Hyundai Motor unites control system R&D force to enhance soft power in future mobility

[Source: Hyundai Motor Co.]

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group has united its motor control system development department at its R&D headquarters to raise competitiveness in software power in future mobility.

According to the vehicle industry on Sunday, Hyundai Motors created a vehicle control unit development center within its R&D division where different automotive controller development researchers are under one roof.

The vehicle control system acts as the "brain" of a car with thousands of sensors and components embedded to collect data and send signals to various parts of a vehicle to control numerous mobility functions in the car. Control units adjust and oversee both the engine and electric motors that drive hybrid cars. Control units can also determine the road conditions and speed to accurately distribute power to the front, rear, left, and right wheels, ultimately adjusting the overall drive.

As cars have become smarter, the number of control units installed in each car have significantly increased from hundreds to thousands.

Until now, each car parts department developed its own control units, with the engine department manufacturing control units for engines and the air conditioner department the AC control unit. But these separate developments have caused errors in communication between different control units, causing cars to malfunction. It also took too long to analyze many signals from different units.

Hyundai Motor expects the new, united control unit development center to reduce such errors and help maximize the energy efficiency and driving performance of the car.

Hyundai Motors plans to reduce the number of control units to one-third by 2030.

Shares of Hyundai Motors traded down 0.56 percent at 179,000 won ($138) during Monday morning trade.

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