The Art of Interface

Supercar

Laplace Z — aerospace network for Prato Orage

Category. Automotive industry. Equipping supercar with full solution for body control and virtual interface.

Description. High-grade automotive electronics development and manufacturing — Laplace Z on-board network: hardware, software and real-time graphics.

Reference. Prato Orage supercar: Prato Automobiles.

Preface

Prato Orage (French — tempest, violent storm) is the first French supercar in production. By its nature this vehicle is brutal, fierce and outrageously powerful. In short — it is a mechanical beast. To control it one needs something special — for instance, aerospace on-board network.

1. Meet — Prato Orage and its Creators

Prato Orage was created by prominent engineer Rodolphe Tousset from France and prodigious designer Bruno Prata from Italy.

Fig. 1. Rodolphe Tousset and Burno Prata next to Prato Orage. Fig. 1. From right to left: Rodolphe Tousset, Bruno Prata, Prato Orage. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata.

Monsieur Rodolphe Tousset endowed Orage with its outstanding characteristics:

 

Prato Orage specifications

  • hydroformed aluminum chassis
  • 6-speed manual transmission with carbon shaft
  • naturally aspirated V8 8.1 L engine outputting 900 hp and 1044 N·m torque
  • 0–100 km/h acceleration in 2.8 s
  • carbon-ceramic brakes with ∅400 mm discs and 6-piston calipers at front
  • carbon-ceramic brakes with ∅380 mm discs and 4-piston calipers at rear
  • rear-wheel drive
  • aluminum double-wishbone suspension
  • OLED optics
  • body control and virtual interface — Laplace Z on-board network
  • wheels of forged aluminum alloy
  • carbon-fiber body shell
  • dry weight 1392 kg
Fig. 2. Prato Orage V8 engine. Fig. 2. Prato Orage V8 engine. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata. Fig. 3. Prato Orage wheel. Fig. 3. Prato Orage wheel. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata. Fig. 4. Prato Orage interior materials. Fig. 4. Prato Orage interior materials. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata.

Signore Bruno Prata performed genius carbon-fiber bodywork and designed stylish interior of natural leather, polished aluminum and genuine carbon-fiber.

Fig. 5. Prato Orage exterior. Fig. 5. Prato Orage exterior. Fig. 6. Prato Orage exterior - rear view. Fig. 6. Prato Orage exterior — rear view. Fig. 7. Prato Orage interior. Fig. 7. Prato Orage interior.

Prato Orage was revealed to public in June 2017 at Le Mans parade in France.

Fig. 8. Prato Orage at Le Mans parade 2017. Fig. 8. Prato Orage at Le Mans parade 2017. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata.

2. Superelectronics for the supercar — Laplace Z network

To control Orage vehicle we have built an entire Laplace Z on-board network — a set of devices knit together into a web which spreads across the entire vehicle for body control and interaction with driver. In short, Laplace Z reads an input from the driver, performs requests and provides interactive feedback on car status.

 

Laplace Z on-board network

  • distributed topology
  • 32 bit at 64 MHz body control logic
  • virtual interfaces at 60 fps with instant start-up
  • stereo ambient light sensing for display brightness adjustment
  • dedicated direct current converters for OLED driving
  • solid-state switches with current sensing for lights, motors and solenoids
  • extensive diagnostics on every output
  • digital accelerometer, compass and gyroscope
  • time keeping function with disconnected battery
  • magnetoresistive memory for storing temporary data in off state
  • minimum power consumption in stand-by mode
  • avionic aluminum housings
  • heavy duty aerospace connectors
  • high-performance gold-plated contacts

Laplace Z is the network of distributed topology where every device is performing local functions on its own — an idea borrowed from aviation.

Devices themselves were built with avionic features as well. Thus, all Laplace Z devices are encased into avionic aluminum housings. Their heavy duty aerospace connectors provide ultimate reliability of the distributed solution — in total Laplace Z network utilizes more than 30 of these. All interplanetary missions, space stations and artificial satellites rely on connectors of this grade.

Fig. 9. Prato Orage - Laplace Z on-board network. Fig. 9. Prato Orage - Laplace Z on-board network. Fig. 9. Prato Orage — Laplace Z on-board network.

In the image above modules of Laplace Z network:

  • BCM — body control module
  • PDM — power distribution module
  • DCM — door control module
  • CCM — climate control module
  • VIC — virtual instrument cluster
  • VCC — virtual central console
  • VID — virtual infotainment display

3. BCM — heart of Laplace Z

BCM is the body control module — a device responsible for reading input from the driver, collecting vehicle status information and decision making. It is the central processor of Laplace Z network which commands the rest of it — execution modules follow its commands and interface devices display its readings.

Fig. 10. Laplace Z BCM - body control module. Fig. 10. Laplace Z BCM — body control module.

4. Laplace Z execution modules — smart power distribution

PDMs, DCMs and CCM are Laplace Z execution modules — they control vehicle lights, motors and solenoids.

Fig. 11. Laplace Z PDM - power distribution module. Fig. 11. Laplace Z PDM — power distribution module.

