Press Release

Innovations for autonomous mobility

Space Drive and the Schaeffler Mover pave the way to a

sustainable and autonomous future
HERZOGENAURACH/FRANKFURT, 2019-09-09.
• Schaeffler Drive is a key technology for autonomous driving
• Schaeffler’s Intelligent Corner Module makes steering angles of up to 90
degrees possible
• Schaeffler Mover awarded the German Mobility Prize

The mobility of tomorrow is facing immense challenges in urban areas: Traffic density
and the number of people on the move are increasing all the time, and optimum use
must be made of the limited circulation space that is available. Other objectives of
sustainable mobility include eliminating the threat of gridlock and at the same time
keeping air pollution levels to a minimum. At the IAA, Schaeffler will be presenting the
third generation of its Space Drive technology and the enhancements that have been
made to the Schaeffler Mover – solutions for autonomous and sustainable mobility in
urban spaces.

Focusing on readiness for volume production

In the future, autonomous and partly autonomous vehicles will have no mechanical
connection between the steering wheel and the steering gear. Schaeffler has been
active in the field of autonomous driving for years, and the company already supplies
products that are suitable for volume production and directly available. Owned by
Schaeffler Paravan, Space Drive is a key enabling technology for tomorrow’s automated,
autonomous, and connected vehicles that is currently being developed with a view to
volume production. It is a leading drive-by-wire technology comprising a triple-redundant
electronic interface that operates vehicle steering, accelerator, and braking functions
and thus enables autonomous driving in a wide range of application scenarios. “In the
future, all autonomous vehicles will need brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire technology”,
explains Dr. Dirk Kesselgruber, Head of Schaeffler’s Chassis Systems business division.
The focus was previously on so-called “people movers” and other autonomous vehicles
that were equipped with Space Drive. Schaeffler Paravan also plans to bring the Space
Drive technology onto the rapidly growing market for industrial, agricultural, and leisure
applications. Thanks to its remote control function and the omission of space-consuming
steering wheels, the system also offers greater comfort and safety for caravans, mowing
vehicles, and vehicles used in high-risk areas such as mining, ski slope maintenance,
salvage, and firefighting. By the year 2021, Schaeffler Paravan aims to have this
system ready for volume production. What is more, Schaeffler also recently signed an
investment agreement with China’s Hunan province. The aim of this collaboration is
firstly to enhance the autonomous technologies available in China for application in the
country’s giant metropolitan centers, and secondly to establish a new R&D center in the
region.

Unique selling proposal: Worldwide approval for road use

Space Drive is a system of hardware and software in which all elements have been
perfectly matched and that offers a revolutionary safety concept. In addition to drive and
braking, Space Drive’s steer-by-wire function also allows the vehicle to be steered safely
and reliably using only electronic control signals.

Space Drive is the world’s first – and so far only – drive-by-wire system to be licensed for
on-road use and to feature the level of redundancy needed to guarantee functional safety
and reliability. “The world’s only triple-redundant drive-by-wire technology with approval
for road use is a key element in autonomous driving”, explains Matthias Zink, CEO
Automotive OEM at Schaeffler. What is more, all of the system’s components comply
with the stringent ECE standards. The computer unit (ECU) also fulfills the demanding
ISO 26262 ASIL D functional safety standard. Schaeffler Paravan has equipped the third
and most recent generation of Space Drive with even more high-performance electric
motors and electronics, and has brought the interfaces fully up to date. In addition, the
system’s costs are significantly lower and the electronic systems are secured against
outside interference.

Schaeffler Mover: A prize-winning platform for future driving functions

Among its many applications, Space Drive is used in the all-electric Schaeffler Mover,
which was recently awarded the German Mobility Prize by Germany’s Federal Ministry
for Transport and Digital Infrastructure. The Schaeffler Mover is a flexible and locally
zero-emission platform that supports a wide range of vehicle concepts, and Schaeffler
uses it to demonstrate tomorrow’s innovative drive and chassis technologies. The Mover
integrates all of the components needed for driving functionality – drive system, battery,
braking system, and steering – in a single compact unit known as a rolling chassis. This
makes the Mover a particularly attractive solution for urban mobility because it supports a
range of superstructures and can thus be used in numerous applications, from robo-taxis
to autonomous delivery vehicles. Schaeffler Paravan is continuing to develop its proven
Space Drive technology for controlling the Schaeffler Mover’s drive-by-wire functions.
The system bridges the gap between the control level for automated vehicle steering
and the four wheel modules – the Schaeffler Intelligent Corner Modules. These highly
integrated wheel suspension units, which are the core of the Mover, contain all of the
drive and chassis components – including the wheel hub motor – in a single space-saving
unit. Each of the four wheels has a steering angle of up to 90 degrees, which ensures
maximum maneuverability with minimal space requirements. Even parallel parking to
allow passengers to embark and disembark and turning on the spot are possible.
 Schaeffler Paravan makes functional safety in development a high priority by means of a
high level of redundancy: Even in the event of a defect in the wheel modules, the wheel-
selective drive and steering ensure that no loss of steering function or traction occurs.
The concept vehicle’s primary purpose for Schaeffler is to test and further develop
components to get them ready for volume production. “With the Schaeffler Mover, we are
demonstrating our ambition to become an innovative partner in the field of mechatronic
chassis systems”, explains Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive OEM at Schaeffler. Visitors
to the IAA can test the Schaeffler Mover for themselves in the outdoor area of the trade
show grounds.

Visit us at the IAA in Hall 9, Booth A07. The press conference is scheduled for September
10, 2019 at 12:30 pm and can be viewed online at http://schaeffler.gomexlive.com/.

***
The Schaeffler Group is a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors. Its portfolio includes
high-precision components and systems for engine, transmission, and chassis applications as well as rolling
and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group is already
shaping “Mobility for tomorrow” to a significant degree with innovative and sustainable technologies for electric
mobility, digitalization, and Industry 4.0. The technology company generated sales of approximately EUR 14.2
billion in 2018. With around 90,500 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest family companies and,
with approximately 170 locations in over 50 countries, has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations,
research and development facilities, and sales companies. With more than 2,400 patent applications in 2018,
Schaeffler is Germany’s second most innovative company according to the DPMA (German Patent and
Trademark Office).

Press picture
The Schaeffler Mover was awarded the German Mobility Prize in August.

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Press picture
Using the Mover as a basis, Schaeffler is developing innovative and sustainable
technologies for urban mobility with a view to volume production.

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CONTACT: Thorsten Möllmann

Senior Vice President Global Communications & Branding
Schaeffler AG
Herzogenaurach
Tel. +49  9132 82-5000
E-Mail: presse@schaeffler.com

Daniel Pokorny
Head of Corporate Communications Future Trends
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Herzogenaurach
Tel. +49  9132 82-88708
E-Mail: daniel.pokorny@schaeffler.com