MUNICH, Germany — The Bosch group plans to extend its motor control offerings to motorbike racing: The company has modified an MD 5 motor control unit for this purpose. Significant alterations were necessary, but the move also could trigger an evolutionary process in motorbike technology.

Bosch equipped the motor control unit hitherto sold into automotive applications with several additional sensors and components. Among them is a sensor for the switching force, an electronic throttle control actuator, components for fuel injection and ignition and a display driver.

The most significant modification however has been done in the ECU software. Bosch adapted its parameters and algorithms to the requirements of motor bike racing and added some features new to this specific segment of individual mobility. For instance, the traction control function: It detects slippage by measuring speed and rear wheel acceleration. Bosch claims it adjusts the torque precisely, thus offering the best acceleration to the driver at any given moment without sacrificing stability. It also computes the inclined position and lateral acceleration, enabling vehicle designers to optimize the carriage and its interaction with the tires.

Probably a novelty in motorbike design is the clutchless shift-down function which helps the driver to focus on finding the optimal point for braking ahead of a curve, Bosch claims.

The active component within the ECU is a high-end FPGA which takes the responsibility for fast signal processing and signal control.

Bosch announced the motorbike ECU at the Professional Motor Sport Workd Expo which currently takes place in Cologne (Germany).