The document provides an overview of an engine control unit (ECU) and proposes features for a new low-cost ECU design project. An ECU uses a microprocessor to process sensor inputs and control parameters like fuel mixture, ignition timing, and other engine functions. Modern ECUs are sophisticated and expensive. The proposed new design aims to reduce costs by using an affordable ARM controller as the core system running on an RTOS kernel and combining CAN, FlexRay, and LIN networks to connect various sensors to monitor the car environment.

1. Engine Control Unit A condensed overviewBy Nikhil PKarthikeyan S Adarsh A

2. Introduction It is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running.Modern cars have nearly 200 ECUs which are very sophisticated &expensive.

3. Modern ECUs use a microprocessor which can process the inputs from the engine sensors in real time. An electronic control unit contains the hardware and software . The main component is a microcontroller chip (CPU). The software is stored in the microcontroller ,so the CPU can be re-programmed by uploading updated code. This is also referred to as an Engine Management System (EMS).Features Proposed Fuel Mixture Ratio: The ratio of fuel and air mixture can be controlled by incorporating a stepper motor in the carburettor

4. Wheel speed sensors and Throttle position sensors: Using rotary sensors and potentiometers.

5. Collision avoidance: This is achieved by obstacle detection sensors placed at appropriate places and detecting the potential obstacles.

6. Airbag deployment :Using crash sensors and by measuring the deceleration.

7. Intelligent lighting system : Angular lighting technique by detecting curves and bends on the roads based on the steering angle and angular data obtained from the rotary sensors attached to steering wheelsIntegrated Vision System: This includes night vision( employs thermal sensors), Lane detection , Road Sign detection ,etc

8. Hill climb assist: This system reduces the effort put in by the driver to control the brake and thus helps bring down the number of accidents on slope terrain as the driver concentrates only on clutch and accelerator . This can be done using IR sensors and gyrometer

9. Control of variable valve timingSome engines have Variable Valve Timing. In such an engine, the ECU controls the time in the engine cycle at which the valves open.Water temperature correction: Allows for additional fuel to be added when the engine is cold or dangerously hot.

10. Control of ignition timingAn ECU can adjust the exact timing of the spark (called ignition timing) to provide better power and economy.

11. Our Project Involves:To reduce costs by using low cost Electronic Control and Diagnostic Unit (ECDU) design.

12. The low cost LPC110X ARM controller acts as the core of the system running a RTOS Kernel.

13. We seek to use a combinational network of CAN, FLEXRAY and LIN for communication purposes

14. A complex network of sensors each interconnected to give a sense of the car environment