CeNTI -

Automotive & Aeronautics

PAC

Portugal Autocluster for the Future

PAC is a mobilizing project leaded by Simoldes – Plásticos, S.A and closely aligned with Mobinov Cluster – Cluster Automóvel de Portugal's action plan. Through a set of 6 PPS, it aims to develop, test, and demonstrate a new generation of technologies, processes, and products, leveraging the competitiveness level of the entities operating within the automotive sector in Portugal and their position in a worldwide context. The technologies to be developed are focused on the areas of future vehicle's architectures, future interiors, future structures and exteriors, connectivity and sensor technologies, and flexible and digital production technologies.

This mobilizing project was structured with a duration of 36 months, with a consortium consisting of 9 business entities and 12 non-profit organizations, endowed with scientific and technological skills capable of achieving the proposed goals, accomplishing a multisectoral and multiregional dimension and impact.

Website: PAC

Main Goals/Activities

PPS1 – New future vehicle architectures: Development, testing and demonstration of new concepts and new approaches of product's development and validation, considering the connected, electric and autonomous car trends;
PPS2 – Interiors of the future: Development, testing and demonstration of new materials and new processes in nuclear areas of the national automotive cluster, following the trend of third living space;
PPS3 – Structures and exteriors of the future: Development, testing and demonstration of new materials and new processes in nuclear areas of the national automotive cluster, specifically structures;

PPS4 – Sensing and connectivity technologies: Empowering the industry for new skills in connectivity and sensing areas;
PPS5 – Flexible and digital production technologies: Development, testing and demonstration of new technologies, methodologies, and processes for the digital transformation of national automotive cluster, in the context of industry 4.0;
PPS6 – Management, coordination, and dissemination: project's management and coordination, namely in terms of technical-scientific, administrative and financial management, as well as wide demonstration of results.

Results

Vehicle demonstrator that incorporates all the technologies developed within the project scope, highlighting those integrated into the car interior.

Within the scope of PPS2:

Interactive dashboard with transparent capacitive matrix integrated and image projection system;
Self-healing surfaces (PVC/TPU);
Textile and non-textile -based solutions with thermochromic (color changing) integrated by different approaches;
Retractable dial button system, with integrated hybrid eletronics, allowing interaction between the user and different vehicle interfaces.

Within the scope of PPS3: