Rethinking intelligence

Automakers explore new ways to spread computing around the vehicle, with an eye toward centralized architectures.

New electronic functions have typically emerged with dedicated control modules, but electronic system designers are now trying to integrate these intelligent functions into fewer electronic control units. However, going to this sort of centralized architecture poses many challenges.

The desire to simplify electronic systems by leveraging the increasing power of microprocessors is a strong driving force behind the trend to move discrete functions into a powerful centralized system. Automakers are straightforward about their goals.