Courses

Automotive Electronics

General

Course Contents

• Automotive electronic drawing elements: Symbols, electronic control units, sensors, actuators, control systems, automotive integrated circuits.
• Electronic control unit: building blocks, primary and secondary functions. Integrated automotive electronic systems. Sensor and actuator elements, closed and open loop operation.
• Engine control system: engine control module, sensors and actuators historical evolution, Jetronic, Motronic.
• Control systems: ABS anti-lock braking system, Transmission system, Vehicle stability control systems.
• Vehicle auxiliary systems. fans, windshield wipers, electric windows, electromagnetic locks, air conditioning system, instrumentation (operating principles and connections).
• In-vehicle communication: introductory concepts, Controller Area Network (CAN), Local Interconnects Network (LIN).
Laboratory applications:
• Motronic electronic engine control systems (for direct and indirect injection), Basic Sensors: EGO, speed, temperature, throttle, engine load measurement (VAF, MAF, MAP), knock sensor, etc. (Operating principles, construction, faults). Basic Actuators: fuel injectors, fuel pump, idle regulator, EGR. (Principles of operation, construction, failures).
• Antilock Braking System (ABS): electrical circuit analysis, measurements.

Educational Goals

With the successful attendance of the course the student must be able
• to recognize and describe the basic structural elements of ICE control circuits, ABS circuits, transmission system circuits
• to recognize and describe the operation principles of automotive electronic systems
• to understand and correctly estimate the devices of automotive electronic systems
• to calculate the requirements of automotive electronic systems
• to satisfactorily present a subject related to automotive electronic systems

General Skills

Research, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using corresponding technologies, decision making, team work, implementing criticism and self-criticism, promotion of free, creative and inductive thinking.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, Exercises, Online guidance, Projected Presentations, E-mail communication, Online Synchronous and Asynchronous Teaching Platform (moodle). The course is supported by equipment for the experimental verification of the theory and measurement of automotive electronics parameters of ICEs.

Students Evaluation

Assessment Language: English / Greek
The final grade of the course is formed by 70% by the grade of the theoretical part and by 30% by the grade of the laboratory part.
1. The grade of the theoretical part is formed by a written final examination. The written final examination of the theoretical part may include: Solving problems of application of the acquired knowledge, Short answer questions etc.
2. The examination of the Laboratory Exercises is carried out with the continuous evaluation of the laboratory skills and the theoretical knowledge that were acquired in the course by the method of continuous evaluation and submission of weekly assignments.
For the award of credits, both the total grade of the course and the independent grade in each of the assessment methods 1, 2 must be at least five. The assessment criteria are accessible to students from the course website.

Recommended Bibliography

1. T. Denton, Automobile electrical and electronic systems. 4th edition, Routledge, 2012.
2. J. Halderman and C. Mitchell, Automotive Electricity and Electronics. Prentice Hall, 2004.
3. Robert Bosch GmbH, Bosch Handbook for Automotive Electrics – Automotive Electronics. 5th Edition, 2007.
4. W. Ribbens, Understanding Automotive Electronics. Society of Automotive Engineers Inc., 2003.
5. J. Erjavec, Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach. CENGAGE Delmar Learning, 2004.
6. B. Hollembeak, Today’s Technician: Automotive Electricity and Electronics (Classroom and shop manual set). CENGAGE Delmar Learning, 2006.