Developing Low-Speed Motion Control Algorithms for Automated Driving Functions at ZF - MATLAB & Simulink

Developing Low-Speed Motion Control Algorithms for Automated Driving Functions at ZF

“MathWorks […] supported us in understanding the pros and cons of each planning concept and choosing the concept that fits our need right from the beginning of the project. It saved us a lot of time.”

Key Outcomes

  • Early simulation, prototyping, and integration of functions together with code generation speeds up design and enables smooth transition to mass production
  • Model-Based Design allows time- and cost-efficient development in small, agile teams
  • Toolboxes with application-specific algorithms accelerate the design of automated driving functions while minimizing the very time-consuming tuning effort

ZF Friedrichshafen AG creates products and technology to enable “Next Generation Mobility” for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and industrial applications through digitalization and IoT.

ZF needed a scalable, flexible platform to develop motion control algorithms for high-precision maneuvers at low speeds, allow efficient implementation and testing, and enable a smooth transition to mass-production.

Using Model-Based Design with MATLAB® and Simulink®, ZF built a highly automated simulation, prototyping, and code generation platform.

Specialized toolboxes provided advanced control algorithms capable of handling control errors, actuator limits, and delays. Comfort and safety requirements were fulfilled by design, largely reducing in-vehicle tuning, which is usually the most time-consuming step.

Close collaboration with MathWorks consultants allowed ZF to understand algorithm choices early and use the best design concept from the start.

The platform will also serve for future use cases with extended vehicle autonomy using MathWorks toolboxes for localization, navigation, and V2X communication.