The importance of sensors and actuators in automotive electronics cannot be overemphasized. The ability to sense and measure automotive parameters accurately is key to any automotive electronics application, as is the ability to initiate control actions accurately in response to commands. Chapter 24.1 contains a wealth of information on sensors and actuators and their applications in cars.

Major automotive on-board systems are discussed in Chap. 24.2. These systems include engine, transmission, cruise, braking, traction, stability, suspension, and steering control systems. Also presented is information on object detection, collision warning, collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control. Intelligent transportation systems are discussed in Chap. 24.3.

It should be noted that the information presented in this section is based principally on condensations of chapters in the book, Automotive Electronics, 2nd ed., Ronald K. Jurgen (ed.), McGraw-Hill, 1999. Credit to individuals who provided the original material for that book is given where appropriate in the following three chapters. R.J.

In This Section:

INTRODUCTION

Automotive sensors and actuators are key to all automotive electronic control systems. Sensors, which send electric signals proportional to the parameters they measure to a car s control systems, are grouped herein by the parameters they sense (pressure, force, position, flow, and the like). Actuators, which take action upon receiving signals from the car s control systems, are classified as either electromechanical or electrical.