Some of the biggest advances in automotive technology in the past 30 years have come in the area of safety. Spurred by improvements in microprocessor speed, miniaturization, and software development, the automobile continues to evolve. In addition to telemetric based services like OnStar, digital satellite radio and in-car e-mail, recent advances in braking technology have led to shorter stopping distances and increased control while driving in inclement conditions. All these developments have been possible because a certain device, the ECU, was integrated into the automobiles. An Electronic Control Unit or ECU (also known as an "engine management system") is an electronic device, basically a computer, in an internal combustion engine that reads several sensors in the engine and uses the information to control the fuel injection and ignition systems of the engine. This approach allows an engine's operation to be controlled in great detail, allowing greater fuel efficiency, better power and responsiveness, and much lower pollution levels than earlier generations of engines. Because the ECU is dealing with actual measured engine performance from millisecond to millisecond, it can compensate for many variables that traditional systems cannot. Modern ECUs use a microprocessor which can process the inputs from the engine sensors in real time. An electronic control unit comprises both hardware and software. The hardware consists of electronic components on a printed circuit board (PCB). The main component on this circuit board is a micro-controller chip (CPU). The software is stored in the microcontroller or other similar chips on the PCB, typically in Flash-Memory or EPROM's so that the CPU can be re-programmed by uploading upda... ... middle of paper ... ... Many factors affect the ideal level of slip, wet / dry conditions, speed of the vehicle, lateral g-force (cornering), tire compound, tire pressures etc. Ideally the driver should be able to dial in a base level of slip that takes into account weather and tires, and the system should adjust automatically for speed of the vehicle and lateral g-force. When cornering, the system reduces the amount of slip available, to prevent lateral slip from occurring, and varies this amount depending on the speed of the vehicle. At high speed, low grip situations, as seen this slip should be around 1-2% to maintain forward momentum, and at low speed high grip situations, this can be much higher. Sources: Traction Control, By Scott Memmer and http://www.racelogic.co.uk/techtrac.htm http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/science_fair_projects_encyclopedia/Electronic_control_unit
Engine output is measured in two ways. The first is a direct measurement of engine output: Torque. Torque is defined as the amount of mass that can be lifted a certain distance from the center of rotation. Torque is what accelerates a car.
Tire manufacturers sometimes publish a coefficient of rolling friction (CRF) for their tires. You can use this number to calculate how much force it takes to push a tire down the road. The CRF has nothing to do with how much traction the tire has; it is used to calculate the amount of drag or rolling resistance caused by the tires. The CRF is just like any other coefficient of friction: The force required to overcome the friction is equal to the CRF multiplied by the weight on the tire. This table lists typical CRFs for several different types of wheels.
Chain length is a function of the number of teeth of the drive and driven sprockets as well as the center-to-center distance.
Imagine that your car could detect hazardous roads before you could sense it? A feature that provides this type of protective driving exists within European cars. This valuable safety feature that is offered in European cars i...
GM is already producing the technology catering to the autonomous driving system in instalments as each new car produced, displays a prototype of a sophisticated “assisted driving” feature. Drivers of the Cadillac ATS sedan, a mid-sized car with a driver assistance, can now leave it to drive itself and maintain a safe distance in steady traffic. It can also measure a parking space and steer itself into it, read traffic signals, and warn the driver if he breaks the speed limit. Emergency brakes that overrule the driver’s actions in the case of an accident, add to special features that will be seen in automatic cars.
The 1985-1988 TPI system utilized the following sensors and devices to control the engine: Mass Air Flow Sensor and Module, Manifold Air Temperature Sensor, Coolant Temperature Sensor, Oxygen Sensor, Throttle Position Sensor, Cold Start Switch, Cold Start Injector, Fuel Injectors, Idle Air Control Valve, Vehicle Speed Sensor, Electronic Spark Timing Sensor and Module, and Knock Sensor.
