From Electrification on Component-Level to Software-Defined Vehicles: The Role of Modular Smart Corner Systems in Next-Generation Electric Vehicle Architecture

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Abstract
The transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) necessitates a paradigm shift in both control strategies and vehicle architecture. The EU-funded SmartCorners project addresses this challenge by developing integrated smart corner systems (SCS), which combine in-wheel motor (IWM) propulsion, brake-by-wire, active suspension actuator, and steer-by-wire functionality in a single module. These SCS are embedded within a highly adaptable skateboard chassis architecture, enabling scalable deployment across diverse vehicle platforms. The SmartCorners project targets to demonstrate significant advancements, including improvement in real-world driving range, reduction of component and system costs, an increasement in interior volume, and a development time drop of the EV systems enabled by digital-twin-based design methodologies. Beyond these performance gains, SmartCorners establishes the foundational principles of modularity, adaptability, and software integration that underpin the evolution toward SDVs. These achievements highlight a critical bridge between electrified component innovation and the holistic software-defined mobility systems of the future.

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