4WD Control with Two-Speed ATC
Equipped in Kia's Tasman Pickup Truck
Hyundai Wia announced on the 3rd that it has succeeded in domestic production of 4-wheel drive (4WD) components that distribute optimized driving force on any road surface. These components will be installed in Kia's first pickup truck, the Tasman.
Hyundai Wia researchers are taking a commemorative photo with the 2-speed ATC at Hyundai Wia Uiwang Research Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 3rd. Hyundai Wia
The rear-wheel-based electronic 4WD component '2-speed ATC' developed by Hyundai Wia distributes the driving force of rear-wheel-drive vehicles to the front or rear wheels according to driving conditions, providing optimal driving performance. Hyundai Wia is the first in Korea to develop and mass-produce the 2-speed ATC.
Hyundai Wia explained that the 2-speed ATC was developed to ensure stable driving in any situation. There are four selectable driving modes: for everyday driving such as highways or city driving, the '2 High' mode can be selected, which drives like a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. When 4WD is needed, the '4 Auto' mode actively controls the driving force required for the front and rear wheels during driving.
In particular, the 2-speed ATC also offers driving modes for difficult off-road conditions that are rarely encountered. On gravel or icy roads, the '4 High' mode distributes stable driving force to all four wheels. The '4 Low' mode distributes more than 2.7 times the driving force, providing strong torque for extreme off-road situations with sand or rocks, or when towing camping trailers.
Additionally, the 2-speed ATC quickly determines and provides the necessary driving force according to driving conditions. It calculates the required driving force every 0.01 seconds based on driver input and road surface. It also monitors durability changes that may occur during vehicle use to precisely control the driving force. The control unit and main body of the 2-speed ATC are integrated to improve maintainability and ensure convenience such as wireless software updates.
To enhance the stability of the 2-speed ATC, Hyundai Wia conducted extreme tests worldwide. Durability tests were carried out on mountainous roads in Korea, as well as in the deserts of California, USA, and the United Arab Emirates under high temperatures and sandy terrain. Reliability on icy roads was verified in northern Sweden, where temperatures drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius. In particular, in Sweden, performance was closely checked by driving uphill at a 30-degree incline covered with snow in '4 Low' mode.
With the mass production of the 2-speed ATC, Hyundai Wia, which has a full lineup of 4WD systems, plans to expand orders in the global market. It aims to target global automakers with a diverse product lineup including the front-wheel-based 4WD component 'PTU (Power Transfer Unit)', which has been mass-produced over 10 million units, and the electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD) that actively distributes driving force to the left and right wheels.
A Hyundai Wia official said, "We developed the 2-speed ATC to provide optimal driving performance on any road," adding, "We will continue to actively develop technology to expand our presence in the global automotive parts market."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
