Integrity of a vehicle multi-ECU system

The author describes how the overall integrity of in-vehicle systems which contain electronic components is dependent on three main groups of components: the vehicle sensors, which may be either electronic in nature (e.g. temperature sensors) or electromechanical (e.g. throttle position); the actuators which will be largely electromechanical (e.g. hydraulic modulator); and the interconnected electronic control units (ECUs) around the vehicle. A typical structure incorporating these is shown