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Computers and Cars
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| How computers are used in cars? |
Have you ever seen a picture of a 1958 Cadillac? It had enormous metal fins swooping up on either side at the back.
Since then, cars have certainly changed, and not just in appearance. T oday's cars also operate very differently. Much of this difference has to do with computers.
In most modern cars, a computer manages the engine. It controls the timing of the ignition spark, the mix of air and fuel, and the idling speed. The computer can make adjustments depending on how cold the engine is, the temperature of the outside air, or how fast the car is driven.
This engine management computer plays an important role in how well the car's catalytic converter works. A catalytic converter is a box that sits in front of the muffler underneath the car. The box contains the rare elements platinum and rhodium. They act as catalysts, encouraging exhaust gases that flow from the car's engine through the converter to burn up more completely. This added combustion greatly reduces the amount of polluting gases, such as unburned hydrocarbons, that spew from the car's tailpipe.
Several chemical reactions can occur within a converter, for instance, unburned hydrocarbons react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. Carbon monoxide reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Since oxygen is a reactant in these chemical reactions, it is important that the exhaust gases going into the converter contain enough oxygen. An oxygen sensor located just in front of the converter sends information about oxygen levels to the car's computer. It adjusts the amount of air in the engine's fuel-air mix so that the converter works properly.
In some new cars, computers do much more than fine-tune the engine. They automatically check fuel and oil levels, and turr on headlights and windshield wipers.
Computers control the brakes and prevent the wheels from locking up. They can switch a car from two-wheel drive to four· wheel drive when the slip of the primary wheels exceeds a certain point.
Car manufacturers are testing a new cruise control for cars. You'll be able to see how fast you want your vehicle to go. The computer will readiust that setting anc slow down the car if traffic ahead is mov
ing too slowly.
Some cars have computerized navigation systems to help drivers find their way. Drivers punch in information that tells where they are when they start, and the screen displays their whereabouts on a map as they drive.
Today's computer-managed car may not look as flashy as the '58 Caddie, but it has features that drivers back then could only dream of.
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