Automotive Electronics
Automotive Electronics
News articles relevant for automotive content, whether in terms of components, power, communications, infotainment or testing.
UK semi-autonomous lorry trials in 2018
Lorries that are semi-autonomous will be electronically trussed together in ‘platooning’ trials in UK motorways, according to the Department of Transport.
Fiat Chrysler joins BMW-Intel autonomous car tech alliance
Fiat Chrysler has joined a self-driving technology development alliance led by BMW Group, Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary.
DRAM, NAND and auto driving IC market growth
DRAM, NAND and automotive analogue/logic are the fastest growing IC product segments this year which are driving the semiconductor market
‘Kyoto Process’ enables wooden cars
Wood-based cars could be five times stronger than steel and five times lighter, say researchers at Kyoto University, Denso and DaikyoNishikawa. The scientists are working with plastics integrated with cellulose nanofibres – made by cracking down wood pulp into fibres measuring several hundredths of a micron. Under the so-called ‘Kyoto Process’, the wood fibres are melded into plastics while being .
Toyota, Ericssson, Intel, DoCoMo, Denso form auto big data consortium
Toyota, Intel, Denso, Ericsson and DoCoMo have formed the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium aimed at the processing of big data in connected car automotive applications. In 2025, the amount of data being sent from cars to the cloud will be ten Exabytes a month, says Toyota. The poblem is how to implement that without the car’s computer costing many times .
Silicon Labs unifies chips for car radios
Silicon Labs has announced a family of car radio receiver chips with a common software API, claiming designers can share R&D effort across numerous product lines, from low-cost, single-tuner AM/FM radios to high-performance systems with numerous tuners and antennas. Si4795x (branded Global Eagle, (right)), Si4796x and Si4797x (together branded Dual Eagle) are analogue AM/FM receivers and digital radio tuners, all with .
$5k electrified car on sale in China
GM and the China car manufacturer SAIC are selling a petite electrical car in China for $Five,300 after local and national subsidies are deducted. It is called the Baojun E100. Presently it is only on sale in Guanxi. Top speed is 62mph and the battery takes 7.Five hours to charge. The engine supplies 39hp. Its wheelbase measures Five.25 feet and .
Electrified car bod is made from flax and sugar beet
Lina is an electrical car from TU/ecomotive of the University of Technology Eindhoven, whose assets is made from plant-based materials. The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, albeit it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using .
Renesas SoC supports Automotive Grade Linux
Renesas starts volume shipment of its very first R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) incorporating Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)-based software.
Ministry of Transport guides against vehicle hackers
The Ministry of Transport issues cyber protection guidelines for internet-connected vehicles to protect them from being hacked.
Latest Comments
Don’t miss out on EW Newsletters
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
Automotive Electronics
Automotive Electronics
News articles relevant for automotive content, whether in terms of components, power, communications, infotainment or testing.
UK semi-autonomous lorry trials in 2018
Lorries that are semi-autonomous will be electronically roped together in ‘platooning’ trials in UK motorways, according to the Department of Transport.
Fiat Chrysler joins BMW-Intel autonomous car tech alliance
Fiat Chrysler has joined a self-driving technology development alliance led by BMW Group, Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary.
DRAM, NAND and auto driving IC market growth
DRAM, NAND and automotive analogue/logic are the fastest growing IC product segments this year which are driving the semiconductor market
‘Kyoto Process’ enables wooden cars
Wood-based cars could be five times stronger than steel and five times lighter, say researchers at Kyoto University, Denso and DaikyoNishikawa. The scientists are working with plastics integrated with cellulose nanofibres – made by violating down wood pulp into fibres measuring several hundredths of a micron. Under the so-called ‘Kyoto Process’, the wood fibres are melded into plastics while being .
Toyota, Ericssson, Intel, DoCoMo, Denso form auto big data consortium
Toyota, Intel, Denso, Ericsson and DoCoMo have formed the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium aimed at the processing of big data in connected car automotive applications. In 2025, the amount of data being sent from cars to the cloud will be ten Exabytes a month, says Toyota. The poblem is how to implement that without the car’s computer costing many times .
Silicon Labs unifies chips for car radios
Silicon Labs has announced a family of car radio receiver chips with a common software API, claiming designers can share R&D effort across numerous product lines, from low-cost, single-tuner AM/FM radios to high-performance systems with numerous tuners and antennas. Si4795x (branded Global Eagle, (right)), Si4796x and Si4797x (together branded Dual Eagle) are analogue AM/FM receivers and digital radio tuners, all with .
