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UNIMOG CASE STUDY

 

THE HEART OF THE VEHICLE
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The world's largest truck plant is located in Wörth am Rhein. More than 100,000 vehicles roll off the production line every year. In addition to the "big" Mercedes-Benz trucks of the so-called A-series, the Econic and the Zetros, another highlight has been produced there since 2002: the UNIMOG. For the latest generation of UNI-TOUCH vehicles, which have been on the market since this year and for which 700 new parts alone have been installed, a globally unique center console and a joystick were developed together with RAFI. Reason enough to take a look behind the scenes and delve deeper into the subject matter. 

"I'm trying to get the Unimog to fly. But I haven't managed to do that yet," says Lutz Heidrich, team leader for the UNIMOG implement carrier since 2008 and with the Daimler Group since 1997, with a smile on his face. In his private life, the ambitious model maker makes things fly. And you notice: The aerospace engineering graduate is passionate about his work. Fully and completely. 

This was also the case in 2018, when the project that is now used as UNI-TOUCH was launched. "We wanted to have a unique selling point in the vehicle interior that does not yet exist in this form and at the same time take vehicle operation, device operation and further development options into account." 

Once on the Grossglockner - and back

No sooner said than done. Heidrich and his team launched a concept competition, wrote a specification sheet and received offers from various providers. RAFI impressed with its expertise and advice and was awarded the contract. 

Together with the Berger HMI specialist, we entered the concept phase. Preliminary investigations were carried out. So-called product clinics, in which market requirements are determined and tested together with selected users, were also used. In this case, the first prototype was put to the test in the Alps.
 

"We wanted to have a unique selling point in the vehicle interior"


"On the Grossglockner, we were out and about with a snow blower and snow plow and found that our concept was not effective. Why not? It wasn't variable enough. So we stopped at that point," says Lutz Heidrich, looking back. Without melancholy. After all, at the end of the day, what is the point of operating a vehicle and device if it is not well received by users in a wide range of applications? Worse than failing unsuitable. And if the Unimog community, a true fanbase that has existed since its foundation in 1948, is one thing, then it is networked. Today more than ever.
 

Iterative development process as the norm

So the project went back to start. In the case of the UNIMOG, the "universal motorized machine" that offers so many facets of use, this is a perfectly normal process. Because a UNIMOG with all its attachments is not like any other vehicle - and yet it should be quickly understood and intuitive to operate. 

On the one hand, the user, who is used to a driver's workplace, steering wheel, instrumentation and gearshift from other vehicles, expects a similar type of setting. On the other hand, he wants to work with the vehicle without having to think long and hard about which buttons to press when and which levers to operate.
 

 

"Whether mower or spreader: The driver should feel like a DJ at his mixing desk. We make sure that the limited driver's space can be used ergonomically and efficiently," confirms Wulf Aurich, Product Manager at UNIMOG. It is important to pay attention not only to current use cases, but also to future ones. "The challenge is to think ahead about possible adaptations. Iterative steps in the further development of the operating concept are the norm, rather than a standardized approach." 

From analog to fully digital operating system 

Whereas the UNIMOG predecessor model was operated solely by joystick and buttons, the UNI-TOUCH system consists of a touchscreen with
additional analog function keys, a center console with a few toggle switches ("fingertips/linear joysticks") and a removable joystick with capacitive hand recognition and activation function from the RAFI JOYSCAPE platform. At first glance, the complexity has increased, but the total number of operating elements has been greatly reduced. Flexibility is king - even for trivial functions such as a rotating beacon. 

There are several input paths for the same function. Firstly via the display and secondly via any defined function button (memory buttons). Even the transfer to the joystick is possible. Conversely, this also means that the user has to get to grips with the system more intensively.

On the touchscreen, which is equipped with a RAFI touch sensor and a fully bonded HD display, there is not only a user interface, but also submenus that can be expanded as required according to functionality. In addition, predefined workflows can be created as sequences, which can then be called up depending on the intended use. "The message to the user is: Add button X to your favorites, leave out function Y. In this way, we want to reduce the training time and qualify the driver to work productively without any problems," Wulf Aurich is convinced.

