Page 380 - Understanding Automotive Electronics

2735 | CH 11 Page 367 Tuesday, March 10, 1998 1:30 PM

FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS 11

Future Automotive Electronic

Systems

Up to this point, this book has been discussing automotive electronic
technology of the recent past or present. This chapter speculates about the
future of automotive electronic systems. Some concepts are only in the
laboratory stage and may not, at the time of this writing, have had any vehicle
testing at all. Some of the system concepts have been or are currently being
tested experimentally. Some are operating on a limited basis in automobiles.
Some of the concepts that were included in the corresponding chapter of the
previous editions of this book are now in production automobiles.
Whether or not any of the concepts discussed here ever reaches a
production phase will depend largely on its technical feasibility and
marketability. Some will simply be too costly to have sufficient customer appeal
and will be abandoned by the major automobile manufacturers.
On the other hand, one or more of these ideas may become a major
market success and be included in many models of automobiles. Some of these
systems may even prove to be a significant selling point for one of the large
automobile manufacturers.
The following is a summary of the major electronic systems that have
been considered and that may be considered for future automotive application.
For convenience, these ideas are separated into the following categories:
1. Engine and drivetrain
2. Safety
3. Instrumentation
4. Navigation
5. Diagnosis
ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
The first edition of this book described electronic engine control
technology that had been developed up to about the 1981 model-year cars.
Considerable technical innovations have evolved in the interval since then.
Some of these technological developments include
1. Knock control
2. Linear solenoid idle speed control
3. Sequential fuel injection
4. Distributorless ignition

UNDERSTANDING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS 367