MEKRA Lang operates its own development department at the Ergersheim location. This is where we develop and produce cameras and imaging/image processing ECUs for the commercial vehicle segment. Our products are developed according to Automotive Spice and meet requirements in the area of functional safety and cybersecurity as desired.

To maintain our position as market leader, one of our goals is to continue to grow through innovation. By combining experience, know-how and creativity, we create new products to help our customers meet their present and future challenges. It is of special importance to us to play an active part in molding the future of indirect vision systems for commercial vehicles, including the development of electronic mirror replacement systems. That is why we create platform solutions in addition to camera monitor systems to be able to generate customized products tailor-made to meet our customers’ requests and expectations.

Our pre-development department designs solutions which form the basis for targeted and efficient development of serial products according to specific customer requirements. We do not only facilitate but also explicitly encourage joint pre-development projects with our customers.

We know the market, customer needs and project plans (roadmaps) of our technology partners. On this basis we define product platforms. For us, the pre-development of core technologies includes the investigation and commissioning of hardware components, the pre-development of algorithms and software for imaging and intelligent sensing.

The development of digital vision systems for series production begins in our "System Development Electronics" department. The associated employees act as technical contacts and consultants. In order to derive the appropriate system requirements and ideal system architecture for a client, the system developers analyze and evaluate the requirements of the customers and various stakeholders. They work closely with the other development departments in the process, such as hardware and software development, in order to be able to supply the customer with an optimal product that is ideally matched to the customer.

Our experienced hardware developers create design concepts for camera hardware, modern control units (ECUs) and intelligent mirror electronics in-house and implement these from circuit design to layout. The team performs its development tasks in close consultation with our customers and partners to accommodate individual customer requests and to generate solutions with attractive cost-benefit ratios.

In our software development, the focus rests on the design and test of robust embedded software as well as firmware for semiconductor chips and integrated circuits. The focus is on vehicle communication and diagnostics, image processing and other functionalities, such as the signal-controlled display of symbols (overlays). In order to be able to implement all functions appropriately while ensuring that the high demands placed on our product are met, we use either classic project management or agile development, depending on the project environment. A hybrid approach of both methods is also frequently used.

We design and configure sensor heads featuring optical and mechanical properties suitable for the challenging conditions in which automotive camera systems are used. We either choose commercially available lenses offered by trusted project partners for cost-efficient standard applications or we use our core expertise to create customized lenses from scratch. Our products can be found in various segments of the automotive industry already.

The mechatronics systems development department is responsible for designing and integrating electrical components and systems. One of the most important tasks related to camera systems is simulating the different ways in which fields of vision are rendered. We ensure that the interaction of multiple cameras on one vehicle is aligned and specify the ideal ergonomic layout, monitor size and position for each system. When performing simulation and computing tasks for mirror replacement systems, we ensure compliance with all applicable ECE regulations and ISO standards.

Our mechatronics components are the result of close collaboration between the mechanics, electronics and software departments. This way we develop rugged camera monitor systems featuring components which meet all the required electrical and mechanical requirements. Our portfolio of development services also includes the integration of folding mirror gears, antennas, sensors as well as additional lights.

MEKRA Lang’s testing department is closely integrated with the company’s mechanics and electronics development operations and supports these with concurrent tests during all of the project phases starting with pre-development.

We provide various laboratory facilities to ensure that internal and customer requirements are both adequately met. A few examples are our optics lab for ensuring camera monitor system image quality, hardware-in-the-loop testing facilities for ensuring software and systems functionalities, and various environmental, mechanical and shaker tests for automotive stress simulations. In addition to internal tests MEKRA Lang also coordinates testing activities by external partners as well as field tests on customer premises.

During the development and optimization of all of our mirrors, electronic driver-assist systems, camera monitor systems and vision solutions we perform tests under real-life driving conditions. This enables us to ensure early on that our products meet all customer-specific requirements as well as the highest quality standards before we go into large-scale production. We always make sure to plan, perform and evaluate the tests in close cooperation with our customers and the development department.