An average passenger car today relies on between 50 to 75 embedded electronic modules to monitor and control nearly all aspects of vehicle operations. These functions include steering and braking, tail-pipe emission controls, safety, as well as entertainment and comfort enhancements, to name just a few.
To ensure safe and reliable operations of these systems, a rigorous test and validation process is often performed as part of new product development. All vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and most component suppliers prescribe corporate tests to validate the electrical performance and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of their devices. Government regulations also stipulate testing and compliance for certain vehicle types and electronic subassemblies.
To help manufacturers prepare for automotive EMC and electrical testing Elite has outlined the following 10 steps to set in motion a smooth and successful test and validation effort.