Vehicular embedded system architecture

The dramatic advancement of IC technologies makes electronic devices be smaller and run faster, so they are able to implement more functions in a limited space. The car electronics play an increasingly important role in automobile industry, and the embedded system has already been extensively employed for improving the operation and performance of vehicles, such as safety, comfort, convenience, and energy consumption. In terms of electronic system, an automobile is a distributed embedded system, and the control messages to each electronic control unit (ECU), go through in-vehicle networks. An ECU is a computing system, integrated with a data acquisition module or an electromechanical driver. A variety of ECUs implement versatile functions, such as powertrain, antilock braking system (ABS), traction control system (TCS), adaptive cruise control (ACC), and electronic stability program (ESP), etc. Sensors provide measurements of specific vehicle parameters in a format suitable for the digital microcontroller, while actuators are electrically operated devices that drive electromechanical components. Human machine interface is the input and output of vehicle operations to users.