VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

JNANA SANGAMA, BELGAUM-590018, KARNATAKA

A Seminar Report
On
Autotronics
A Seminar report in partial fulfillment of the requirements for awarding the degree of
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering of
Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum

Submitted by

HARSHA .S

Department of Mechanical Engineering

RNS Institute of Technology

Channasandra, Uttarahalli-Kengeri main road, Bangalore-560 098
 RNS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Channasandra, Uttarahalli-Kengeri main road, Bangalore - 560 098

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certified that seminar on topic Autotronics has been successfully presented at
RNS Institute of Technology by Harsha. S, partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of degree in Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering of Visvesvaraya
Technological University, Belgaum, during academic year 2017-2018. It is certified that all
corrections/suggestions indicated for Internal Assessment have been incorporated in the
report deposited in the departmental library. The seminar report has been approved as it
satisfies the academic requirements in respect of seminar work for the said degree.

Dr . T Sreenivasan Dr . H . R . Yashovanth

Professor and Seminar Guide Prof. and HOD

Dr. M K Venkatesha

Principal
 DECLARATION

I, Harsha S , student of I semester BE, in Mechanical Engineering , RNS Institute

of Technology hereby declare that the seminar entitled " Autotronics "has been
carried out by me and submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the
degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering of Visvesvaraya
Technological University, Belgaum, during academic year 2017-2018.

Date : 28th August , 2017 Harsha . S

Place :Bangalore
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The satisfaction and euphoria that accompany the successful completion of any task would be
incomplete without the mention of the people who made it possible , whose constant guidance
and encouragement crowned the efforts with success .

I would like to profoundly thank Management of RNS Institute of Technology for providing
such a healthy environment for the successful completion of Seminar work.

I would like to express our thanks to the Director Dr. H N Shivashankar and the Principal
Dr. M K Venkatesha for their encouragement that motivated us for the successful completion
of Seminar work.

It gives us immense pleasure to thank Dr. T Srinivasan Professor and Head of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering for his constant support and encouragement.

Also , I would like to express my deepest sense of gratitude to my Seminar guide Mr. Darshan
K B Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, for his valuable suggestions and
guidance throughout the Seminar work

Last, but not the least, we would hereby acknowledge and thank our parents who have been a
source of inspiration and also instrumental in the successful completion of seminar work .

- Harsha .S
 Abstract

The objective of this seminar report is to study the automobile application of autotronics and
find its range of utilization and also to study how it will improve the performance of the vehicle.
This report briefly describes a few automobile applications of autotronics mainly in following
domains:

 Braking system
 Engine (fuel intake)
 Steering system
 Suspension system
 Transmission system

Autotronics is the blend of Automobile + Electronics. The advanced development of vehicles in

the last few years was based mainly on electrical and electronic componentsand modules. There
is no end in sight to this development. All main functional areas are strongly influenced by the
field of electronics or even made possible by it: e.g. anti-lock brake systems, low emission and
reduced fuel consumption through electronic motor management systems, anti-theft and
electronic diagnosis systems.Analysts estimate that more than 80 percent of all automotive
innovation now stems from electronics.

For long-haul serial communication between various automotive subsystems such as anti-lock
brakes, airbag deployment, engine Control, and GPS navigation, the CAN, LIN, and MOST
protocols are the most popular serial buses implemented in today’s vehicles.

By definition, automotive Electronic systems are embedded mixed-signal systems because they
feature multiple analog sensors and analog motor controls under digital control. For years,
traditional oscilloscopes have been the primary tool-of choice among automotive electronic
system design engineers.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Introduction 1-2

 Brief on the project 1
 Need 2

Chapter 2 Braking system 3-4

 Endurance brake integration 3

 Brake lining wear control 4

 Advantages of EBS 4

Chapter 3 Engine electronics 5

Chapter 4 Transmission electronics 6

Chapter 5 Chassis electronics 6-7

 Anti-lock braking system 6
 Traction control system 6
 Electronic Brake Distribution 7
 Electronic Stability Program 7

