ELECTRICITY BUILDS FOR CONVERGENCE 2000

The automotive and electronics worlds are meshing to an ever-greater extent. Convergence 2000 provides a forum in which engineers and related professionals who populate those worlds come together to explore just how “wired” the vehicle can become.

The “dramatic growth” of the Convergence conference and exposition is evidence that “automotive electronics continues to advance at a rapid pace, specifically in the areas of passenger convenience and safety,” said Robert Oswald, Chairman, President, and CEO of Robert Bosch Corp. “Both automotive manufacturers and suppliers are focused on using electronics for applications such as infotronics, occupant protection, and 42-volt power generation as consumers demand more sophisticated systems within their vehicles.”

Slated for Oct. 16-18, Convergence has grown so large that organizers have relocated it from the Dearborn Hyatt to the more spacious Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. “We've more than doubled the number of exhibitors,” said Andrew Brown, Jr., Director of Engineering for Delphi Automotive Systems. He is serving as conference Vice Chairman and Exhibits Chairman for Convergence 2000, which is sponsored by the Convergence Transportation Electronics Association, SAE, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.