Watching for ways to stand ABOVE THE CROWD

Sensors monitor a broad range of parameters to help powertrain design teams add features and improve performance.

Whether design teams are responding to the demand for more features and functions or meeting regulatory requirements, they're using sensors to link digital controls to the analog world. Sensor counts are growing, though engineers are also honing strategies that let them displace components by using virtual sensing.

The factors driving growth vary widely. The availability of inexpensive natural gas, EPA Tier requirements, and a need for more diagnostics are some of the major factors.