AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE IN THE ERA OF THE ELECTRONIC CAR
Can a “Google Maps” approach turn around automotive service efficiency for modern vehicle electronics?
The automotive electronic revolution has given us vehicles brimming with impressive features, and this is only the beginning. One component that should not be overlooked in this transformation is automotive servicing, crucial to the overall ownership experience.
Rapid, effective service is a critical business factor for the entire automotive industry. But servicing a modern car today calls on complex, interconnected computer system diagnosis, given the pervasive nature of electronics in the latest machines. So how do we enable mechanics under enormous time pressure to identify and repair problems in a more rapid and secure way?
The modern vehicle, regardless of cost, contains a plethora of electronic systems, as shown in Figure 1. Some of these are obvious, such as radar, entertainment, and navigation. However, most are not visible to the driver, but are essential to the vehicle’s basic operation.
A vehicle in 2018 typically contains 100-300 micro-controllers or processors, 50+ complex electronic control units, between 5 and 20 million lines of software code, with miles of wires connecting these systems. These systems often interact. For example, the steering system interfaces with the suspension to ensure a smooth ride.
A fault in one car component might be caused by a different system. These problems may manifest themselves as intermittent, hard-to-track electronic signals, rather than as a more obvious, worn out mechanical part. As such, diagnosis is a complex task.
To compound this challenge, next-generation cars will contain autonomous driving modes and other powerful systems that represent the very latest state-of-the-art in computer science. Furthermore, these systems must adhere to rigorous safety standards, such as ISO 26262. Automotive electronics are set to become increasingly complex and sophisticated.
So what does this mean for automotive maintenance? The user experience starts with the purchase and continues throughout the life of the vehicle as customers return to their service centers for maintenance and repair. During the last two or three decades, electronics have taken over as the key technology in the car. This has transformed service technicians into electronic diagnosis experts, and they must carry out electronic servicing faster than ever.
Enabling mechanics to identify and reliably repair problems quickly is a key element of the automotive value proposition. However, an oil soaked mechanic working under the hood of a car is a thing of the past. Today’s service centers employ highly skilled engineers, along with groups of electronic technicians with computer expertise to run diagnostic routines.
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