EDITORIAL NEWS FROM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Backpacks onBackpacks onWheels forWheels forElectric Electric VehiclesVehicles

Take 3!

Everybody has two axles. Why notsimply take three of them insteadof two - but only if you needthem! It is that third axle withtwo wheels that is the key featureof the innovative modular mobilitysystem from Swiss automotivevisionary Frank M. Rinderknecht.“Dock+Go” is the name thebustling Swiss has given to hissophisticated mobility concept.

Continued on page 3

The idea’s irresistible charm lies in thedocking “backpacks on wheels.”These single-axle “packs” serve avariety of purposes depending on therequirements of the user. They alsosolve the much-discussed operatingrange problem of electric vehicles ina clever way. The ingenious twist:neither unneeded space nor super-fluous weight is carried along if theyare truly not needed.

Dear Reader,Welcome to the11th edition ofthe ifm mobilenewsletter.

2014 is wellunderway andafter a milder

start to the winter we are experi-encing severe wet conditions in anumber of countries.

It is therefore even more criticalthat controllers and sensors with aminimum of IP67 rating are chosenduring the design phase of a systemthat will be exposed to the outsideelements.

This newsletter includes anoverview of the new IP67 CAN inclination sensor from ifm togetherwith a great steering applicationarticle from the company Linde.

The 3 year cycle of the constructionexhibitions has come around toCONEXPO in Las Vegas. ifm will bepresent as always with a stand ofinternational colleagues showingthe latest in control and sensingtechnology, you can read moreabout this in the exhibition sectionof this newsletter.

We understand that the distance toLas Vegas from the North WestEuropean countries will prohibit anumber of customers from visitingthis exhibition, however please contact your local ifm office whowill be more than happy to visit youand inform you of all the latestofferings from ifm ”Close to you“

Mark WassMobile Industry Sales Managerifm electronic Ltd

newsletter

A customer newsletter from ifm electronic

2APPLICATION

Certified by TuV to PLd and SIL2, wasdesigned into the heart of the controlsystem. As it was programmable by theuser, this meant the application FDS(Functionally Description of Software)was translated to the CoDeSys softwarewithout external assistance.

The IP 67 housing allowed the controllerto be mounted directly onto the truckchassis aiding installation.

Monitoring of the various input signalstogether controlling the outputs for thesteering was achieved through the 40configurable I/O channels of theCR7021 controller.

PWM valves were chosen to preciselycontrol the steering mechanism propor-tionally.

Dual redundant signals taken from boththe transmission over CAN and propshaft allowed the control system todynamically alter the joystick sensitivityin relation to speed, going from ‘lock tolock’ with little movement at the slowspeeds.

The ifm CR0451 colour display acted asa multi-functional operator interface,mounted in the cab providing the driverwith several dynamic views.

An actuate graphical position of therear steering wheels, key from changingbetween the 2 steering modes, togetherwith vital diagnostic information on thesteering system to allow for quick andeffective problem solving when required.

In addition, the company today offersits know-how gained during decades of developing and manufacturinghydrostatic and electric drive systems toexternal customers for a wide variety ofapplications.

Manufactured by Linde Heavy Truckdivision, the reach stacker is a key pieceof machinery for loading and unloadingISO containers at ports together withroad and rail freight.

Often Linde’s customers operate thereach stackers in small port authoritiesresulting in the drivers having to tackletight turning circles throughout theirdaily shift.

Offered as an option on the reach stacker,the driver can steer the 80t machinewith ease using a single joystick, providinga simple and ergonomic solution.

Due to the new European safety legislation EN13894 relating to electrical systems, referenced in the MachineryDirective, it was critical that Linde imple-mented a system that met all the current requirements.

The ifm CR7021 safety controller,

Linde Material Handling, a memberof the KION Group, ranks among theworld’s foremost manufacturers offorklift and warehouse trucks and isthe market leader in Europe.

