The Wireless Vehicle

Centre for High Value, Low Environmental Impact Manufacturing

WMG, University of Warwick

Power and signal cables contribute to the mass of a vehicle consequently reducing its efficiency, particularly for the more electrified vehicles. Weight reduction strategies of e.g. vehicle body contribute to an increased efficiency of the vehicle, but to date little attention has been paid to the mass of the on board cables. There is an opportunity to identify where cables can be removed without compromising vehicle functionality, safety and robustness. Such approaches might include: wireless data networking, wireless sensors and actuators (including self-powered sensors) and wireless power distribution. The research would be to investigate robust self-organising data networks, energy scavenging technologies and power transfer. The research would investigate the effects of these solutions on the vehicle systems, ultimately including effects on vehicle manufacturing costs, TCO, servicing and repair, and potentially styling. The research outcomes must be placed in the context of the requirements of the vehicle systems, e.g. safety criticality of powertrain systems. Applicants are asked to contact j.kirkwood@warwick.ac.uk before submitting an application.