Car safety benefits from optical communication

17 Jun 2002

BMW, the car manufacturer, and partners from optical and wireless communications companies have developed a high-performance 10 Mbps data bus for improved communication between components in cars.

The byteflight system, based on plastic optical fibers, follows the recent trend for replacing the mechanical controls in cars with electronic systems networked by a high-performance bus. Optical transmission improves on electronic networks because it is not disturbed by electromagnetic interference. The system, developed in Germany with Motorola, ELMOS, Infineon and Tyco EC, promises a high data-transfer rate compared with the 500 kbps speed achieved with current Controller Area Network (CAN) communication methods. The byteflight protocol unites the advantages of the synchronous and asynchronous transmission methods and allows a flexible use of transmission bandwidth for low-priority messages.

Josef Berwanger of BMW says that the devices can be easily integrated into existing networks and that the cost is similar to that of the current CAN technology.

BMW started this venture almost four years ago and holds several patents for this data communications system. Berwanger said that the device will have its first applications in high-volume automobile production within the next year. These applications will include passive-safety and body functions. BMW intends to share this technology with other car manufacturers, as well as aerospace and other industrial manufacturers.

SH