$5k electrified car on sale in China
GM and the China car manufacturer SAIC are selling a petite electrical car in China for $Five,300 after local and national subsidies are deducted. It is called the Baojun E100. Presently it is only on sale in Guanxi. Top speed is 62mph and the battery takes 7.Five hours to charge. The engine produces 39hp. Its wheelbase measures Five.25 feet and .
Electrical car assets is made from flax and sugar beet
Lina is an electrical car from TU/ecomotive of the University of Technology Eindhoven, whose bod is made from plant-based materials. The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, albeit it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using .
Renesas SoC supports Automotive Grade Linux
Renesas starts volume shipment of its very first R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) incorporating Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)-based software.
Ministry of Transport guides against vehicle hackers
The Ministry of Transport issues cyber protection guidelines for internet-connected vehicles to protect them from being hacked.
Latest Comments
Don’t miss out on EW Newsletters
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
Automotive Electronics
Automotive Electronics
News articles relevant for automotive content, whether in terms of components, power, communications, infotainment or testing.
UK semi-autonomous lorry trials in 2018
Lorries that are semi-autonomous will be electronically tied together in ‘platooning’ trials in UK motorways, according to the Department of Transport.
Fiat Chrysler joins BMW-Intel autonomous car tech alliance
Fiat Chrysler has joined a self-driving technology development alliance led by BMW Group, Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary.
DRAM, NAND and auto driving IC market growth
DRAM, NAND and automotive analogue/logic are the fastest growing IC product segments this year which are driving the semiconductor market
‘Kyoto Process’ enables wooden cars
Wood-based cars could be five times stronger than steel and five times lighter, say researchers at Kyoto University, Denso and DaikyoNishikawa. The scientists are working with plastics integrated with cellulose nanofibres – made by violating down wood pulp into fibres measuring several hundredths of a micron. Under the so-called ‘Kyoto Process’, the wood fibres are melded into plastics while being .
Toyota, Ericssson, Intel, DoCoMo, Denso form auto big data consortium
Toyota, Intel, Denso, Ericsson and DoCoMo have formed the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium aimed at the processing of big data in connected car automotive applications. In 2025, the amount of data being sent from cars to the cloud will be ten Exabytes a month, says Toyota. The poblem is how to implement that without the car’s computer costing many times .
Silicon Labs unifies chips for car radios
Silicon Labs has announced a family of car radio receiver chips with a common software API, claiming designers can share R&D effort across numerous product lines, from low-cost, single-tuner AM/FM radios to high-performance systems with numerous tuners and antennas. Si4795x (branded Global Eagle, (right)), Si4796x and Si4797x (together branded Dual Eagle) are analogue AM/FM receivers and digital radio tuners, all with .
$5k electrical car on sale in China
GM and the China car manufacturer SAIC are selling a petite electrified car in China for $Five,300 after local and national subsidies are deducted. It is called the Baojun E100. Presently it is only on sale in Guanxi. Top speed is 62mph and the battery takes 7.Five hours to charge. The engine produces 39hp. Its wheelbase measures Five.25 feet and .
Electrical car bod is made from flax and sugar beet
Lina is an electrified car from TU/ecomotive of the University of Technology Eindhoven, whose figure is made from plant-based materials. The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, albeit it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using .
Renesas SoC supports Automotive Grade Linux
Renesas starts volume shipment of its very first R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) incorporating Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)-based software.
Ministry of Transport guides against vehicle hackers
The Ministry of Transport issues cyber protection guidelines for internet-connected vehicles to protect them from being hacked.
Latest Comments
Don’t miss out on EW Newsletters
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
Automotive electronics
Automotive electronics
Automotive electronics are electronic systems used in road vehicles, such as: engine management, ignition, radio, carputers, telematics, in-car entertainment systems and others. Electronic systems have become an increasingly large component of the cost of an automobile, from only around 1% of its value in one thousand nine hundred fifty to around 30% in 2010. [1]
The earliest electronics systems available as factory installations were vacuum tube car radios, kicking off in the early 1930s. The development of semiconductors after WWII greatly expanded the use of electronics in automobiles, with solid-state diodes making the automotive alternator the standard after about 1960, and the very first transistorized ignition systems appearing about 1955.
