by Alan Galatian

Created on: January 30, 2009

We are now entering an era where automotive electronics are evolving at a faster pace. The recent attention to earth's ecology, rising oil prices and the recent crisis of the big three American auto manufacturers has shed light on just how little automotive technology has advanced over the years. The current evolution is not fast enough, but shows potential for improvement.

For many years the automotive industry has operated at a certain status quo in regards to research and development. If you compare other technological advances in medicine, computing and other industries, they have well outpaced the advances made in the automotive industry.

Over the past 20 years most advances made to auto electronics has been centered around improving crash and safety systems, such as anti-lock brake systems and air bag restraints. Other areas improved upon focused on improving emissions systems and improving the stability and efficiency of existing electronic applications.

To be fair, blame for the lack of advancements cannot be aimed solely at the car manufacturers. After all, how can you add a satellite digital radio system, when satellite radio technology is not available for the average consumer? Or, how can you add a GPS navigation system when computers components are too large to fit within a dashboard?

Advances in satellite, WiFi and cellular technology have helped to pave the way for new electronic applications to be added to modern vehicles. This technology is the infrastructure that future auto electronics will rely on.

The creation of smaller computer chips is also a driving force behind new auto electronic applications. Computers are now small enough to fit in the same space where your car radio sits in your dashboard, and the power of these computers exceeds the speed and capabilities of computers offered just at the start of the new millennium.

Many new and existing companies are working hard to take the lead in setting the standards on which future advancements will be based. Companies like Delphi, Tesla Motors, Delta Group, Chevrolet, Honda, and more are developing electronic systems needed to support the hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles needed to ensure a more earth friendly environment.

The good news is that consumers have said enough to fuel guzzling vehicles and companies are listening. New auto electronic technologies will not grow and evolve fast enough if the interest and the competition is not present. The level of competition is building today, which is very promising, and will drive faster evolution to get us where we need to be.

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