Chapter 7 Passive safety 7-8

 Air Bags 7
 Hill descent control 8
 Emergency brake assist system 8

Chapter 8 Driver assistance 8-9

 Lane assist system 8
 Blind spot detection 9
 Adaptive cruise control system 9

Chapter 9 Passenger comfort 9

 Automatic wipers 9
Chapter 10 Infotainment systems 10
 Navigation system 10
 Vehicle audio 10
 Information access 10

Chapter 11 Electronic Integrated Cockpit systems 11

Chapter 12 Functional safety requirements 11

Chapter 13 Steering system 11-13

 Power steering 12
 Speed sensitive steering 13

Chapter 14 Suspension system 13

Chapter 15 Conclusions 14
 Introduction

Automotive electronics are

electronic systems used in
road vehicles, such as: engine
management, ignition, radio,
carputers, telematics, in-car
entertainment systems and others. Electronic systems have become an increasingly large
component of the cost of an automobile, from only around 1% of its value in 1950 to around
30% in 2010.
The earliest electronics systems available as factory installations were vacuum tube car radios,
starting in the early 1930's. The development of semiconductors after WWII greatly expanded
the use of electronics in automobiles, with solid-state diodes making the automotive alternator
the standard after about 1960, and the first transistorized ignition systems appearing about 1955.
The availability of microprocessors after about 1974 made another range of automotive
applications economically feasible. In 1978 the Cadillac Seville introduced a "trip computer"
based on a 6802 microprocessor. Electronically-controlled ignition and fuel injection systems
allowed automotive designers to achieve vehicles meeting requirements for fuel economy and
lower emissions, while still maintaining high levels of performance and convenience for
drivers. Today's automobiles contain a dozen or more processors, in functions such as engine
management, transmission control, climate control, antilock braking, passive safety systems,
navigation, and other functions.
Modern electric cars rely on power electronics for the main propulsion motor control, as well as
managing the battery system. Future autonomous cars will rely on powerful computer systems,
an array of sensors, networking, and satellite navigation, all of which will require electronics.

Need:

To understand the phenomenal growth of the automotive electronics in Asia Pacific, we first
need to understand the evolution of this industry on a global front. To improve efficiency of
system communication and to reduce cost, all of today’s automotive designs employ a variety
of serial bus communication protocols. The I 2C and SPI protocols are most often used for chip-
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to-chip communication within electronic control units (ECUs). For long-haul serial
communication between various automotive subsystems such as anti-lock brakes, airbag
deployment, engine Control, and GPS navigation, the CAN, LIN, and MOST protocols are the
most popular serial buses implemented in today’s vehicles.

By definition, automotive Electronic systems are embedded mixed-signal systems because

they feature multiple analog sensors and analog motor controls under digital control. For
years, traditional oscilloscopes have been the primary tool-of choice among automotive
electronic system design engineers to measure the quality of both analog and digital signals.
But traditional analog and digital oscilloscopes have many limitations, including lack of
complex serial triggering and limited input channels of acquisition. However, a new class of
measurement tools called mixed signal oscilloscopes.

Braking System:
The demands made on braking systems are increasing steadily. Therefore, the development
and introduction of an electronic braking system (EBS) is a logical step. EBS increases traffic
safety through reduced stopping distance and improved brake stability. The full diagnosis and
surveillance functions as well as the display of brake Lining wear offer an effective fleet
logistics. By actuating the brake pedal the driver defines the deceleration request. The EBS
ECU transmits this input electronically To all braking system components.

The braking system's shorter response times provide a more comfortable and finely tuned
braking feeling, independent of the vehicle’s load situation. EBS provides the basis for the
integration of further safety systems like e.g. WABCO ESC (Electronic Stability Control). ESC is a
system which independently intervenes in critical driving situations and adjusts engine and

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brake control. Within physical limits, ESC protect s vehicles from rollover, skidding, spinning
and jack-knifing.