The availability of microprocessors after about one thousand nine hundred seventy four made another range of automotive applications economically feasible. In one thousand nine hundred seventy eight the Cadillac Seville introduced a “journey computer” based on a six thousand eight hundred two microprocessor. Electronically-controlled ignition and fuel injection systems permitted automotive designers to achieve vehicles meeting requirements for fuel economy and lower emissions, while still maintaining high levels of spectacle and convenience for drivers. Today’s automobiles contain a dozen or more processors, in functions such as engine management, transmission control, climate control,antilock braking, passive safety systems, navigation, and other functions. [Two]
Modern electrical cars rely on power electronics for the main propulsion motor control, as well as managing the battery system. Future autonomous cars will rely on powerful computer systems, an array of sensors, networking, and satellite navigation, all of which will require electronics.
Contents
Automotive engine electronics originated from the need to control engines. The very first electronic lumps were used to control engine functions and were referred to as engine control units (ECU). As electronic controls began to be used for more automotive applications, the acronym ECU took on the more general meaning of “electronic control unit”, and then specific ECU’s were developed. Now, ECU’s are modular. Two types include engine control modules (ECM) or transmission control modules (TCM).
A modern car may have up to one hundred ECU’s and a commercial vehicle up to 40.
Automotive electronics or automotive embedded systems are distributed systems, and according to different domains in the automotive field, they can be classified into:
- Engine electronics
- Transmission electronics
- Chassis electronics
- Active safety
- Driver assistance
- Passenger convenience
- Entertainment systems
- Electronic Integrated Cockpit systems
One of the most requesting electronic parts of an automobile is the engine control unit. Engine controls request one of the highest real time deadlines, as the engine itself is a very prompt and complicated part of the automobile. Of all the electronics in any car the computing power of the engine control unit is the highest, typically a 32-bit processor.
It controls such things as:
In a gasoline engine:
- Lambda control
- OBD (On-Board Diagnostics)
- Cooling system control
- Ignition system control
- Lubrication system control (only a few have electronic control)
- Fuel injection rate control
- Throttle control
Many more engine parameters are actively monitored and managed in real-time. There are about twenty to fifty that measure pressure, temperature, flow, engine speed, oxygen level and NOx level plus other parameters at different points within the engine. All these sensor signals are sent to the ECU, which has the logic circuits to do the actual controlling. The ECU output is connected to different actuators for the throttle valve, EGR valve, rack (in VGTs), fuel injector (using a pulse-width modulated signal), dosing injector and more. There are about twenty to thirty actuators in all.
These control the transmission system, mainly the shifting of the gears for better shift convenience and to lower torque interrupt while shifting. Automatic transmissions use controls for their operation, and also many semi-automatic transmissions having a fully automatic clutch or a semi-auto clutch (declutching only). The engine control unit and the transmission control exchange messages, sensor signals and control signals for their operation.
The chassis system has lot of sub-systems which monitor various parameters and are actively managed:
These systems are always ready to act when there is a collision in progress or to prevent it when it senses a dangerous situation:
- Lane assist system
- Speed assist system
- Blind spot detection
- Park assist system
- Adaptive cruise control system
- Pre-collision Assist
- Automatic climate control
- Electronic seat adjustment with memory
- Automatic wipers
- Automatic headlamps – adjusts rafter automatically
- Automatic cooling – temperature adjustment
All of the above systems forms an infotainment system. Developmental methods for these systems vary according to each manufacturer. Different implements are used for both hardware and software development.
These are fresh generation hybrid ECUs that combine the functionalities of numerous ECUs of Infotainment Head Unit, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Instrument Cluster, Rear Camera/Parking Assist, Surround View Systems etc. This saves on cost of electronics as well as mechanical/physical parts like interconnects across ECUs etc. There is also a more centralized control so data can be seamlessly exchanged inbetween the systems.
There are of course challenges too. Given the complexity of this hybrid system, a lot more rigor is needed to validate the system for robustness, safety and security. For example, if the infotainment system’s application which could be running an open source Android OS is breached, there could be possibility of hackers to take control of the car remotely and potentially misuse it for anti social activities. Typically so, usage of a hardware+software enabled hypervisors are used to virtualize and create separate trust and safety zones that are immune to each other’s failures or breaches. Lot of work is happening in this area and potentially will have such systems soon if not already.
In order to minimize the risk of dangerous failures, safety related electronic systems have to be developed following the applicable product liability requirements. Disregard for, or inadequate application of these standards can lead to not only individual injuries, but also severe legal and economic consequences such as product cancellations or recalls.
