The continuously increasing performance of modern automotive
microelectronics is leading to ever more complex open and
closed-loop control functions. Rigid mechanical connections a
broken down and electronics applied to make them controllable.
Among the examples are camshaft control, or future systems for
variable valve-lift control. In addition, the individual systems in
the vehicle, such as engine management, transmission-shift control,
and ABSR will be networked with one another. The result is a system
alliance which communicates through a car-wide web.
The major challenge posed by this development in the future,
lies in still being able to reliably control the complexity of the
system alliance from the point of view of reliability and safety.
This means that the suitable sensor and actuator basis, together
with an architecture having fixed configuration rulings and
matching development methods, are indispensable. The target is to
apply modern technologies in order to achieve a modular functional
structure in which the individual modules are for the most part
decoupled from each other by means of suitable interfaces.
The advantages which thereby result for the emergence of new
products, are further quality improvements due to the possibilities
of re-use, and higher efficiency due to the distributed development
of the individual function modules.
This contribution introduces the CARTRONIC concept developed by
Bosch. It represents an answer to these challenges.