active/passive integration approach (automotive) (APIA)

The APIA approach, Active/Passive Integration Approach (APIA), for active and passive safety in motor vehicles focuses on the integration of active and passive safety systems.

In the APIA approach, the functions of the subsystems are to be combined in clusters so that the components can be used more than once and others are guaranteed access to information that was not previously available in the subsystems. With this beginning aims the function variety of the subsystems can be realized with fewer components. This leads to a higher availability and reliability.

In the past, the individual function domains were clearly demarcated from one another, but this resulted in a great deal of overlap and redundancy. With the APIA approach, standardized, scalable software platforms offer much greater functionality. Thanks to the standardized interface, functional software parts can be adapted to the various electronic transducers. In addition, easy integration of software modules from different manufacturers is possible.