Consequent steps towards improved handling, directional stability and ride comfort of commercial vehicles in future times will require more and more electronic intelligence in the chassis technology, as a further optimization will not be possible with conventional means. Endeavours are aimed at the improvements to active safety, as well as driver stress-relief at lowest possible cost, in order to increase the total cost effectiveness of commercial vehicles. Starting with electronic controlled stand-alone-systems now under development, a continous development of stand-alone-electronics up to integrated electronic compoundings is the current trend. This trend shows advantages of reduced wiring and the number of sensors, while it increases the function at the same time. Only the compounding of integrated electronic vehicle systems with intelligent road-traffic and goods-transport-management-systems will satisfy economical and environmental problems in an acceptable manner. (A)
Abstract