
Leoni makes cable loom smart
The LEONiQ technology, described by Leoni as a key technology, makes the cable itself a data source and thus enables conclusions to be drawn about the condition of the entire cable system and its control. With this development, the cable manufacturer wants to position itself as a technology partner for various industrial sectors, especially the automotive industry.
LEONiQ technology comprises three main elements:
1) System simulation for energy and data transmission: LEONiQ enables digital functional simulation of cable solutions in the early development phase in order to design them in the best possible way for the respective application.
2) Sensor-integrated, intelligent connection solutions: In system-critical applications, new monitoring functions can be integrated along the cable system using sensory and electronic elements. These continuously record various parameters such as temperature, tightness, mechanical stress or GPS position.
3) Data Analysis and Smart Services: Algorithms in the cloud analyze the collected data that the user can view in the context of a dashboard – almost in real time if required. This process enables a range of data-based smart services such as early warning systems, active system control or precise recommendations for action.
This results in greater transparency of the correspondingly equipped cable systems, no matter in which application. In addition, the collected data is fed back into the functional simulation models. Thanks to this control loop, the manufacturer can continuously optimize all intelligent cable solutions in a kind of learning system.
The technology combines the advantages of available, but typically very expensive measuring methods, in a very small installation space with permanent access through the cloud: LEONiQ is about 100 times cheaper and 100 times smaller than comparable technologies and makes the use of intelligence in cables economically sensible for the first time. There is noticeable added value for the user. The basis is the real usage data of the cable systems as well as their evaluation and interpretation. These in turn enable applications such as predictive maintenance, benefit-based billing models or overall system monitoring and control.
One example of the use of LEONiQ key technology is the charging infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, where technology can help monitor and optimize high-performance charging cycles. For example, in combination with sensor data from the charging station and the vehicle battery and the cable temperature, each charging process can be operated at any time at the maximum possible power limit. As a result, the vehicle is loaded safer and faster and a fault is detected early if necessary.
Leoni said it will present its new technology to the public for the first time at the Hanover Fair (23-27 April) at the Microsoft stand.
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