The EBS contains the following renowned functions:

Endurance brake integration

The braking system has an integrated brake management function which always regulates the
endurance brake when the brake pedal is activated based on an optimum delay of the vehicle.
Optimum service brake wear is attained through the distribution of endurance and service brake.
This function is an important part of delay control. The integration of endurance brake can be
deactivated via the switch.
.
Brake lining wear control
When the brake is applied partially, the braking pressure distribution is adjusted,
notwithstanding the available wear signals, i.e. the detected wear difference. The pressure on
the wheel brakes with more lining wear is reduced slightly, whereas the pressure on the wheel
brakes with less lining wear is increased adequately, so that there is no change in the overall
braking rate required by the driver.

Advantages of EBS

EBS reduces service costs considerably. -The electronic braking system has a lot of functions.
The aim is to maximize braking safety at reduced costs, for instance by optimizing wheel brake
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lining wear. - Setting pressure, according to wear criteria, to the front and rear axle results in
uniform lining wear. Overall wear is minimized by making the load on all wheel brakes
uniform. Moreover, servicing and lining replacement are done at the same time. This reduces
down-time costs.
Depending on the vehicle utilization profile and other factors, this also means considerable
savings for the vehicle user. In terms of wheel brake service costs alone, a firsthand owner will
save more money with an electronically braked bus than with a vehicle with a conventional
braking system.
Automatic Traction Control (ATC) is integrated in EBS. EBS creates axle wise brake wear
harmonization by performing slight braking pressure transfers from the axle with a higher
degree of wear to the one with less wear. This promotes more even brake wear and increases
vehicle operational time. In addition, non-wearing Brake control (retarder and engine brake) is
integrated in the service brake application via the EBS brake management, ensuring a low
overall brake wear . It is only used in case of malfunction in the electric section of the system.
During trailer operation, automatic truck-trailer compatibility is provided. Truck-trailer
compatibility control ensures that each vehicle unit brakes according to its individual weight.
This results in an optimal coupling force between towing vehicle and trailer.

Engine electronics
Automotive engine electronics originated from the need to control engines. The first electronic
pieces were used to control engine functions and were referred to as engine control units (ECU).
As electronic controls began to be used for more automotive applications, the acronym ECU
took on the more general meaning of "electronic control unit", and then specific ECU's were
developed. Now, ECU's are modular. Two types include engine control modules (ECM) or
transmission control modules (TCM).
A modern car may have up to 100 ECU's and a commercial vehicle up to 40.

Automotive electronics or
automotive embedded systems

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are distributed systems, and according to different domains in the automotive field, they can be
classified into:
1. Engine electronics
2. Transmission electronics
3. Chassis electronics
4. Active safety
5. Driver assistance
6. Passenger comfort
7. Entertainment systems
8. Electronic Integrated Cockpit systems
One of the most demanding electronic parts of an automobile is the engine control unit. Engine
controls demand one of the highest real time deadlines, as the engine itself is a very fast and
complex part of the automobile. Of all the electronics in any car the computing power of the
engine control unit is the highest, typically a 32-bit processor.
Transmission electronics
These control the transmission system, mainly the shifting of the gears for better shift comfort
and to lower torque interrupt while shifting. Automatic transmissions use controls for their
operation, and also many semi-automatic transmissions having a fully automatic clutch or a
semi-auto clutch (declutching only). The engine control unit and the transmission control
exchange messages, sensor signals and control signals for their operation.

Chassis electronics
The chassis system has lot of sub-systems which monitor various parameters and are actively
controlled:
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Anti-lock braking system (ABS):

The control logic determines from the wheel rotation speed whether one or more wheels can be
blocked and decides whether to decrease, maintain, or increase the braking pressure on it.

