F2010C204
Training Tools as Experimental Testing for Automotive Electronic Boards
The increase of the electronic equipment in the automotive market has been very important in the last years. There are amount of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and a reliable and real-time communication between them is essential. The use of industrial communication networks or fieldbuses becomes necessary. Thus, it is important to train professionals with knowledge in the fieldbuses that are used in vehicles. This paper presents a course about fieldbuses with application in automotive industry and the laboratory implementation for the development of the practices.
Nowadays, automobiles are more and more equipped with electronic devices that make it easier to drive the vehicle and improve their security and comfort. These electronic devices are applied to functions such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), braking help system (ABS: Antilock-Braking System), gear control, light control, climate control, seats control, navigation and guide (based on GPS: Global Positioning System and GIS: Geographic Information System), etc. These functions require the use of reliable and real time exchange of information between the different control systems and the sensors and actuators.
The ever increasing diverse population of number and complexity of electronic systems included in the automobiles, made impossible to implement this exchange of information through point-to-point links because it would suppose a disproportionate length of cable, a rising cost and production time, reliability problems and other drawbacks. Thus, it becomes necessary the use of an industrial communication network or fieldbus.
It is necessary to train professionals with good knowledge in these fieldbuses. A course about fieldbuses is described in the next sections of this paper. It is part of a Master in technologies and processes in the automotive industry which first edition was given this academic year (2008-2009) in the Industrial Engineers School of Vigo (Spain). The aim of the Master is to train recently graduates and offer new professionals to the automotive sector. The Master has 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) and has duration of 10 month (October to July).
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