Most of these technologies are still in a state of flux. A looming question is whether the products would be standard or proprietary. I think there is a compelling need for manufacturers to embrace standardization to enable integration of producvarioussources. However, the current trend is towards proprietary systems. The industry seems to be reluctant to bear the initial costs that will be incurred in the first stages of standardization. I am glad to note that some companies, notably Mercedes and Toyota, have started working towards standardization.
DCP (Digitally Controlled Power), which is an integration of microcontrollers, DSPs, ASICs and software algorithms for system monitoring, internal and external communications, and control of power systems, is another area altering automotive industry. DCP promises to bring flexibility and programmability to power supplies. The rise in average power consumption and the delayed adoption of 42V electrical bus for cars is forcing auto makers to move towards sophisticated power management systems such as DCP. With hybrid and electric vehicles gaining more popularity, DCP penetration will rise.
From $70.3 billion in 2003, automotive electronics revenue will rise to $113.4 billion in 2008, with a CAGR of 8.3 percent between 2002 and 2008, according to iSuppli. An interesting emerging area in automotive electronics is automotive safety systems based on radar, lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) and optical devices. The new technologies are being used in pre-crash safety systems. These systems envisage a collision being detected before it occurs, and do things to prepare for the impact: deploying airbags where passengers are sitting, tightening seat belts, etc. These technologies can also detect objects in a driver’s “blind spot” sufficiently in time to prevent possible catastrophe. There is a system under design that can even prevent a collision by deflecting possibly colliding vehicles through powerful magnetic forces that come into play only when a collision is imminent.
