Distributed on-board systems using computer networks

Vehicle technology is developing towards more advanced on-board systems and functions integration. Several reasons motivate this; synergy effects in better over-all performance can be gained when subsystems co-operate in a feasible fashion, costs and weight can be reduced by increasing the functionality per hardware device. Another trend is the introduction of more electronics and software. In particular this development is promoted by the installation of so called “smart” subsystems, often in the form of actuators and sensors containing advanced processing capacity and software functionality. Since these need to communicate with other on-board units the need to introduce data buses is immediate and leads to distributed on-board systems based on computer networks. Both these trends go very well hand in hand. The integration of distributed systems requires exchange of common and global information; computer networks are one means to realise this. The paper discusses these development trends in vehicle technology. Future possibilities, but also new questions and challenges are pointed out. As a case study, the intelligent cruise control system, ICC, and its extensions, as developed by Volvo is used