liter gasoline engine.

The 2-liter clean internal combustion engine used in the hybrid system was developed by the CECTEC Corp. with help from the technology development program of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The engine features a modular design for models from 1.6 to 2.2 liters, with either natural aspiration or turbocharging. It is designed to package with either two- or four-wheel-drive systems, manual or automatic transmission, and longitudinal or transverse drivetrains. It has an emissions control system that meets EURO 4 and US tier 2 standards.

The automotive telematics system represents an integration of telecommunications, entertainment, information, and electronic technologies, together with a device that improves driving comfort, convenience, security, and safety. It includes communications, multimedia, navigation, computer processing, data storage, and display units. In the future, Chen said, vehicle networking and greater safety functions will come.

The adaptive front-lighting intelligent control system dips headlights automatically and adjusts lighting distance and angle along with changes in vehicle speed and turning angle. When the system senses a sharp turn, it switches on a corner lamp to enhance visibility and safety.

The collision-avoidance radar uses a 90nm infrared short-pulse modulation system that detects obstacles in front of a vehicle and measures their distance, and activates a warning signal when it determines a threat to safety.

The tire-pressure monitoring system senses tire pressure and temperature and includes sensors, wireless transmission, and battery units (the batteries last four years) for four-wheeled vehicles up to 4, 500 kilograms in weight.

The dual-stage intelligent air-bag system detects the rider's position and the severity of impact, and inflates the bag accordingly. The air bag inflates only when there is someone in the seat, thus saving the cost of replacing the bag in case of an accident.

The chassis structure system provides for analysis and development of modifications for steering, suspension, and tire subsystems to achieve optimal performance in urban and sports driving.

The magnesium steering wheel developed by TARC can reduce weight by 0.7 kg in comparison with conventional steel steering wheels. In addition, its one-piece design offers easy and clean production. It can incorporate the air bag described above. According to TARC, magnesium alloy may also be used to make seats, instrument panels, and chassis components in the future.

Taiwan still relies on imports for key automotive components, and it was to overcome this problem that the Industrial Technology Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs took the initiative in urging the establishment of TARC. The ultimate goal of the consortium is to help Taiwan become an auto-parts R&D and manufacturing base for international automakers. (Dec. 2005)