Safely steering in the right direction

ifm’s display showing axle angle

More details at:www.linde.comwww.ifm.com

Continued from page 1

3Any electric city car could serve as thebasis for “Dock+Go.” For demonstra-tion purposes Rinspeed bossRinderknecht turned his attention to thetwo-seated smart. A wide variety of“packs” turn the electric-powered minicar into the dream car of any pizzadelivery driver – complete with an integrated heated box. For craftsmenthere is a toolbox pack with well-organised spaces for every tool. Andafter the day’s work is done the sharedor owned camping, golf, skiing, beachor party pack is docked to the rear ofthe mini-mobile.

Yes, this car truly saves the best for last:and in this case it is ample operatingrange when the 120 kilometers that aretypically available just aren’t enough. An“energy pack” with a combustionengine or range extender, packed withbatteries or powered by a fuel cell, provides the decisive added range forreaching more distant destinations. The

any CO2 emissions a reality.

Plenty of good and creative solutions for a brighter future mobility.

Take 3 instead of 2 - and who came upwith it? A Swiss, who else?

equally simple and clever trick: thedocked third axle drives the rotatingsecond axle and thus recharges the on-board battery of the city car. And thusthe first Vario-Hybrid, as Frank M.Rinderknecht refers to his range donor,is born. In the garage at home the batteries of the energy pack arerecharged with solar power from theroof, making living and driving without More details at:

www.rinspeed.eu

You can reach us on;UKPhone: +44 20 8213 2222E-mail: marketing.gb@ifm.comIRLPhone: +353 1 461 3200E-mail: sales.ie@ifm.comSEPhone: +46 31 750 23 00E-mail: marknad_se@ifm.comDKPhone: +45 70 20 11 08E-mail: info.dk@ifm.comFINPhone: +358 75 329 5000E-mail: info.fi@ifm.comNEDPhone: +31 341 438 438E-mail: info.nl@ifm.com

Despite careful review by the editorial staff the editor cannot beheld liable for the correctness of the publications. The applicablelegal regulations and provisions for the acquisition, installationand set-up of electronic units must be adhered to.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way or,using electronic systems, be processed, copied or distributedwithout the editor's express written consent. It cannot be concluded from the publication that the described solutions ordesignations used are free from industrial property rights.

Authors of this issue:

Mark Wass, Jon Morris

Thanks to:Rinspeed Inc.

Linde Material Handling

CONTACT

PRODUCT

• High precision across the total angular range in two axes

• Zero point, counting direction and limit frequency adjustable

• Extremely low temperature drift (± 0.002 °/K)

• M12 connector, CAN in and CAN out• Fully CAN-compatible.

Precise in all positions

The new ifm type JN inclination sensorsprovide high measurement accuracyacross the whole angular range withangles of inclination in X and Y axes.

The 2-axis inclination sensors withCANopen interface are designed for inclination feedback on mobile machinery(2-axis position detection and zero-point levelling for mobile applications)or automatic adjustment of stabilisinglegs, for example.

The sensors allow complete CAN integration according to the CANopenCiA DS-301 communication profiles andprofile CiA DSP-410.

Bus and power are connected via M12connectors. An internal terminatingresistor can be enabled via software. Inaddition, the sensors have an E1approval and provide the signals asangle to the vertical or Euler angle.

Since zero point, direction of counting(+/-180° or 0...360°) and limit frequencycan be set for a stable output signal (20,10, 5, 1, 0.5 Hz), this innovative productcan be adapted precisely to your appli-cation. Very low temperature driftacross the whole temperature range (-40...85 °C) provides unrivalled reliability.

See things from a different angleSensor for precise measurement of angles of inclination on X and Y axes

More details at:www.ifm.com

4EXHIBITION

March 4 – 8, 2014 – Booth 81539

IFPE / Con Expo 2014

camera and the new colour 4.3” display, within our state-of-the-artbooth. We hope you are able to attend!

CONEXPO will again be opening it’sdoors to the world of constructionmachinery. ifm will be demonstrating awide range of new control and sensingproducts, including the new 3D mobile

You can find more details at:www.ifm.com