In the Ether-Cars research project, real-time Ethernet communication systems were investigated for use as network technology in vehicles and in automation.
This project was carried out in cooperation with the iniT research institute of the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences, Infineon AG, LEONI and other partner companies. The project was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Real-time Ethernet systems that are already integrated in automation environments were examined for their applicability in the automotive environment. Furthermore, Ethernet technologies that were specified for the automotive environment were examined with regard to their applicability in automation environments.
The real-time Ethernet technologies PROFINET and Ethernet AVB (Audio Video Bridging) were evaluated at the OTH (East Bavarian Technical University of Applied Sciences) in Amberg. An unshielded two-wire line was investigated as the physical layer for the Ethernet systems.
As part of this work, a demonstrator was developed together with Infineon with the support of aia; the demonstrator was presented at Ethernet Techday in Germany as well as in the USA and Japan.