The IEC sixty one thousand five hundred eight standard, generally applicable to electrical/electronic/programmable safety-related products, is only partially adequate for automotive-development requirements. Consequently, for the automotive industry, this standard is substituted by the existing ISO 26262, presently released as a Final Draft International Standard (FDIS). ISO/DIS twenty six thousand two hundred sixty two describes the entire product life-cycle of safety related electrical/electronic systems for road vehicles. It has been published as an international standard in its final version in November 2011. The implementation of this fresh standard will result in modifications and various innovations in the automobile electronics development process, as it covers the finish product life-cycle from the concept phase until its decommissioning.
Automotive Electronics
Automotive Electronics
News articles relevant for automotive content, whether in terms of components, power, communications, infotainment or testing.
UK semi-autonomous lorry trials in 2018
Lorries that are semi-autonomous will be electronically roped together in ‘platooning’ trials in UK motorways, according to the Department of Transport.
Fiat Chrysler joins BMW-Intel autonomous car tech alliance
Fiat Chrysler has joined a self-driving technology development alliance led by BMW Group, Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary.
DRAM, NAND and auto driving IC market growth
DRAM, NAND and automotive analogue/logic are the fastest growing IC product segments this year which are driving the semiconductor market
‘Kyoto Process’ enables wooden cars
Wood-based cars could be five times stronger than steel and five times lighter, say researchers at Kyoto University, Denso and DaikyoNishikawa. The scientists are working with plastics integrated with cellulose nanofibres – made by violating down wood pulp into fibres measuring several hundredths of a micron. Under the so-called ‘Kyoto Process’, the wood fibres are melded into plastics while being .
Toyota, Ericssson, Intel, DoCoMo, Denso form auto big data consortium
Toyota, Intel, Denso, Ericsson and DoCoMo have formed the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium aimed at the processing of big data in connected car automotive applications. In 2025, the amount of data being sent from cars to the cloud will be ten Exabytes a month, says Toyota. The poblem is how to implement that without the car’s computer costing many times .
Silicon Labs unifies chips for car radios
Silicon Labs has announced a family of car radio receiver chips with a common software API, claiming designers can share R&D effort across numerous product lines, from low-cost, single-tuner AM/FM radios to high-performance systems with numerous tuners and antennas. Si4795x (branded Global Eagle, (right)), Si4796x and Si4797x (together branded Dual Eagle) are analogue AM/FM receivers and digital radio tuners, all with .
$5k electrified car on sale in China
GM and the China car manufacturer SAIC are selling a puny electrified car in China for $Five,300 after local and national subsidies are deducted. It is called the Baojun E100. Presently it is only on sale in Guanxi. Top speed is 62mph and the battery takes 7.Five hours to charge. The engine supplies 39hp. Its wheelbase measures Five.25 feet and .
Electrified car figure is made from flax and sugar beet
Lina is an electrified car from TU/ecomotive of the University of Technology Eindhoven, whose figure is made from plant-based materials. The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, albeit it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using .
Renesas SoC supports Automotive Grade Linux
Renesas starts volume shipment of its very first R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) incorporating Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)-based software.
Ministry of Transport guides against vehicle hackers
The Ministry of Transport issues cyber protection guidelines for internet-connected vehicles to protect them from being hacked.
Latest Comments
Don’t miss out on EW Newsletters
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
Automotive Electronics
Automotive Electronics
News articles relevant for automotive content, whether in terms of components, power, communications, infotainment or testing.
UK semi-autonomous lorry trials in 2018
Lorries that are semi-autonomous will be electronically roped together in ‘platooning’ trials in UK motorways, according to the Department of Transport.
Fiat Chrysler joins BMW-Intel autonomous car tech alliance
Fiat Chrysler has joined a self-driving technology development alliance led by BMW Group, Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary.
DRAM, NAND and auto driving IC market growth
DRAM, NAND and automotive analogue/logic are the fastest growing IC product segments this year which are driving the semiconductor market
‘Kyoto Process’ enables wooden cars
Wood-based cars could be five times stronger than steel and five times lighter, say researchers at Kyoto University, Denso and DaikyoNishikawa. The scientists are working with plastics integrated with cellulose nanofibres – made by violating down wood pulp into fibres measuring several hundredths of a micron. Under the so-called ‘Kyoto Process’, the wood fibres are melded into plastics while being .
