SEMINAR

on
Electronically Controlled
Features in Automobile

Delivered By:-
Sumeet Kumar Mahapatra
7th Sem, B. Tech.
Regd. No.- 1601106491
Dept. Of Instrumentation &
Electronics Engineering
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 FLOW OF TALK:
1.Introduction
2.Air Bags
3.Anti Locking Braking System
4.Adaptive Cruise Control
5. Wiper Control
6.Conclusion
7.References

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 INTRODUCTION

Mechanical systems in automobiles have largely been replaced by electronic systems. Today, the
automobile industry is making great use of embedded systems. Ranging from wiper controls to
complex anti-lock brake controls and air bags, embedded systems have gained overall control of
automobiles.

Automobiles that are built around microcontrollers, digital signal processors or both processors are
commonly called electronic control units(ECU). Many luxury vehicles have come up with a large
number of embedded controllers. The first embedded system based automobile, Volkswagen came
in 1968.

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• An embedded system is a computer system with a dedicated function
within a large mechanical or electrical system, often with real-time
computing constraints. Key characteristics of an embedded system are:

1. Sophisticated functionality

2. Real-time operation

3. Low manufacturing cost

4. Low power

• The number of computer-based functions embedded in vehicles has

increased significantly in the past two decades.
 Can Bus Interface
• CAN(controller area network) is a hardware and software communication protocol.
• A CAN bus enables microcontrollers in a car to talk to each other without the need for a
network host. A typical automobile today has dozens of microcontrollers that communicate
with each other via various CAN buses.

Engine Control
Unit (ECU)

CAN Buses

Air Bags Control Wiper Control

ABS Node ACC Node
Node Node

Figure 1- Embedded system in automobile 5

Figure 2 -Various Electronically Controlled Features in a Car
Source – Embitel – Automotive Control Unit in car
 AIR BAG SENSOR

• The objective of the airbag, which is deployed when the vehicle suddenly decelerates (as in
a collision), is to prevent the vehicle occupants from hitting any rigid surfaces and cushion
the forces on their heads and upper or lower bodies.

• Airbags are typically made of nylon fabric and are hidden behind panels at various locations
in the vehicle, including the steering wheel.

Figure 4 Air Bag Sensor Position in Car [1] 7

● The sensor employed in air bag sensor is a accelerometer type sensor, that computes the
deceleration before accident.
● When the deceleration exceeds beyond a certain threshold, A signal from the sensor is sent to
a heating element.
● Upon receiving the signal , the heating element starts heating and heating of this element
causes the chemical reaction and releases nitrogen gas, which fills the entire air bag
completely.
● The air bags open at more than 300 km/h and the entire process is completed in less than 30
milliseconds

Figure 5 – Working of air

bag sensor [1] 8
 ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM

The antilock braking system is designed to prevent wheels locking or skidding, no matter
how hard brakes are applied, or how slippery the road surface.

The primary components of the ABS braking

system are:
• Electronic control unit (ECU)
• Hydraulic control unit or modulator
• Wheel sensor unit

Figure 6- Wheel sensor unit

Source – Bosch Mobility
Solution-ABS
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WORKING OF ABS

Figure 7- ABS Setup

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● Typically ABS includes a central electronic control unit (ECU), four wheel speed sensors, and at
least two hydraulic valves within the brake hydraulics. The ECU constantly monitors the rotational
speed of each wheel; if it detects the wheel rotating significantly slower than the speed of the
vehicle, a condition indicative of impending wheel lock, it actuates the valves to reduce hydraulic
pressure to the brake at the affected wheel, thus reducing the braking force on that wheel; the
wheel then turns faster.

● Conversely, if the ECU detects a wheel turning significantly faster than the others, brake hydraulic
pressure to the wheel is increased so the braking force is reapplied, slowing down the wheel.
This process is repeated continuously and can be detected by the driver via brake pedal
pulsation. Some anti-lock systems can apply or release braking pressure 15 times per second.

● ABS equipment may also be used to implement a traction control system (TCS) on acceleration
of the vehicle. If, when accelerating, the tire loses traction, the ABS controller can detect the
situation and take suitable action so that traction is regained. 

