Highly dependable electronic systems for automotive controls

There are an increasing number of systems for various applications that require highly dependable operation, often in safety critical applications. One of the latest areas to experience significant growth in this requirement is the automobile. As electronics continues to become a larger part of the design of a new vehicle, systems are performing many more functions under the control of microprocessors and consequently mechanical and hydraulic systems are being replaced by ´by-wire´ configurations of sensors, microprocessors and actuators.