To eliminate air intake noise in the engine, a loudspeaker installed in the intake system is used to generate a sound wave of the same amplitude but opposite phase. (It cancels out the unpleasant sound.)

The ACC system scans the area ahead of a car for objects - mainly other cars - and applies the brakes automatically if a collision is likely to occur.

A combination of infrastructure and in-vehicle displays that communicate information to the driver (both emergency and general information).

A first-generation analog cellular phone system that originated in the United States.

An array of institutional, human, hardware, and software components designed to monitor, control, and manage traffic on streets and highways.

Vehicle features that assists the driver with planning, perception, analysis, and decision-making.

Vehicle systems that automate current functions such as distance-keeping, lane-changing, and ramp-merging.

Keeps the tires from locking while braking. The car can still be handled without losing control.

A routing protocol used by DashPC's for vehicle-to-vehicle discovery and internet packet routing. This exclusive Dashwerks technology allows our DashPC™ devices (and software) to communicate among each other and massively scale for purposes of routing data to and from the internet via only peer Dashwerks DashPC™ devices. The technology used in DashPC™ devices was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the US Department of Commerce's Technology Administration.

Commercial vehicle operations (CVO) technology used to help large vehicles negotiate low or limited clearance objects such as bridges and viaducts.

Used in commercial vehicle operations (CVO), AVC electronically identifies a vehicle's type. This system decreases the amount of time required at border crossings by reducing the amount of paperwork drivers have to process.

A system that combines an on-board transponder with roadside receivers for electronic toll collection (ETC) and stolen vehicle recovery.

Automated Vehicle Location System; a computerized system that tracks the current location of vehicles in a fleet. Used to assist in applications such as dispatching.

American traffic information broadcasting system whose transmissions are received through car radios which automatically interrupt other radio reception and tune to the correct station.

A very basic (and considered by many in the industry to be "premature") vehicle interface. Typically, an AutoPC is very limited in it's scope and control capability of a vehicle.

An Automotive Gateway Controller is a router between the different electrical and optical buses in a car. It integrates standard multimedia interfaces, such as universal serial bus (USB), Firewire, and media-oriented system transport (MOST) interfaces, as well as control area network (CAN) interfaces for the body control network access.

American traffic information broadcasting system whose transmissions are received through car radios which automatically interrupt other radio reception and tune to the correct station.

Childseat presence orientation detection (CPOD) is a pressure-sensitive foil with integrated antenna and resonators in the childseat to keep the airbag from firing with full capacity if necessary and was developed by Mercedes-Benz.

A computing and telecommunications industry specification that describes how embedded devices such as mobile phones, radios, headsets, and personal digital assistants can easily interconnect with each other and within vehicle devices using a short-range wireless connection.

Childseat presence orientation detection (CPOD) is a pressure-sensitive foil with integrated antenna and resonators in the childseat to keep the airbag from firing with full capacity if necessary and was developed by Mercedes-Benz.

A secondary computer system designed for Human Machine Interaction (HMI) to the overall vehicle environment. CarPC's are typically used as "dashboard" style summary interfaces between users and various vehicle information systems. These systems are used primarily for entertainment purposes, however deeply embedded vehicle integration is becoming more prolific.

A secondary computer system designed for Human Machine Interaction (HMI) to the overall vehicle environment. Carputers's are typically used as "dashboard" style summary interfaces between users and various vehicle information systems. These systems are used primarily for entertainment purposes, however deeply embedded vehicle integration is becoming more prolific.

A system that detects the presence and orientation of a childseat on the front passenger seat that was developed by the IEEE. It is also known as BabySmart, and was developed by Mercedes-Benz.

CVO is the application of intelligent transportation system technology to commercial vehicles.

A serial bus system especially suited for networking "intelligent" devices as well as sensors and actuators within a system or sub-system. CAN2.0A is an 11-bit identifier; CAN2.0B is a 29-bit identifier.

An IDB-1394 firewire based interface port designed as a customer interface to a vehicle's on-board computing system (DashPC). The CCP port is intended to be used with PDA's, Laptops, Portable Media Players (PMPs), etc.

A secondary computer system designed for Human Machine Interaction (HMI) to the overall vehicle environment. DashPC's are typically used as "dashboard" style summary interfaces between users and various vehicle information systems. These systems are used primarily for entertainment purposes, however deeply embedded vehicle integration is becoming more prolific.

A proprietary device (a keyfob in this sense) used for specifying user preferences and settings to the vehicle environment. Among the settings typically stored in a DashKey™ are seat settings, Dashboard display preferences (colors, etc), drivetrain preferences (2wd, 4wd), and overall vehicle configuration (SUV mode, Pickup Mode, etc).

A subcommittee of the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE's) intelligent transportation systems (ITS) division for the purpose of developing standards for digital street map databases, including standardization of terms and the use of that nomenclature to facilitate evaluation and comparison of the completeness and content level of various databases.

A differential global positioning system (GPS) land station-based method for improving GPS accuracy or getting around U.S. Department of Defense-imposed selective availability (S/A) encryption.

A digital technology offering considerable advantages over today's FM radio, both to listeners and broadcasters. The most obvious benefit to listeners is DAB's ability to deliver CD-quality stereo sound robustly and reliably, even to mobile receivers, using only a simple rod antenna. FM reception is often distorted or interrupted by multi-path interference in moving vehicles in particular, as reflections from hills and buildings arrive out of phase with the main signal. By contrast, the DAB receiver's powerful processor use these "shadows" to reinforce the main signal.

