Its and the Vehicle Life Cycle 98C061

The new generation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for the car is bringing fundamental changes in the life cycle of in-vehicle electronics and the vehicle as a whole.

The first change is a trend toward an application suite in the car in which general purpose and function specific devices will be interconnected via an in-vehicle databus. The modularization of devices, their simple interconnectability, and the existence of software for central application management means that application-oriented in-vehicle functionality can be expanded, updated, enhanced, and reconfigured throughout the life of the vehicle.

Second, a significant component of many in-vehicle ITS products is the map database that helps to determine vehicle location and route guidance. Unlike most in-vehicle components, the map database must be periodically updated in order to remain effective. This is not the same as changing the oil; oil is essentially fungible and has a long shelf-life.

Updating the map database means getting the correct, up-to-date database to the right vehicle. The process of assur existence of an appropriate current database in the car represents a new style of vehicle maintenance for which understanding, processes, and channels must all be devised.