Traction control system (TCS)

Just like in the ABS function, while the vehicle is in motion, the electronic control system
determines whether the wheels are in the stable area of the μ slip curve. In case of wheel-spin,
the engine output and/or driving axle wheel braking is adjusted by the axle modulator via the
CAN bus and engine control system.
Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
Electronic brake force distribution (EBD or EBFD) or electronic brake force limitation (EBL) is
an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each
of a vehicle's wheels, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc. Always coupled with anti-
lock braking systems (ABS), EBD can apply more or less braking pressure to each wheel in
order to maximize stopping power whilst maintaining vehicular control
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or
dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's
stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding). When ESC detects loss of
steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the
driver intends to go.
Passive safety
These systems are always ready to act when there is a collision in progress or to prevent it when
it senses a dangerous situation:
Air bags
An airbag is a type of vehicle safety device and is an occupant restraint system. The airbag
module is designed to inflate extremely rapidly then quickly deflate during a collision or impact
with a surface or a rapid sudden deceleration. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric
bag, inflation module and impact sensor. The purpose of the airbag is to provide the occupants
a soft cushioning and restraint during a crash event to prevent any impact or impact-caused
injuries between the flailing occupant and the interior of the vehicle.

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Hill descent control
Hill Descent Control (HDC) allows a smooth and controlled hill descent in rough terrain
without the driver needing to touch the brake pedal. When on, the vehicle will descend using
the ABS brake system to control each wheel's speed. If the vehicle accelerates without driver
input, the system will automatically apply the brakes to slow down to the desired vehicle
speed. Cruise control buttons can adjust the speed to a comfortable level. Applying pressure
to the accelerator or brake pedal will override the HDC system when the driver requires.
Emergency brake assist system
Emergency brake assist (EBA) or Brake Assist (BA or BAS) is a generic term for an automobile
braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency. The first application was
developed jointly by Daimler-Benz and TRW/LucasVarity. Research conducted in 1992 at the
Mercedes-Benz driving simulator in Berlin revealed that more than 90% of drivers fail to brake
with enough force when faced with an emergency.

Driver assistance
Lane assist system
In road-transport terminology, a lane departure warning system is a mechanism designed to
warn the driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane (unless a turn signal is on in
that direction) on freeways and arterial roads.

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Blind spot detection
The blind spot monitor is a vehicle-based sensor device that detects other vehicles located to
the driver’s side and rear. Warnings can be visual, audible, vibrating, or tactile
Adaptive cruise control system
Autonomous cruise control (ACC; also called adaptive cruise control, radar cruise control,
traffic-aware cruise control or dynamic radar cruise control) is an optional cruise control
system for road vehicles that automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe
distance from vehicles ahead.

Passenger comfort
Automatic wipers
A windscreen wiper or windshield wiper is a device used to remove rain, snow, ice and debris
from a windscreen or windshield. Almost all motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, train
locomotives, watercraft with a cabin and some aircraft, are equipped with such wipers, which
are usually a legal requirement.

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Infotainment systems
Navigation system
An automotive navigation system is part of the automobile controls or a third party add-on
used to find direction in an automobile. It typically uses a satellite navigation device to get its
position data which is then correlated to a position on a road. When directions are needed
routing can be calculated. On the fly traffic information can be used to adjust the route.
Vehicle audio
Vehicle audio is equipment installed in a car or other vehicle to provide in-car entertainment
and information for the vehicle occupants. Until the 1950s it consisted of a simple AM radio.

Information access
Information access is the freedom or ability to identify, obtain and make use of data or
information effectively. There are various research efforts in information access which

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objective is to simplify and make it more effective for human users to access and further
process large and unwieldy amounts of data and information.

All of the above systems forms an infotainment system. Developmental methods for these
systems vary according to each manufacturer. Different tools are used for both hardware and
software development.

