No matter what name you might assign to it, automakers are quickly adding more electronics that will allow communication between the cars and the outside world. Although cars have contained computers and a fair amount of electronics for a number of years, the electronics have not been considered "smart" because they do not communicate with the outside world. So-called "smart" electronics and telematic functions send and receive information outside the vehicle and deliver feedback to the driver and/or vehicle. Smart electronics can include adaptive cruise control while telematics can include navigation systems. Many items or services found at home or in the office are being considered for inclusion into the automobile. Among these are Internet connections and voice-activated infotainment features. As vehicles become more intelligent, new levels of safety, security, and navigational aids are emerging. These new features will mean more electronics in the vehicle and will require more power to make them work.

Some of the technologies that are in various stages of development include:

• Remote control of convenience features - This system would allow owners to control some in-car functions remotely either by calling a service or broadcasting to the vehicle directly. Messages could also be sent to the vehicle to be displayed to the driver.
• Security system - A number of driver identification systems are being developed. Some of the simple ones unlock the vehicle and set the seats, pedals, steering wheel, and mirrors to a preset position based on a key fob or other device carried somewhere on the person. A more sophisticated version identifies the owner through fingerprint verification. These systems can be tied into any number of features in the vehicle that can be activated to the driver's preferences such as the heating and cooling of the seats.
• Vision enhancement systems - All weather/night vision systems can provide the driver with information about objects in the path of the vehicle that could not normally be seen at night or in adverse conditions. Variations on these systems are being developed to help recognize traffic signs and people in city driving situations. In addition to identifying pedestrians or other objects in proximity of the vehicle, information about the road can also be displayed. Radar or infrared systems are being evaluated. The output from these sensors can be fed into on-board computers and/or heads-up displays projected onto the windshield.

By tying the vision enhancement system into a frontal collision warning system, the braking system could be applied to avoid a collision. Also the adaptive cruise control system could be activated to slow down to avoid objects. The use of cameras in addition to the radar or infrared sensors can give the driver additional informaion.

Once the vehicle is equipped with the electronics to handle forward object detection, a variation of this system can be used for a back-up or as a parking aid.

• Heads-up displays - In addition to the basic information such as turn signal and speedometer data already available on present day systems, advanced versions would display web-based telematics functions.
• Navigation systems - A number of vehicles have navigation systems but future versions would have advanced telematics to retrieve up-to-the-second information. Also, a link to a personal digital assistant would allow the driver to access this same information while outside the vehicle. Bluetooth technology will allow digital devices to communicate with other wireless devices. This technology will also be useful to adapt hands-free cell phone interfaces into a vehicle's various systems.

Intelligent applications will also allow driving condition data to be be compiled from other telematic-equipped vehicles to develop up-to-the-second traffic information.

• Sound - With all the electronics being added to the vehicle a whole new set of challenges are emerging. As more audio and video options are being added, sound quality is becoming a bigger concern. Rear seat passengers will have access to not only the entertainment functions but also the Internet and various games. Since all these features will have voice access, DaimlerChrysler is working on a "Spotlight of Sound" philosophy. This technology will give each seat a "cone of sound" that only the individual sitting in each seat can hear. According to Tom Moore, Vice President, Liberty and Technical Affairs, DaimlerChrysler, this system uses the nonlinear property of air to demodulate ultrasonic sound projection to produce audible sound in a localized region.

Interior sound is not the only sound that automakers are trying to manipulate or change. Siemens has been working on a system called active noise control. Although this sound masking feature is in the early development stage, it can be used to cancel undesirable engine noise and replace it with a "noise of choice."

Imagine being able to make the family car sound like a high-powered sports car!

• Driving aids-In addition to the systems already mentioned, there are a number of others that can aid the driver on a day-to-day basis. Driver alertness monitoring is being developed to detect when a driver's ability has become impaired, from either inattention or drowsiness. These systems could simply sound an alarm or take various actions to protect the driver. A lane change aid would alert the driver if another vehicle were in the blind spot while changing lanes. When these systems are tied into the vehicle, corrective action such as braking and/or steering correction could be engaged to help protect the driver.

Advanced driver monitoring is a technology that may combine biological sensors, eye-tracking devices, and vehicle steering information to provide the on-board computer with information on the driver. A variation on this is an emergency sickness alert that also uses the biological sensors and tracking devices of the driver monitoring system.

• Weather monitoring - Systems such as the inclement weather indicator can monitor local weather forecasts and provide the driver with updated weather information. Sensors that can detect rain, snow, and ice along with temperature can also be used to warn the driver or automatically activate systems such as traction control. Automatic windshield fog protection is an electromechanical climate control system that can predict potential window fogging situations and activate the defoggers before the driver can detect the situation.
• Safety - Many different technologies are under development or improvement to optimize occupant protection. Airbags have been in vehicles for a number of years but have been undergoing changes. Variable output airbag modules enable advanced adaptive safety systems to provide optimized occupant protection by tuning airbag deployment. Head/torso and side airbag systems provide additional protection in the event of side impact or rollover collision. Active knee bolsters are under development to cushion the knee area during a collision to help reduce lower leg injury.

A challenging area is passenger occupant recognition. Siemens has developed a system that uses 3-D image sensing to give airbags a sense of depth perception. The sensing is accomplished by directing low-power laser pulses through the vehicle's passenger compartment to create a three dimensional image of the occupant. The new method is called multiple double short time integration. A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image converter with an extremely short integration time detects the reflected light. An image converter chip is used to process the image. In one thousandth of a second, the distances of 1000 different object points are simultaneously measured to an accuracy of one centimeter. A three dimensional image of the objects within the passenger compartment is created. By knowing the position of the occupants, the airbags will be able to be deployed more intelligently. Seat mounted mass sensors can supply the airbag control system with occupant classification while the 3-D system gives it position measurement.

Although airbags are an important part of the occupant protection system, seat belts are still required. Over the years, seatbelts have changed mostly in how they are tensioned and mounted. Pre-tensioners are being added to the seat belt system to help provide protection by removing the slack. Hypertensioners are under development that will hold the occupant more tightly to the seat to give better crash absorption.

Anticipatory crash sensing may be tied into the vision enhancement system to help avoid crashes. Crash data recording will yields various information to help understand accidents. These systems are in use in aircraft and motorsports.

• After-crash systems - Accidents can and will happen but electronics can be used to help mitigate the damage and save lives. A system that lowers the power windows and unlocks the doors is under development. This would allow vehicle occupants to exit the vehicle or rescue personnel to enter to assist in the extraction of the occupants. Automatic shut off of the fuel pump and engine can help reduce fires. An important concept that will be even more important under the 42 V electrical system is an electrical power disconnect in case of a crash.

Several of the above systems are under development by Delphi Automotive Systems under their Integrated Safety Systems plan. All of the above systems will require electronics and some type of control software and hardware to ensure their proper operation. This means that more semiconductors and other such devices will be required. As the car's electrical system progresses from 14 to 42 V, these systems will need to be upgraded or redesigned. In the near term, they can remain on the 14 V bus in a dual architecture system but eventually they will need to be converted.