The first cars were a very mechanical invention initially,
made up of a complex collection moving parts that came together in the precise proportions
to produce a creation that would fire a revolution which would grip the world.
Karl Friedrich Benz Lived from 1844 to 1929 and was credited
with producing the world’s first car in 1886. The only electric component on
the three wheeled car he produced was used to power the spark for the single
cylinder internal combustion engine used to drive the vehicle.
[1]
As time progressed and more and more people developed an
interest in self-propelled travel the manufactures developed a need to make
their cars better than those of their competitors. This lead to the creation of
systems to inform the driver with values for fuel levels, water temperature and
oil pressures. Values for these components were produced using mechanical switches.
It wouldn’t be until fuel management systems that a true embedded system would
be used to take control any of the cars systems.
Nowadays, all a cars systems are controlled by, or monitored
by embedded software. Engines are controlled by ECU’s. Collision protection is
provided by a body control module (BCM) while braking systems are controlled by
Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Programs (ESP).
[2]
With all this technology now embedded in cars it only takes
a small step and a little imagination to see that the self-drive car is a
natural progression in the timeline of car development. No sooner had man
developed the ability to drive around then he wanted someone to do it for him. With
all the developments in embedded software why should the car itself now take
over this task too??
Google have taken this task on in force. With the
development of their self-drive car system they have now become what Karl Benz
must have been to the first spectators of his car over a hundred and twenty
years ago.
[3]
When can I have mine?
By Michael Wall.
