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Innovations Given Credit at Twin Taipei AMPA/AutoTronics Shows
2007/09/20
 | | Steve R.L. Chen, Minister of Economic Affairs, hands out prizes to Tapei AMPA/AutoTronics Taipei 2007 Innovation Award winners at the opening ceremony of the twin-show. |
Aiming to further the development and innovation in Taiwan`s automotive parts and electronic industries as well as strengthen local advantages and global competitiveness, TAITRA and Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers` Association (TEEMA) jointly staged the first contests for innovation in 2007, one for the Taipei AMPA and one for AutoTronics trade show.
All the winners were announced at the opening ceremony of the twin-show and displayed in special zones at the Taipei AMPA/AutoTronics Taipei 2007.
TAITRA says that the first AutoTronics Innovation Award is divided in two categories:
1. Finished automotive-electronic products-GPS navigation device, moisture-sensing wiper system, security system, parking sensor, tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), drive-by-wire throttle system, multimedia entertainment system etc.
2. Parts-parts, accessories, software, hardware, semiconductor, applications etc.
The entries were judged on several criteria, including innovative styling, processing, material; marketability to create demand and competitiveness in the real-world; eco-friendliness with green concepts; safety features that are reliable; functionality enabling easy operation and featuring innovation; and a bonus-point category where a contestant can win extra points by proving an entry has won major international industrial-design contests, such as the iF of Germany, Good Design Award (G-mark) of Japan, etc.
The AMPA Innovation Award also evaluated entries similarly but without distinguishing between finished products and parts.
TAITRA and TEEMA invited a panel of experts to be judges, including representatives from Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), industrial design universities, and leading manufacturers from the private sector.
AMPA Innovation Award Winners
Five final winners of the AMPA Innovation contest were selected from the remaining 13 finalists after about one hundred entries had been eliminated.
One winner is a style-enhancing, high-performance tail lamp, designed by the Depo Auto Parts Ind. Co. (one of Taiwan`s top-two auto lamp makers), for the Mitsubishi Proton GEN-2 2005 sedan. The innovative tail lamp features improved design and LED light sources that not only fit into the overall exterior design but also make the taillight cluster more stylish.
Another winner is the Ultimate Security Lock, model CH-966G, developed by Megacell Corp. This steering-wheel lock has built-in, high-tech vibration and barometric sensors that can tell when an intruder opens a door or window, or enters the room, upon which it warns a receiver as far as 3,000M away with a wireless signal, with an LCD screen indicating the type and conditions of the intrusion. The lock is made of hardened steel and powered by two AA batteries.
The "Free & Touching Welseat" developed by the Pro-Glory Enterprise Co., the third winner, greatly enhances the mobility of the handicapped and makes caretaking easier. The seat is usable in all types of cars and vans, with free-turning, up-and-down functions, and a specially-designed mechanism allowing the immobile user to be transferred easily to a wheelchair. Ergonomically designed for comfort, the seat also has an embedded IC that emits electronic waves that are supposed to enhance the acid-alkali balance in users. The Welseat can hold up to 100 kilograms.
An innovative integrated car-top bike rack that carries two bicycles along with other cargo is a winner designed by the King Rack Industrial Co. It has a padded, waterproof buzz bag and can be installed or removed in seconds. The frame is of 6063T5 aluminum, and the fork mount has 9mm skewers along with an adjustable holder that fits all wheel sizes.
The fifth winning product is a "non-rotating" hubcap from the A2A Manufacturing Co. that is designed for advertisements. The hubcap stays still when the vehicle is moving-providing the perfect medium for high visibility promotion at low cost. And the hubcap is easy to install and remove, without modifying the vehicle.
AutoTronics Innovation Award Winners
The unanimous winner in the finished-product category is the Noahpad human-machine interface (HMI) device developed by the E-Lead Electronic Co. The Noahpad is a compact touch pad that can be installed on a handheld device, steering wheel, etc. and integrates all related hardware and software to provide a user-friendly operation interface via a touch-panel display. Functions such as calendar, games, and phone call-out/hang-up are easily found, selected, and operated, hence E-Lead`s labeling the device a "remote finger."
