Automotive Electronics Get You Plugged into Safety
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009In this age of information and technology, everything around us is smarter. New digital and electronic components make our lives easier and safer at home, in the office and on the road.
Some gadgets and gizmos, like nose hair trimmers, could easily disappear without much fuss. There are many intelligent tools, on the other hand, that make our lives more convenient and safer on a daily basis.
The vast world of “smart” technology is ruled by automotive electronics. Indispensable features, such as anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability control, are prime examples of smart and safe automotive electronics.
Through recent developments within the automotive industry, there has been a huge increase in the number of electronic devices installed at assembly plants. Here’s an example of how quickly cars have evolved electronically: the Apollo 11 traveled to the moon and back again, using just 150 kilobytes of onboard memory. Today’s typical CD player, however, uses a whopping 500 kilobytes of memory just to keep our favorite songs from skipping. That uninterrupted music is an iota of how electronics impact a car’s performance to benefit drivers.
The term used to describe the technology involved in automobile communication systems is “Telematics”, and it was first used to describe the blending of telecommunications and “informatics”, or information technology. The telematics industry recently commanded an increased amount of attention from car manufacturers. Industry insiders predicted that telematics would become “the” go-to technology as early as the mid-1990s. Telematics was expected to increase overall sales and transform the automotive industry into a major player in mobile technology.
In reality, these forecasts panned out to be less than what was predicted. From an initial industry projection of over $40 billion dollars, the figure has been whittled down to half as more conservative measures were considered.
Nevertheless, that is by no means an indication that the development of this telematics technology has been or will be abandoned. In fact, on average automobile manufacturers spend $2000 on electronic systems for every vehicle that comes off the line — an incredible increase from the $110-per-car budget of the early 1970s. This huge increase in spending is reflected in everything from engine performance to entertainment systems, security features to safety devices. Every component of the vehicle works together to provide automobiles that perform better, are more comfortable, and ultimately safer to drive.
Some of the most common smart and safe automotive electronics are as follows:
CAN, or Controller Area Network
More than one computer runs your car. There is actually a network of computers called the Controller Area Network (CAN). Like a LAN (Local Area Network) that’s commonly used in home and business computers, the CAN links computers together. In your vehicle, the CAN basically links the many separate computer systems together and allows them communicate with each other. These interconnected systems involve everything from critical systems like engine management, cruise control and anti-lock brakes and cruise control, to less-demanding applications like automatic window and seat controls.
Fuel Efficiency
Shrinking resources and soaring fuel prices have forced automotive manufacturers to increase their supply of fuel-efficient vehicles. Smart auto makers are using new automotive electronics to create cars that burn fuel more efficiently. This is most evident with the common EFI, or electronic fuel injection system. Hybrid vehicles have taken this technology one step further, with electronic devices that allow drivers to switch automatically between gas and electric engines.
Trustworthy Safety Devices
Active and passive safety devices make up the two categories of devices designed to protect the safety of the driver and passengers.
* Active devices: These systems are constantly working to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers. Dynamic steering response (DSR), traction control (TCS) and acceleration slip regulation (ASR) is all examples of active safety devices. The average driver may not notice these systems at work, but they are constantly creating a safer ride by sensing the road and driving conditions and adjusting the car’s performance accordingly. Researchers consider Electronic Stability Control to have a major safety benefit in reducing single vehicle skids.
* Passive devices: These features may be more visible and seem simpler, but they are also controlled by smart and safe automotive electronics. Through developments in electronics and technology, the deployment of airbags has been improved tremendously over the years. Early-model airbags deployed too early or too late, providing little or no benefit to the driver and passengers. Today’s cars feature more advanced systems that are actually programmed to sense the conditions that can lead to a high collision impact. Airbag and seating adjustment systems can be deployed to minimize the impact and decrease the degree of injury to the people inside the vehicle.
Consider the safety advancements over just a decade, and you’ll agree that today’s cars are miles above their predecessors. Modern automobiles offer so much more than a ride from “here” to “there”. Smart automotive electronics make every trip as comfortable, secure and safe as possible.