Ladun Bakar, Head of Team Sales Commercial Vehicles & Agriculture und UNI-TOUCH-Hauptverantwortlicher bei RAFI, ergänzt: „Wir haben es geschafft, interaktiv die Mechanik mit der Software zu visualisieren. Der Benutzer wählt die gewünschte Funktion, welche auf dem Display visualisiert wird. Die Ausführung des Vorgangs erfolgt erst nach einer aktiven Bestätigung durch den Benutzer“. Bei UNIMOG heißt das „Show & Go“. Alles was in der Armlehne angefasst wird, ist über kapazitative Technologie mit der Software verbunden. Angesteuerte Befehle werden auf dem Display sichtbar gemacht und per Touch aktiviert. Fehlbedienungen werden vermieden – ein wichtiger Baustein beim Thema Sicherheit.

"The driver should feel like a DJ at his mixing desk"


Data exchange for service and maintenance

The electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures have also been adapted for the new generation of UNI-TOUCH vehicles. The aim was to simplify complex structures and save costs, not only in design and production, but also for service and maintenance. "We have interfaces for exchanging data with the outside world and can provide digital services, for example," explains Wulf Aurich. However, we have not yet reached the end of the line here. There are considerations for a portal on which data can be received and evaluated. Similar to 365FarmNet in agriculture. Within the Daimler Group, there are already comparable solutions such as Fleedboard or Uptime for Commercial Trucks.
 

"We understood, trusted and accepted each other as equals"


Cooperation at eye level

For the UNI-TOUCH project, RAFI not only took on the complete development responsibility for both operating units including electronics, mechanics and software, but also the production process from PCB assembly, the production of the touch sensor including display bonding to the assembly of the entire module. "We made a conscious decision to choose RAFI as our system partner, as they are well versed in the automation of the human-machine interface. After all, this is the heart of the vehicle," says Lutz Heidrich, looking back. The collaboration was also a good fit on a personal level. "We understood, trusted and accepted each other as equals. That was ultimately the key to our success." Of course, there were also difficult phases and stressful moments and not only technical, but also organizational and commercial issues. According to Heidrich, these were resolved amicably, "you could almost say amicably". Other ingredients for success: a sympathetic ear at all times and a willingness to actively tackle any hurdles that arise. Giving up was never an option. Ladun Bakar summarizes the common drive in one sentence: "We always had the common goal of bringing a convincing product to the market that offers end customers clear added value".
 

Flying into the future in your mind

Looking ahead to the coming years, the work at and with UNIMOG will not decrease, even if global warming is predicted. Less snow does not necessarily mean fewer winter services. The decisive factor is the frequency of temperature fluctuations around the freezing point. "The Unimog can also be used to push and mill sand in Abu Dhabi," says Wulf Aurich, pointing out that it can be used worldwide in any region at any time. The magic word is year-round use. Increasing requirements and changing framework conditions are taken into account conceptually. Everyone at the table agrees that the UNIMOG will be urgently needed in the coming decades.

When asked how he relaxes after work in Wörth, Wulf Aurich answers dryly: "Driving the Unimog and MB Trac". Born in Lower Saxony and a passionate self-sufficient farmer, he is also fond of agricultural machinery in his private life and regularly picks up a chainsaw. As mentioned at the beginning, Lutz Heidrich will let his model airplanes take off from the ground at the weekend, but he also wants to continue to give the UNIMOG wings, even if only in a symbolic sense. “Flying into the future in your mind is simply fun. I invite anyone who wants to come along.”
 

Author and photos: Fred Nemitz
 

 

The UNI-TOUCH system at a glance: The center console consists of a touchscreen with additional analog buttons, various toggle switches and the RAFI LINEAR JOYSCAPE. 
 

 

Maximum driving freedom: Installed as standard on the left-hand driver's side, the steering wheel can be moved to the right using a sliding device. 

 

A small difference indicates the generation change: Whereas there were three lights per side on the previous model, there is now one light on each side indicating "I am a UNI-TOUCH vehicle".
 

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