A major challenge for Laplace Z PDM — power distribution module — is Orage OLED control. First, OLEDs are driven directly. Second, every OLED type requires its own current — a triangle is different from rectangle and red is not the same as orange. Third, each rear assembly has 27 OLEDs. On top of that every one of four turn assemblies has animated sequence of 7 OLEDS.

To drive Orage OLEDs Laplace Z PDMs use dedicated converters to feed the OLEDs with direct current, which gives OLEDs their even, constant and non-flickering glow. Because of excessive number of OLEDs to control on the Prato Orage, it has 4 Laplace Z PDMs — each driving a dedicated corner of the vehicle.

Fig. 12. Prato Orage OLEDs. Fig. 12. Driving Orage OLEDs is a challenge. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata.

Laplace Z DCM — door control module — controls door window and mirror. Orage features frameless doors — every time the door is opened, the window is slightly lowered releasing it from the top rubber groove and then moved back on closing the door.

Laplace Z CCM — climate control module — is responsible for split climate inside cockpit: both driver and passenger can select their own settings. The module gathers input from numerous temperature sensors inside and outside of the vehicle cockpit and adjusts airflow with several flaps sitting inside air-ducts.

Fig. 13. Laplace Z CCM - climate control module. Fig. 13. Laplace Z CCM — climate control module.

All Laplace Z execution modules feature smart electronic switches, which replace relays. These switches precisely dose the power fed to the load and provide extensive diagnostics.

5. Laplace Z interface — virtual cockpit

Interface provides feedback on vehicle status. The Orage cockpit is equipped with three Laplace Z displays:

  • VIC — virtual instrument cluster
  • VCC — virtual central console
  • VID — virtual infotainment display
Fig. 14. Prato Orage virtual cockpit. Fig. 14. Prato Orage virtual cockpit.

Laplace Z interface devices are optimized for ultimate performance — they start in a fraction of a second and render graphics at 60 fps to provide smothest possible animation and agile visual experience.

Digital instrument cluster features two distinct modes: default sport mode and aggressive race one.

Fig. 15. Laplace Z virtual instrument cluster in sport mode. Fig. 15. Virtual instrument cluster in sport mode. Graphical design — Bruno Prata. Fig. 16. Laplace Z virtual instrument cluster in race mode. Fig. 16. Virtual instrument cluster in race mode. Graphical design — Bruno Prata.

In Prato Orage passenger enjoys his own digital LCD dashboard.

Fig. 17. Laplace Z passenger digital LCD dashboard in sport mode. Fig. 17. Passenger digital LCD dashboard. Graphical design — Bruno Prata.

Virtual central console Laplace Z is the car control center.

Fig. 18. Laplace Z virtual central console. Fig. 18. Virtual central console VCC Laplace Z. Graphical design — Bruno Prata.

Among central console functions are cockpit LCD brightness control, split climate control, multichannel professional audio, front and rear cameras, chronometer and parking assistance.

Fig. 19. Laplace Z virtual central console - main menu. Fig. 19. Virtual central console — main menu. Graphical design — Bruno Prata. Fig. 20. Laplace Z virtual central console - climate control screen. Fig. 20. Virtual central console — climate control. Graphical design — Bruno Prata.

6. Prato Orage live

Laplace Z on-board network — 12 devices in total — was manufactured, programmed and installed on the Prato Orage supercar: full body control, smart power distribution, split climate control and virtual cockpit. Time to take the car to the road.

Fig. 21. Prato Orage on the road in the French Alps. Fig. 21. Prato Orage on the road in the French Alps. Photo — courtesy of Bruno Prata.
 

Prato Orage performance

  • 0–100 km/h acceleration in 2.8 s
  • 0–200 km/h acceleration in 6.9 s
  • top velocity limited at 370 km/h
  • 0.66 hp/kg power to weight ratio

Prato Orage at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in Southeastern France — the track of the French Grand Prix. The supercar is tested by rally driver Bruno Saby.

Video 1. Testing Prato Orage on the Formula One track in France.
 

Prato Orage dimensions

  • length — 4720 mm
  • wheelbase — 2650 mm
  • width with mirrors — 2208 mm
  • width at rear — 2075 mm
  • width at front — 2006 mm
  • height — 1261 mm

In the streets of Monaco during Top Marques show 2018 — a glimpse into the virtual cockpit of Prato Orage.

Video 2. Prato Orage in the streets of Monaco.
 

Prato Orage engine

  • type — naturally aspirated V8 at 90°
  • displacement — 8.1 L
  • compression ratio — 14:1
  • power — 900 hp
  • torque — 1044 N·m

Prato Orage makes debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019, United Kingdom. The supercar is driven by WEC racer Oliver Webb.

Video 3. Prato Orage at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019. The Orage of Prato Automobiles - from 1020000 euro.
 

Prato Orage price

From 1020000 €.

French TV about Prato Orage design, driving experience and price. The exclusive episode of Automoto programme is shot in Côte-d'Or in France, the supercar review is done by automotive journalist Jessica Paupinat.

Video 4. Prato Orage review — design, driving experience and price.
 

Prato Orage tyres

Prato Orage in a Michelin commercial — the manufacturer supplies tyres for the supercar. Shot on Jebel Jais mountain in UAE.

Video 5. Prato Orage in a Michelin commercial. Prato Orage on the road.