Electronic Integrated Cockpit systems

These are new generation hybrid ECUs that combine the functionalities of multiple ECUs of
Infotainment Head Unit, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Instrument Cluster,
Rear Camera/Parking Assist, Surround View Systems etc. This saves on cost of electronics as
well as mechanical/physical parts like interconnects across ECUs etc. There is also a more
centralized control so data can be seamlessly exchanged between the systems.
There are of course challenges too. Given the complexity of this hybrid system, a lot more rigor
is needed to validate the system for robustness, safety and security. For example, if the
infotainment system's application which could be running an open source Android OS is
breached, there could be possibility of hackers to take control of the car remotely and
potentially misuse it for anti social activities. Typically so, usage of a hardware software
enabled hypervisors are used to virtualize and create separate trust and safety zones that are
immune to each other's failures or breaches. Lot of work is happening in this area and
potentially will have such systems soon if not already.
Functional safety requirements
In order to minimize the risk of dangerous failures, safety related electronic systems have to be
developed following the applicable product liability requirements. Disregard for, or inadequate
application of these standards can lead to not only personal injuries, but also severe legal and
economic consequences such as product cancellations or recalls.
The IEC 61508 standard, generally applicable to electrical/electronic/programmable safety-
related products, is only partially adequate for automotive-development requirements.
Consequently, for the automotive industry, this standard is replaced by the existing ISO 26262,
currently released as a Final Draft International Standard (FDIS). ISO/DIS 26262 describes the
entire product life-cycle of safety related electrical/electronic systems for road vehicles. It has
been published as an international standard in its final version in November 2011. The
implementation of this new standard will result in modifications and various innovations in the
automobile electronics development process, as it covers the complete product life-cycle from
the concept phase until its decommissioning.

Steering system
Steering is the collection of components, linkages, etc. which allows any vehicle (car,
motorcycle, bicycle) to follow the desired course. An exception is the case of rail transport by
which rail tracks combined together with railroad switches (and also known as 'points' in
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British English) provide the steering function. The primary purpose of the steering system is to
allow the driver to guide the vehicle.

The most conventional steering arrangement is to turn the front wheels using a hand–
operated steering wheel which is positioned in front of the driver, via the steering column,
which may contain universal joints (which may also be part of the collapsible steering column
design), to allow it to deviate somewhat from a straight line. Other arrangements are
sometimes found on different types of vehicles, for example, a tiller or rear–wheel steering.
Tracked vehicles such as bulldozers and tanks usually employ differential steering — that is,
the tracks are made to move at different speeds or even in opposite directions, using clutches
and brakes, to bring about a change of course or direction.

Power steering

Power steering helps the driver of a vehicle to steer by directing some of its power to assist in
swiveling the steered road wheels about their steering axes. As vehicles have become heavier
and switched to front wheel drive, particularly using negative offset geometry, along with
increases in tire width and diameter, the effort needed to turn the wheels about their steering
axis has increased, often to the point where major physical exertion would be needed were it not
for power assistance.

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Speed sensitive steering

An outgrowth of power steering is speed sensitive steering, where the steering is heavily
assisted at low speed and lightly assisted at high speed. Auto makers perceive that motorists
might need to make large steering inputs while maneuvering for parking, but not while
traveling at high speed.

Suspension system

Suspension is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects
a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two.[1] Suspension systems
must support both roadholding/handling and ride quality,[2] which are at odds with each other.
The tuning of suspensions involves finding the right compromise. It is important for the
suspension to keep the road wheel in contact with the road surface as much as possible,
because all the road or ground forces acting on the vehicle do so through the contact patches
of the tires.

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Conclusions:
A modern car may have up to 100 electronic control units and a commercial vehicle up to 40.
With brilliant minds working in the auto industry, there are limitless possibilities to what the
manufacturers will include in their products in the coming years. If we look to the technology
and electronics that are being used in the military vehicles, we can often predict the services
that will be in civilian vehicles in the near future. This tends to be a trend in the automobile
industry and will likely continue as people always want and expect more from their cars.

References
 https://www.statista.com/statistics/277931/automotive-electronics-cost-as-a-share-of-total-
car-cost-worldwide/ Automotive electronics cost as a share of total car cost, retrieved July 11,
2017

 http://www.embedded.com/electronics-blogs/significant-bits/4024611/Motoring-with-
microprocessors Motoring with microprocessors, retrieved July 11, 2017

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