Research

RQ01: Integrated Design and Development of Driver Assisted Safety Functions and Environment for Autonomous Vehicles (SEGURAUTO)

The SegurAuto Project is a strategic initiative aimed at advancing autonomous vehicle technology by focusing on the development of driver assistance systems (ADAS) and the creation of a robust environment for autonomous operation. This project involves a multidisciplinary approach, integrating various safety functions, control systems, and sensor technologies to enhance the capabilities of autonomous vehicles in navigating complex environments safely and efficiently.

Objectives:

• Development of Driver-Assisted Safety Functions;
• Advanced Perception and Sensor Fusion;
• Vehicle Localization, Path Planning, and Control:
• Simulation and Real-World Testing:

Key Deliverables:

• Design and prototyping of an integrated ADAS system with sensor fusion, trajectory planning, and motion control capabilities.
• Development and testing of safety-critical functions, such as collision avoidance, lane-keeping, and adaptive speed control.
• A comprehensive simulation environment for validating ADAS systems before deployment.
• Collaboration with Brazilian industries to strengthen the national supply chain for autonomous vehicle components and systems.
• Compliance with global automotive safety standards to ensure regulatory readiness for future market deployment.

Coordinator (UnB): Prof. Dr. Evandro Leonardo Silva Teixeira

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Project 2: 

Project 3:

RQ04: Design, Implementation, and Testing of Components and Devices for the Development of Driving Assistance Systems (SEGCOM)

The SEGCOM project is an ambitious collaboration between key players in the automotive sector (Renault, Stellantis), electronic component companies (Intelbras, BlueGrid, Tecsys), and three Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs) focused on Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) in vehicle safety.

Objectives: The main goal is to develop and manufacture an automotive radar sensor (77GHz), a camera system with advanced features like 3D and depth perception (stereo), and speed control actuators (for acceleration and braking). These technologies will support Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), enhancing active vehicle safety. The integrated radar, cameras, and controllers system will significantly improve environment perception and traffic scene awareness, enabling various ADAS functions for increased vehicle safety.

Strategic Importance: The project seeks to create a national technological solution for automotive radar and camera systems targeted at the Brazilian market. Brazil relies on imported radar and imaging solutions, leaving the industry vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. By developing domestic radar systems and computer vision systems using nationally produced cameras (Intelbras), the project aims to strengthen the local automotive and electronic component industries.

Contributions:

• Radar Development: The project addresses the lack of Brazilian automotive radar providers by developing an in-house 77GHz radar sensor.
• Computer Vision System: A comprehensive framework will be created for integrating a Brazilian-made camera system with radar, supporting advanced ADAS functions.
• National Supply Chain Enhancement: The project supports Brazilian companies (Intelbras, Tecsys, BlueGrid) and strengthens the national production chain, aligning with the goals of the Rota 2030 Program.
• ADAS Systems Development: The ADAS functions will initially be developed using a commercial automotive radar (AR 404) and national cameras, transitioning to a fully integrated system in the design phase.
• Vehicle Dynamics Simulator: The project includes using a vehicle dynamics simulator (UnB) to evaluate driver perception in controlled environments, enhancing the quality of ADAS solutions.

Coordinator (UnB): Prof. Dr. Evandro Leonardo Silva Teixeira

BIOGAS: Development of a Prototype Biogas Engine for Commercial Vehicles 

The BIOGAS project represents an ambitious collaboration between leading automotive industry players (CAOA, AVL, and BOSCH) and four Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs) specializing in Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) for next-generation engine technologies.

Objectives: This initiative aims to develop a prototype engine powered by biogas, specifically tailored for cargo vehicles. The initial phases will focus on exploring innovative air and fuel supply systems and designing a combustion chamber optimized to maximize fuel-air mixture utilization. This optimization will address both energy efficiency and the reduction of pollutant production. Numerical simulations of combustion processes will play a critical role in the design phase, with results validated through comprehensive bench and field tests of engine prototypes. The AVL optical access engine will be used to investigate biomethane combustion processes as part of the project. Tests will also be conducted on a thermodynamic single-cylinder research engine to finalize the cylinder head design for the prototype.  Once assembled and tested in one cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine, comparative performance and emission tests will be conducted. An advanced Engine Management System (EMS) will be developed using the ETAS ASCET tool, enabling sophisticated engine modeling and the implementation of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems. This step is critical for ensuring flexibility and precision during the system integration phase. In the final stage, the prototype engine will be integrated into a vehicle for field testing. These tests will compare the biogas-powered vehicle’s performance and emissions to those of a diesel-powered equivalent. Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) will be employed, following strict European emissions guidelines, to ensure comprehensive and reliable assessments.

Coordinator (UnB): Profa. Dra. Sandra Maria da Luz.

