London Taxi Body Control Unit

THE PROBLEM

With the need to improve the system reliability, simplify the component supply chain, help to lower vehicle weight and to reduce the cost of the main body control functionality, May & Scofield were invited to develop a solution to address these challenges and bring the latest technologies to an iconic passenger vehicle.

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OUR SOLUTION

The design, development, qualification and volume supply of a body control unit, integrating all of the auxiliary functions required on a modern taxi cab to assist driver and passenger safety, comfort and security including;

Body Controller Features

  • Central door locking and motion locking of passenger doors
  • Diagnostic RS232 interface
  • Electric window actuation with one-touch down
  • Fuel level sensing and low fuel warning
  • Intercom system and heated rear screen
  • Lights/indicators and warnings lights
  • Remote keyless entry receiver (433Mhz)
  • Taxi meter control and milometer data storage
  • Windscreen wipers/washer control

Vehicle Security Features

  • Engine immobiliser
  • LED alarm interface and touch-key back-up control
  • Ultrasonic intrusion sensors and siren audible alarm interface

Each of these features was incorporated onto one compact and rugged electronic control unit that was fitted in the production vehicles.

London Taxi Body Controller

THE RESULT

 

The engineering teams from May & Scofield and our customer worked closely to develop a specification that would meet the Body Control Unit requirements of a modern classic – the London Taxi. The latest control electronics were utilised to ensure the high reliability, integrated functionality and longevity of performance required in todays’ passenger vehicles.

Once the specification was finalised our design team set about the task of producing the necessary mechanical, electrical schematics and bills of material which would allow the final products to begin taking shape in the various formats required by our supply chain including CAD layouts, Gerber files for the multi-layer PCB production and detailed BOM’s.

The first batch of concept units were produced at the May & Scofield facility in Basingstoke for on-vehicle testing and certification by an external automotive body to automotive standards. This provided vital feedback of the Body Controllers’ performance against the defined specification and the opportunity to refine the design to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

Volume build of the ECU’s was carefully planned and the supply chain primed to support the steady ramp-up from pre-production levels to full volume production ensuring seamless supply of the ECU’s to the vehicle builder for this iconic vehicle.

This is an example of how May & Scofield's capabilities to design and manufacture complex controllers could be utilized by other customers in a different application or industry.

london-taxi

 

 

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May & Scofield Limited

Stroudley Road
Basingstoke
RG24 8UG, UK

Tel: 01256 306800
Email: info@may-scofield.co.uk
Sales: sales@may-scofield.co.uk

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