Driving has been around for just over 100 years, but the first thoughts of physics has been around since 400 BC (to be edited ). Driving safety implications have been discussed and improved over the decades as technology begins to leap ahead of its time. According to physician; Newton, there are three laws of motion that is now used in everyday life to try and help prevent deaths due to driving implications. The first law is “An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon on by an unbalanced force.” The object, or Car is in motion continues its motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. The second law is “Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass.” While the third Law of Motion is : “ For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.This means that for every force there is a reaction force that is equal in size, but opposite in direction.”
This paper is a look at the physics behind car racing. We look look at how we can use physics to select tires, how physics can help predict how much traction we will have, how physics helps modern cars get there extreme speed, how physics lets us predict the power of an engine, and how physics can even help the driver find the quickest way around the track.
Before the advent of the automobile, buggies were typically propelled by one or more horses. Even with the first automobiles there was a need for a drive system, though, since those horses were no longer there. One thing that has remained common to every car is a motor and transmission system of some sort, but what varies greatly between cars is what is between the transmission and the wheels, also known as the drive train. There are many different styles of drive trains, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Installed systems inside vehicles have become a process of differentiation to understand customers looking for cars with more than just the ability to transport people from one point to another. Introducing of information systems inside vehicles has enabled manufacturers to provide their customers with extra functionality, by means of improving the desirability of the the product towards satisfying customers and at the same time enabling new business style and models through the supplying of efficient services to customers. And this changes the existence of competition in the automobile industry
These technologies have made driving an easier and enjoyable experience, as well as reducing our chances of getting into accidents. The research presented in the following article “Driven to Distraction [in car technology]” provided surprising conclusions. Professor John D. Lee from the University of Iowa states the following issue: “Technology is changing very quickly. Many of these things coming into the car were not designed to be used in it. ”(Edwards 8).
The average driver doesn’t think about what keeps their car moving or what keeps them on the road, but that’s because they don’t have to. The average driver doesn’t have to worry about having enough downforce to keep them on the road or if they will reach the adhesive limit of their car’s tires around a turn. These are the things are the car designers, professional drivers, racing pit crews, serious sports car owners, and physicist think about. Physics are an important part of every sports and racing car design. The stylish curves and ground effects on sports cars are usually there not just for form but function as well allowing you to go speeds over 140 mph in most serious sports cars and remain on the road and in reasonable control.
Many feel that driverless cars are the future of the automobile industry. When someone hears “Robot cars hitting the road soon” is that a guarantee that the roads will still remain safe? With the rapid growth of technology through the centuries, more specifically computer software, the issue arises of whether or not roads and other drivers will be safe behind the wheel. Currently there is very little knowledge on how driverless cars will be engineered, which brings concerns to peoples eyes. Subsequently, driverless cars can be prone to hacking, which leads to out of control situations for drivers behind the wheel.
Road safety is one of the most important aspects of daily living. Our vehicle is our main transportation from one place to another. The number of car and motorcycle accidents seem to be increasing because of the many distractions, the lack of safety measures and judgment to road conditions and weather. Not being cautious increases the chances of not only injuring ourselves but hurting others as well. On the road, you see people talking on their cell phones or texting, eating, putting makeup on, changing the radio station, reading or using your GPS while driving. These are all distractions that endanger drivers, passengers and bystanders safety. Safe driving involves off-road precautionary measures such as making sure tires are properly inflated, testing windshield wipers, getting regular oil changes and tune-ups and adjusting the mirrors. All of these actions can help prevent an accident. Unfortunately, not all of us decide to wear our seat belts when driving or turn signal ligh...
Electrical engineering deals with electricity, electro-magnetism and electronics. It also covers power, control systems, telecommunications and signal processing. These engineers are usually concerned with large-scale electrical systems such as motor control and power transmission, as well as utilizing electricity to transmit energy. Electrical engineers may work on a diverse range of technologies, from the design of household appliances, lighting