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Automotive Electronics: The `Enabler' of Future Vehicle Options

18 February 2000

Automotive Electronics: The `Enabler' of Future Vehicle Options; Topic Addressed at SAE 2000 World Congress

    WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 18 -- What types of vehicle options
will consumers demand in the next century?  While no one is quite sure, one
thing is certain -- consumers will want entertainment features that are easy
to operate and affordable, and automotive electronics will enable this to
happen.
    In "A Vision of the Future of Automotive Electronics," Daniel K. Ward and
Harold L. Fields of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, address these issues in
a paper presented at SAE 2000 World Congress.
    Ward and Fields say electronic technology will enable the vast majority of
automotive improvements desired by consumers.  While this is great news for
the auto electronics industry, they say the real challenge is to produce
electronic systems that are not only desirable, but also marketable and able
to be manufactured.
    In the paper, they stress the importance of a clear visioning process to
identify and develop innovative products that consumers will actually want to
buy.  They also share Delphi Automotive Systems' list of  "next century
winners" such as X-by-Wire Control Systems, Collision Avoidance, and Advanced
Energy Systems.
    -- X-by-wire systems will help eliminate the need for excessive
       maintenance over the life of a vehicle.  X-by-wire systems, which can
       control steering, throttle, braking and suspension, eliminate
       mechanical links from driver's controls to the control actuator.  By
       eliminating mechanical links, X-by-wire systems reduce raw material
       and labor costs in the manufacturing process.  They also help improve
       fuel efficiency because vehicles can be made lighter.
    -- Collision avoidance systems inform drivers of impending danger such as
       a possible crash or a dangerous out-of-control situation.  Consisting
       of radar and vision sensors, warning displays, brake, throttle,
       steering control systems (X-by-wire), and processors and software,
       collision avoidance systems could eventually control the vehicle,
       making corrective action to advert danger.
    -- Advanced energy systems provide power and range required by the highly
       automated vehicles of the future.  To power new options such as in-car
       computing, new energy generation/storage and control systems are
       needed.  In addition, as engines move toward hybrid and fully electric
       designs, new motors/generators, converters/inverters and storage
       batteries must be developed.

    To attend SAE 2000 World Congress, the world's largest showcase of
automotive engineering technologies, visit http://www.sae.org or call 1-877-SAE-CONG
(723-2664); outside the U.S. and Canada, 1-724-772-4027.  Or experience the
event on-line at http://www.sae.org.