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 ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
● Adaptive cruise control is an available cruise control system for road vehicles that automatically
adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead.
● ACC can avoid rear-end collisions that occur due to insufficient distance to the vehicle ahead, it
also improves the vehicle efficiency by 10%.
● A radar sensor is usually at the core of the adaptive cruise control (ACC), along with cameras.
Installed at the front of the vehicle, the system permanently monitors the road ahead. As long as
the road ahead is clear, ACC maintains the speed set by the driver. If the system spots a slower
vehicle within its detection range, it gently reduces speed by releasing the accelerator or actively
engaging the brake control system. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or changes lanes, the ACC
automatically accelerates to the driver’s desired speed.

Figure 8- Adaptive cruise control in action [4] 12

 WORKING OF ACC

The signal from the Radar is sent to ECU module which in turn sends
signal to HCU for Braking and Electronic Stability Program for Traction
Control.
ACC also helps in reducing accidents due to blind spots in mirror .
There are two types of Adaptive cruise control :
● Standard ACC
● ACC stop and go
Standard ACC can be activated from speeds of around 30km/h (20
mph) upwards and supports the driver, primarily on cross-country
journeys or on freeways
The ACC stop & go variant is also active at speeds below 30 km/h
(20 mph). It can maintain the set distance to the preceding vehicle
even at very low speeds and can decelerate to a complete standstill.

Figure 9- ACC Signal flow [4]

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RAIN SENSING WINDSHIELD WIPER
CONTROL
Whether you are driving in rain, snow or your windshield just got soaked by that
semi truck that passed you, the Rain Tracker automatically senses the water on
the windshield and activates the wipers at just the right speed.

Figure 10- Block diagram of Rain sensing windshield wiper

[5] 14
 WORKING OF RAIN SENSING
WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL

● The most common modern rain sensors are based on the principle of total internal
reflection. At all times, an infrared light is beamed at a 45-degree angle into the
windshield from the interior. If the glass is dry, the critical angle for total internal refraction
is around 42°. This value is obtained with the total internal refraction formula :
sin θ = n1/n2
where , n1 = 1 is the approximate value on air's refraction index for infrared and n2 = 1.5
is the approximate value of the glass refraction index, also for infrared  In that case,
since the incident angle of light is 45°, all the light is reflected and the detector receives
maximum intensity.

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● If the glass is wet, the critical angle changes to around 60° because the
refraction index of water is higher than air (n1 = 1.3) In that case, because the
incident angle is 45°, total internal reflection is not obtained. Part of the light
beam is transmitted through the glass and the intensity measured for reflection
is lower : the system detects water and the wipers turn on.

Figure 11 – Rain sensor In action [5]

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 CONCLUSION

● In the recent years, more and more equipment in automotive are changing from
mechanical systems to electronic systems.
● Apart from the features above there are numerous other features like traction control, hill
descent control, dynamic braking, lane departure warning etc.
● Embedded system is a core of vehicle electronic systems because of its flexibility and
versatility
● All these features works simultaneously without requiring driver’s attention, as a result of
which ease and quality of driving increases, efficiency of vehicle increases and more
importantly safety of driver and fellow passengers in the car increases significantly .

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 REFERENCES
● Kithil, P.W., Advanced Safety Concepts Inc, 1997. “Automobile air bag systems”. U.S. Patent
5,602,734.

● Tur, O.Ustun & Tuncay, R. N. (2007, June). “An introduction to regenerative braking of electric
vehicles as anti-lock braking system” In 2007 IEEE intelligent vehicles symposium (pp. 944-948).
IEEE.

● Pham, Hung, Karl Hedrick, and Masayoshi Tomizuka. "Autonomous steering and cruise control of
automobiles via sliding mode control." JSAE Review 2, no. 16 (1995): page no. 220.

● V.V Shivaji , Dr. M. Sailaja “Adaptive Cruise Control System for Vehicle modelling using stop and
go Manoeuvre” International Journal of Engineering Research and Application, Volume 3 Issued on
4 july 2013, page no. 2453- 2456

● A.H.M Fazle Elahi, Mohammad Shafiur Rehman “Intelligent Windshield for automotive Vehicle”
17th International conference on computer and Information Technology , 23-24 December 2014.
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THANK YOU

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