Designs on electronic

On-chip memories and new architectures change control functions.

As equipment designers embrace electronic controls, applying them to more and more functions, they are fine-tuning designs to take advantage of the continual advances in semiconductors. Engineers will soon see a turning point in memory capacities, and they are also exploring changes in architectures.

These changes come as the role of electronic controls in off-highway equipment is expanding exponentially. Just a few years ago, many vehicles had only a few microcontrollers. But the number of microcontrollers in equipment has grown in proportion to the increased acceptance of both electronically controlled engines and electrohydraulics.