Drive-By-Wire (X-by-wire) Performance: MKZ vs CR-V, A Comprehensive Review on Self-driving Vehicle Platforms
Drive-by-wire retrofitted passenger car is currently the most ideal development & test platform for the autonomous driving industry, because passenger car has automotive-grade components and performance, meanwhile it’s allowed to be on the road to collect data. So far self-driving companies and R&D institutes worldwide are using drive-by-wire passenger cars for further development and research, for example, verifying self-driving algorithms and testing the performance of sensors, also safety driving etc.. Of course, there are mature service providers for drive-by-wire vehicle retrofitting/modification, such as Dataspeed and AutonomouStuff, which offer stable and powerful (also quite expensive) solutions.
Drive-by-wire (X-by-wire) passenger car provides data collection interface and control interface for users. All the data is transmitted by standard CAN Bus. It’s reliable and easy for extensions. The vehicle status information is obtained through CAN Bus and transmitted to the user interface, which ensures the accuracy and provides real-time data.
For drive-by-wire retrofitting, there are two essential metrics: one is the control accuracy, such as steering and braking accuracy. The other is how much the original car hardware will be modified. The more modification on the hardware, the more unsafe and unstable the car will be. “Non-destructive” retrofitting/modification is the most favorable solution: minimum modification and seamless control on the original car by CAN messaging and through the corresponding built-in functional units within the car, achieving control over steering, gear shifting, acceleration, braking and lighting system. It’s stable and real-time with precise control accuracy.
High-performance while affordable retrofitting solution for drive-by-wire passenger car can enhance the development and application of self-driving technology, lowering the entry barrier for self-driving startups, research institutes and universities who actually want to enter and innovate the self-driving industry. This is also what we’re always committed to achieve.
After exploring and retrofitting more than 10 types of vehicles, Lincoln MKZ and Honda CR-V are what we found the most suitable vehicle types to serve as self-driving development platforms in China and northern America, both for their smooth performance and relatively affordable pricing.
To compare the specific performances after retrofitting, we made a comprehensive review on Linclon MKZ and Honda CR-V, with diverse range of collected data shown in the charts below:
Overall, except for the slight differences in the parameters of steering and brake control, MKZ and CR-V are comparable with each other regarding its drive-by-wire performances. MKZ is more smooth in steering and CR-V is faster in response. In terms of brake control, CR-V and MKZ is different in bottom layer control logic. CR-V has control approach of kinetic energy recovery and mechanical braking power complementation, which makes the braking process smoother and more stable.
Themed around the retrofitted autonomous passenger vehicles of PIX Moving, we’ve organized 7 self-driving hackathons, engineer bootcamps and challenge events in the past one year, which attracted nearly 200 engineers and professionals to be onsite and participate, testing and competing their algorithms and skills. We found that general developers are in great need of affordable, reliable and easy-to-use drive-by-wire development platforms.
Furthermore, those vehicle platforms also provide key support for the self-driving research and development within PIX, enabling us to accumulate enormous road test mileage and upgrade customer experience. Drive-by-wire CR-V at PIX headquarter has provided self-driving ride experience for thousands of local residents.
Self-driving industry is promising and we hope to contribute to the great course. This emerging technology will greatly push forward the city civilization and even revolution, creating brand-new lifestyle. We’re proud to have provided many self-driving startups with affordable CR-V and MKZ car retrofitting and engineering services, meanwhile offering drive-by-wire kit and universal autonomous chassis to help more developers who’re eager to explore and innovate the self-driving industry. Since 2017, we encountered many brilliant engineers and developers in the robotics and autonomous driving fields during the organized events. The same interests and vision linked us together to form the Moving developer community. More events and hackathons will be held to enrich and grow the decentralized community, making the ecosystem more diverse and lowering the entry barrier for the general self-driving developers as well as enthusiasts.
Data from real-road operations of retrofitted vehicles
1.Drive-by-wire Steering Step Response Test
2.Drive-by-wire Steering Dynamic Tracking Test
3.Drive-by-wire Acceleration Step Response Test
4.Drive-by-wire Braking Step Response Test
We’re PIX Moving, a self-driving startup based in Silicon Valley and China, dedicated ourselves to creating self-driving moving space and rebuilding the future city. Drop us a message to talk more or make a friend
