Trends in mechatronic drive systems for off-highway vehicles

Executive Viewpoints-Vehicle Development Insights from Industry: Off-Highway 2020 and Beyond-Trends in mechatronic drive systems for off-highway vehicles.

Electronic controllers first appeared on off-highway vehicles about 30 years ago, and one of the earliest functions that made use of them was the regulation of hydraulic valves on agricultural machinery. Many other applications in engine management, powertrain control, hydraulic pumps and valves, operator assistance systems, etc., followed that trend.

With the development and market introduction of CAN bus in the late 1980s, the door was opened for distributed intelligent systems. For several years mechatronic drive systems including actuators and sensors have been found on off-highway vehicles used in industries such as farming, construction, transportation, and industrial.