Sygnal DBW

Safety-critical drive-by-wire control systems for autonomous vehicle fleets

Sygnal Drive-by-Wire is the first by-wire control system developed for autonomous fleets. Offering CAN-based control of accelerator, brake, and steering, the solution has been designed for rigorous on-road systems at a competitive price point that scales swiftly with volume.

Supported Vehicles:

Sygnal supports vehicles that are ideal for fleets: low cost, high reliability, great retained value, and global availability. 

• Kia Niro EV and HEV (Worldwide)
• Kia Soul (US-only)

Looking for a custom integration?  Contact us to discuss your vehicle requirements and we'll do our best to find a solution.

Sygnal can be a straight replacement for vehicles currently equipped with Polysync or OSCC, and has direct compatibility with existing Open Source Car Control API allowing you to upgrade software at your own pace.

Safety-Critical 

Sygnal DBW was engineered from first principles to meet demanding requirements for use in safety-critical systems. Sygnal DBW automatically releases control when it detects interactions with vehicle controls from the safety driver. In the event of an emergency, the E-Stop button reverts the system to a fail-safe state.

Solid-State

Proprietary solid-state circuitry performs all signal mixing without the use of relays.

Automotive-Grade

Harnesses built to OEM standards, housing rated for IP67+, automotive-grade electronics, and traceability records maintained for 10 years.

Economical

Along with the lowest price-point in the industry, Sygnal DBW can be moved between vehicles as they are retired, protecting your investment and paying dividends for years to come.

On the road to ASIL-D

Sygnal DBW was designed to be used in ASIL-D safety concepts. Sygnal is working toward SEooC certification in 2022.  Dual redundant microcontrollers, power, CAN communications, and signal circuitry are provided.  Extensive system diagnostics are available with fault behavior configurable in software.

30-Minute Install

Every Sygnal DBW is designed for quick and easy integration with supported vehicles. Simply unplug the OEM sensor connectors in the driver's footwell and plug in the DBW harness.  The MCM module is small enough to easily tuck under the dash for a seamless installation.  The emergency stop button is located in a cupholder for simple installation and within easy reach of the safety driver.

Extensive Documentation

What's in the box?

	Master Control Module The heart of the system, the MCM contains dual ASIL-B microcontrollers, dual-redundant power and communication, and our proprietary solid-state signal muxing circuitry. Even with all that, it's still small enough to fit up under the dash with room to spare.
	Emergency Stop Module With a twist-lock emergency stop button and LED condition indicators, the cleverly designed Emergency Stop Module mounts easily in any cupholder. The housing can be easily reconfigured to allow the cable to exit in any direction for the cleanest integration.
	Vehicle-Specific Harness Every Sygnal system includes a modular, multi-part wiring harness built to OEM standards. These harnesses can easily be swapped or upgraded for special applications. OEM connectors are provided for easy integration with no wire cutting.
	USB Controller Use the included USB gamepad after first installing the system to test and confirm proper operation by controlling the vehicle. Also works well to amaze your friends who have no idea what you do

Specifications

The Sygnal DBW system has been designed from the ground up for safety and reliability. Dual-redundant processing, power, communications, and signal generation provide a high level of versatility for complying with the integrator’s safety requirements. Developer-friendly features such as ‘learn mode’ and CAN-based configuration make it swift and simple to adapt to your application.

System
Two fully redundant, dual-core real-time MCUs are co-located on the MCM board, each capable of full fail-safe control of the system.

• Solid-state, passive fail-safe condition for all output signals
• TUV-qualified functional safety compliant MCUs
• Automotive-grade hardware throughout

Power
Redundant wide-input power supplies are each capable of full system power provision. Power can be supplied from diverse sources and paths if necessary, to support the integrator’s safety case.

• Voltage – 6-28 VDC Nominal
• Power – < 0.5 A

Communications
All external communications are implemented in CAN, including diagnostics and firmware update. Dual channels are available for redundancy if required by the integrator.

• Dual CAN – 500Kbps

Signals
Signal input and output are tailored to the redundant by-wire control sensors found in automotive applications but can be configured for a wide variety of signal types.

• Input – 6 x 12-bit ADCs for input sensing
• Output – 6 x 12-bit DACs configurable for analogue, digital, or PWM out
• Relay – 2 x SPDT solid-state relays (commonly used for brake lights)
• Control – Built-in accelerated PID and non-linear PID

Mechanical & Environmental
Automotive-grade composite enclosure fits easily beneath the dash of most vehicles, minimzing wire lengths and simplifying install.

• Temperature – -40ºC to 85ºC
• Temperature life – 1000hrs at 85ºC
• Sealing – IP67
• Salt spray – 96hrs
• Moisture cycling – 320hrs (40-8 hour cycle) at -40ºC – 85ºC
• Fluid resistance – resists most fluids found in industrial applications

Certification
Sygnal is working toward qualification of the MCM as a Safety Element out of Context (SEooC). Current versions of the MCM may be eligible for in-context qualification by the integrator, with support from Sygnal.

Harness

• Automotive TXL wire
• Fully sleeved for abrasion resistance
• USCCAR 1.5mm standard connectors (Molex MX150)
• Vehicle-specific sensor plugs for plug-and-play install
• Cup-holder-mounted emergency-stop button

Downloads & Resources

• Sygnal Brochure