TSI: Ethanol Charge Stratification in Direct Injection Spark Ignition Engines

Objectives: The project aims to explore the use of direct injection in stratified mode for flex-fuel engines, targeting a significant increase in energy efficiency. This research and development (R&D) initiative seeks to develop disruptive technology for flex-fuel engines, culminating in innovations that can be integrated into future versions of lower-cost TSI 1.0 engines.

Key deliverables: 

• Engine Customization: Adapt a TSI 2.0 gasoline engine to operate as a flex-fuel engine in future applications.
• Engine Management System (EMS): Create an engine management system and corresponding control modules using the FlexECU platform employing ASCET and INCA computational tools to enable ethanol operation in the engine.
• Optimization of Engine Parameters for Stratified Operation: Fine-tune engine parameters such as: a) Lambda value, b) Fuel pressure, c) Flap position, d) Fuel composition, e) Evaluate the engine’s efficiency when operating in stratified mode with high ethanol percentages, f) Analyze the influence of variables such as water percentage in ethanol, fuel pressure, injection modes, rotation, and torque on engine performance.
• Emission Monitoring: Measure and analyze emission levels before and after the catalyst in viable operating ranges to achieve increased energy efficiency.
• Combustion Failure Monitoring: Develop and implement a misfire detection system utilizing ionic sensing to monitor and enhance combustion reliability.

Coordinator (UnB): Prof. Dr. Fábio Cordeiro de Lisboa.

URBAN-VHF: Development of a High-Flex Urban Vehicle 

Research Goal: The project aims to design and build a lightweight, energy-efficient, and low-cost Urban-VHF that meets the specifications for a propulsion system with series topology. A specially designed chassis will ensure occupant protection during frontal impacts. The initiative also seeks to advance R&D&I in hybrid-flex vehicle technologies among participating Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs) at the postgraduate level. The scope includes vehicle dynamics, energy management, subsystem control, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platforms, and the development of expertise in designing electric machines and electronic converters for hybrid or electric vehicles.

Key deliverables:

• Chassis and Body Development: Design and construct a chassis and body that meet frontal impact standards, validated through impact simulations.

• Propulsion System Development:  

  Design and build a propulsion system with: (1) Power generation subsystems: ethanol engine, electric generator, and rectifier; (2) Energy storage: a battery pack with a Battery Management System (BMS) featuring state-of-charge estimation, health status monitoring, cell balancing, and thermal management; (3) Electric traction system: an innovative axial flux motor and inverters integrated into each of the vehicle’s wheels, with emphasis on an advanced energy management system.

• HIL Platform for Rapid Prototyping: 

  Develop a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform to facilitate rapid prototyping of the lightweight Urban-VHF.

• Electric Traction Motor (MET) Development:Design and build a 7.5 kW nominal electric motor with axial topology and 100% overload capability.
• Power Electronics Development: Design and construct a DC-DC converter, drive inverter, and rectifier using power devices supplied by the partner company, Semikron.
• Battery Pack Assembly: Assemble a battery pack with advanced BMS features, including state-of-charge and health status estimation, cell balancing strategies, and effective thermal management.

VEHICLE_OTA: Design and Implementation of a Secure Device for Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates of Firmware in Vehicle ECUs

Objectives: The primary goal of this project is to design and implement a secure and integrated electronic module for facilitating OTA (Over-The-Air) firmware updates in vehicle ECUs. The proposal targets the development of an OTA update strategy using smartphones, enabling secure and reliable connectivity even in vehicles lacking factory-installed onboard connectivity systems. The solution aims to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6. This electronic module will integrate seamlessly with vehicles via a plug-and-play mechanism using the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) interface and the Unified Diagnostic Services (UDS) protocol. It will enable bidirectional communication with mobile devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Through a dedicated smartphone application, vehicle owners will receive update notifications, download updates from the manufacturer, and securely install OTA firmware updates or add new features of interest.

Key Deliverables:

• Electronic Module Development: 1) Design and implement an electronic module that connects to the vehicle’s OBD interface using BLE technology and the UDS protocol. 2) Enable secure OTA updates through smartphones.

• Security Mechanisms: 1) Implement encryption algorithms, intrusion detection, and prevention systems to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, availability, and authenticity, 2) Develop computationally efficient security mechanisms tailored to the constraints of embedded systems.

• Smartphone Application Development: 1) Design and implement a smartphone application leveraging BLE technology, 2) Enable vehicle owners to download and install firmware updates on their vehicles’ electronic modules securely.

• Connectivity Integration: 1) Integrate connectivity among the vehicle, the electronic module, and the smartphone to facilitate seamless OTA updates.

• Testing and Validation: 1) Test and validate the connectivity between the vehicle, electronic module, and smartphone using a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) platform, 2) Conduct trials in an operational environment to ensure the system’s effectiveness and reliability.

Coordinator (UnB): Prof. Dr. Bruno Luiz Pereira