Digital audio broadcast (DAB) receiver.

The main computer in a car that controls all facets of the engine.

A fuel-metering device in which the air to fuel ratio is controlled by continual variations of the metering rod position or air bypass modulation in response to an electronic control signal.

An acceleration pedal controls the throttle by means of a computer-controlled stepping motor in lieu of a conventional linkage from pedal to throttle.

A system where the opening and closing times and cylinder valves' lift are controlled by computer.

Any electronic unit that can control either fuel delivery or ignition timing or both. It is usually used to describe a stand-alone, aftermarket computer.

European version of the International OBDII Standard. EODB is required in all Petrol (known as Gasoline in the US) European vehicles manufacturered after January, 1st 2001. The EODB standard has also been mandated in Diesel and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles by 2005.

An electro-mechanical device that precisely meters fuel into an internal combustion engine based on a time electronic input.

FlexRay is a new network communication system targeted specifically at the next generation of automotive applications or "by-wire" applications. The by-wire applications demand high-speed bus systems that are deterministic, fault-tolerant, and capable of supporting distributed control systems. BMW, Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler, Philips Semiconductors, Motorola, and the newest member, Bosch, are working together to develop and establish FlexRay as the standard for next generation applications.

A device that allows consumer products to interface with the communication system in vehicles, while protecting the vehicle's system from defective devices or inappropriate messages.

A transfer file specification for digital roadway and topological map databases. The format includes specifications for database encoding.

An array of satellites deployed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, which can be monitored to triangulate an accurate position on the earth's surface.

A device that allows consumer products to interface with the communication system in vehicles, while protecting the vehicle's system from defective devices or inappropriate messages.

A medium-speed multiplexed bus intended for command and control of devices in vehicles.

An in-vehicle network protocol designed for high-speed multimedia applications that require large amounts of information to be moved quickly on a vehicle. Previously known as IDB-M, IDB-1394 is built on the IEEE-1394 standard.

An in-vehicle network defined in the SAE J2366 - ITS data bus specifications series. IDB-C is based on CAN 2.0B (controller area network) silicon and physical layer, specifically on SAE J2284 - high-speed CAN.

Provides integration and functionality in the cockpit module with reduced cost, thanks to a new human-machine interface, impulse-coded steering wheel command, integrated low current switches and smart key.

A broad range of diverse technologies, including information processing, communications, control and electronics, which, when applied to a transportation system, can save time, money and lives.

The telematics market is slowly evolving into "infotainment" (information and entertainment) to combine everything from safety and security to routing and entertainment including Internet access and video games. Vehicle manufacturers increasingly offer infotainment systems either as original equipment or optional packages.

On-board display of roadside sign information. The information can be obtained either by short-range transmission from roadside beacons or from on-board data storage. In-vehicle signs are utilized to improve driver effectiveness, especially when driving at night or during inclement weather conditions.

A name commonly referred to as the ISO9141 OBD-2 vehicle interface. ISO9141 is the protocal that is typically used on European vehicles adhering to the OBD-2 standard.

The introduction of electronic controls into mechanical components.

A versatile, high-performance and low-cost multimedia network technology based on synchronous data communication. It is ideal for multimedia applications such as audio, video, navigation, and communication in the automotive sector.

An operating system, communication and network management specification developed by automotive industry companies. OSEK/VDX was created as a joint project in the German and French automotive industry aimed at an industry standard for an open-ended architecture for distributed control units in vehicles.

OBDII is a standard for vehicle diagnostics relating to emissions implemented on all US vehicles since the mid 1990s. Europe has just introduced a standard called EOBD which is basically the same. OBDII uses a standard 16 pin connector. An image of this connector can be seen here.

A sensor system that is able to detect the presence of a passenger. Different systems are known as infrared scanning weight sensing, capacitive measurement.

The smallest unit of color in a display. Frames are made up of lines and columns of pixels. The number of pixel lines in each frame expresses video resolution.

Flat panel display using plasma electronic technology.

An information transmission system that was defined by the European Broadcasting Union.

The detailed information required for a computer to generate a high-quality driving route between two locations. Information includes geometry, street names, addresses, speed limits, turn restrictions, one-way restrictions, road levels, and roadway connections.

An energy conversion device that measures some physical quantity and converts it to an electrical quantity.

Electronically coded key used both to enter and start the vehicle developed by Mercedes-Benz. This technology is currently being used in the Lexus line of vehicles as well as Mercedes-Benz and Maybach.

A one-stop resource for technical information and expertise used in designing, building, maintaining and operating self-propelled vehicles for use on land or sea, in air or space.

A civilian version of the GPS.

A device used for starting and stopping secondary vehicle computer systems (HMI interfaces, etc) in conjunction with normal vehicle start and stop cycles. Typically used by aftermarket consumers and tuners to add standard computers and interfaces to their vehicles.

Telematics can be defined as a combination of wireless voice and data communication systems aimed at providing drivers with safety and information including automatic airbag deployment notification, vehicle tracking, personalized information, real-time traffic data, emergency aid, and entertainment from a central service center. Innovative features include Internet access, voice activation, and the ability to control the car audio and climate control.

The embedded vehicle control unit that communicates with the automobile controls, GPS satellite, and customer service center to provide telematics features to a driver.

The TMC transmits (on FM subcarriers) digital codes representing standardized traffic information messages to be decoded and displayed (or spoken) in any given language by in-vehicle receiver.

A method of providing route guidance by sequentially delivering upcoming maneuver information to the driver visually and/or audibly as the route is driven.