The role of electronic controls for future automotive mechatronic systems

The merging of electronics and mechanical actuators for automotive applications is driven by environmental and societal influences, customer wants, quality/reliability, and value. Cost-effective mechatronics is made possible by the continuing improvements in the underlying enabling technologies. This paper examines the technology enablers as they influence automotive control systems, and then explores the impact of environmental, customer, and societal drivers as they affect control systems.