Toyota, Ericssson, Intel, DoCoMo, Denso form auto big data consortium
Toyota, Intel, Denso, Ericsson and DoCoMo have formed the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium aimed at the processing of big data in connected car automotive applications. In 2025, the amount of data being sent from cars to the cloud will be ten Exabytes a month, says Toyota. The poblem is how to implement that without the car’s computer costing many times .
Silicon Labs unifies chips for car radios
Silicon Labs has announced a family of car radio receiver chips with a common software API, claiming designers can share R&D effort across numerous product lines, from low-cost, single-tuner AM/FM radios to high-performance systems with numerous tuners and antennas. Si4795x (branded Global Eagle, (right)), Si4796x and Si4797x (together branded Dual Eagle) are analogue AM/FM receivers and digital radio tuners, all with .
$5k electrical car on sale in China
GM and the China car manufacturer SAIC are selling a puny electrified car in China for $Five,300 after local and national subsidies are deducted. It is called the Baojun E100. Presently it is only on sale in Guanxi. Top speed is 62mph and the battery takes 7.Five hours to charge. The engine supplies 39hp. Its wheelbase measures Five.25 feet and .
Electrical car assets is made from flax and sugar beet
Lina is an electrical car from TU/ecomotive of the University of Technology Eindhoven, whose figure is made from plant-based materials. The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, albeit it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using .
Renesas SoC supports Automotive Grade Linux
Renesas starts volume shipment of its very first R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) incorporating Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)-based software.
Ministry of Transport guides against vehicle hackers
The Ministry of Transport issues cyber protection guidelines for internet-connected vehicles to protect them from being hacked.
Latest Comments
Don’t miss out on EW Newsletters
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
Automotive Electronics
Automotive Electronics
News articles relevant for automotive content, whether in terms of components, power, communications, infotainment or testing.
UK semi-autonomous lorry trials in 2018
Lorries that are semi-autonomous will be electronically tied together in ‘platooning’ trials in UK motorways, according to the Department of Transport.
Fiat Chrysler joins BMW-Intel autonomous car tech alliance
Fiat Chrysler has joined a self-driving technology development alliance led by BMW Group, Intel and its Mobileye subsidiary.
DRAM, NAND and auto driving IC market growth
DRAM, NAND and automotive analogue/logic are the fastest growing IC product segments this year which are driving the semiconductor market
‘Kyoto Process’ enables wooden cars
Wood-based cars could be five times stronger than steel and five times lighter, say researchers at Kyoto University, Denso and DaikyoNishikawa. The scientists are working with plastics integrated with cellulose nanofibres – made by cracking down wood pulp into fibres measuring several hundredths of a micron. Under the so-called ‘Kyoto Process’, the wood fibres are melded into plastics while being .
Toyota, Ericssson, Intel, DoCoMo, Denso form auto big data consortium
Toyota, Intel, Denso, Ericsson and DoCoMo have formed the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium aimed at the processing of big data in connected car automotive applications. In 2025, the amount of data being sent from cars to the cloud will be ten Exabytes a month, says Toyota. The poblem is how to implement that without the car’s computer costing many times .
Silicon Labs unifies chips for car radios
Silicon Labs has announced a family of car radio receiver chips with a common software API, claiming designers can share R&D effort across numerous product lines, from low-cost, single-tuner AM/FM radios to high-performance systems with numerous tuners and antennas. Si4795x (branded Global Eagle, (right)), Si4796x and Si4797x (together branded Dual Eagle) are analogue AM/FM receivers and digital radio tuners, all with .
$5k electrified car on sale in China
GM and the China car manufacturer SAIC are selling a puny electrified car in China for $Five,300 after local and national subsidies are deducted. It is called the Baojun E100. Presently it is only on sale in Guanxi. Top speed is 62mph and the battery takes 7.Five hours to charge. The engine produces 39hp. Its wheelbase measures Five.25 feet and .
Electrified car figure is made from flax and sugar beet
Lina is an electrified car from TU/ecomotive of the University of Technology Eindhoven, whose figure is made from plant-based materials. The bio-based composite is claimed to have similar strength/weight to glass fibre, albeit it is based on flax fibre-reinforced sheets with a honeycomb core (see photo) made from (sugar beet-based in this case) PLA bio-plastic – the same plastic using .
Renesas SoC supports Automotive Grade Linux
Renesas starts volume shipment of its very first R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) incorporating Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)-based software.
Ministry of Transport guides against vehicle hackers
The Ministry of Transport issues cyber protection guidelines for internet-connected vehicles to protect them from being hacked.
Latest Comments
Don’t miss out on EW Newsletters
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
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