A second winner is an ultrasonic steering-wheel lock, the S-5168, from the Super Sun Precision Ind. Co. This high-tech lock integrates mechanical and electronic anti-theft functions by signaling a car owner when the vehicle is broken into, towed or hit as in a collision. In addition, unusual movement or tampering triggers the ultrasonic sensor to sound a 100-decibel alarm and turn on a bright LED.
The IntelliTrac X1, another winner, is an application product developed by the Systems & Technology Corp. as an advanced Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) tracking system.
This device allows a user to locate, track a vehicle by integrating the functions of location monitoring, security management, fleet management, and location-based services. It can be used in interval or intelligent mode, or for geo-fencing control, remote output control, journey logging, voice wiretapping, and vehicle power management, among others. Some Australian companies even ask their staff to carry one of the compact devices, measuring only 90mm x 66mm x 30mm, in waist bags for improved personnel management.
The top winner in the automotive-electronic parts category is the world`s first blade fuse with an LED indicator, dubbed the "Photo Fuse." Developed by the Photo-Top Technologies Co. who says the LED glows when a fuse blows, making it easier for technicians to find and replace. The LED is a cool light source and draws little current, so the Photo Fuse is ideal for sensitive automotive equipment, UPS systems, motors, security, and other industrial applications. The fuse meets CE, UL, SAE, and e-Mark standards and can be customized as desired.
Yet another winning product, the MB91F465XA microcontroller, is the latest addition to Fujitsu`s growing FlexRay line. The device supports 2-channel and FIFO operations, and with more than 8 kilobytes of message buffer memory it can support up to 128 different identifiers. Aimed at auto OEM, tier-one, and third-party companies that supply tools and software for automotive applications and test equipment, the MB91F465XA enables implementation of the FlexRay protocol in a single-chip solution without the need for companion devices.
Also-rans but Still Innovative
Many new and innovative items did not prevail due to the contest`s fixed-number of winners, which is hardly indicative of their qualities and commendable characteristics.
One example of an innovative product that did not win is the wireless damping controller developed by Jourch International Corp. (DAIYAMA), which allows a user to adjust a shock absorber`s dampening index without opening the hood. Simply readjust the dampening setting in the shock absorbers to suit any driving need, from sporty to cruise. The device memorizes up to eight sets of dampening indices for ideal user convenience.
Tung Thih Enterprise Co., Ltd. (TTE), a leading OE auto-electronic supplier to automakers in Taiwan and one of the world`s largest suppliers of parking sensors, introduced a new two-way automobile security system. The high-tech G sensor, which senses vehicular acceleration rather than only motion to trigger the car-alarm, effectively minimizes false alarms. In addition, TTE`s new security system can sense changes in the vehicular orientation to signal the car owner if the vehicle is being towed.
Temperature Controller Technology R&D Co., Ltd. unveiled a device utilizing heat-exchange liquid circulation to keep a seat at pre-set temperatures. Not only realizing driving comfort year-round, this innovation is also more energy efficient and coolant-free, making it more eco-friendly. It comes with a thermal-control kit and a made-to-order cushion featuring intelligent and variable thermal control from 20°to 35°C.
GlobalTop Technology Inc. introduced its latest HUD (head-up display) speedometer, which displays vehicular speed by receiving GPS satellite signals; and with the integration Bluetooth, it also can be connected to Smartphone and PDA for navigation. Key features of the HUD GPS Speedometer include HUD for displaying speed and direction; speed-warning function which can be set by users; and accurate speed and position data receiving via 32-channel, all-in-view GPS satellites.
Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading auto-electronic supplier in Taiwan, introduced two innovative items. One is the THE 01 tire valve-cap type wireless tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for heavy-duty trucks and buses with tire pressure from 0-233 psi. Featuring a battery life of five to eight years, the TPMS, according to the company, successfully handles longer-distance wireless transmission in multi-wheeled vehicles such as 18-wheelers. The TPMS, a little bigger than a valve cap, is simply screwed onto a valve stem to access tire pressure readings for up to 22 tires from the LCD-display receiver.
Another practical, innovative item is a weatherproof, 12V/24V adaptable parking CCD camera to be installed on a license plate. The tiny camera has a 1/4" CCD image sensor but offers a 170-degree wide-angle view to help make parking easy.
(by Quincy Liang)
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