Field of Competence “Vehicle Mechatronics“


Modern vehicles can no longer be imagined without mechatronic systems. They are part of passive safety systems like the airbag, driver assistance systems or the electronic transmission control.


Thereby a mechatronic system comprises different components. It is based on a mechanical basic system, whose movements, influence of force etc. are detected by sensors and transferred to a central processing unit. Finally, thus the mechatronic system can be influenced by means of so called actors, for example in the form of electric motors.

The primary task of the Field of Competence “Vehicle Mechatronics” is to contribute to the long-term objective of zero road casualties through innovative developments in the field of road safety systems. By means of the bionic principle the senses that enable people to identify and avoid hazards in their environment are to be simulated, using new sensor technologies and the networking with other systems. With regard to the vehicle this means sensing accidents (e. g. acceleration and rotation-rate sensors, PTS pressure measuring system), hearing them (e. g. crash impact sound sensing), seeing them (e. g. radar, camera) and communicating them (e. g. WLAN, mobile telephony, LTE). This innovative strength in the field of vehicle safety technologies was not least decisive for the approval of the research and test center CARISSMA (Center of Automotive Research on Integrated Safety Systems and Measurement Area) by the German Science Council on 2. July 2010.

Moreover the challenges for vehicle safety systems, which result from the progressive developments in the field of energy-saving vehicle concepts, should be taken into account through the establishment of the new research focus “vehicle safety and telematics for future energy-saving vehicle concepts“.

Focal research areas within the field of expertise
Currently, there are running research projects in five different focal research areas in the Field of Competence “Vehicle Mechatronics”: