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Sales of ECU testers to reach $233M in 2007                                                                                                                                                                

A highly competitive automobile market is driving the demand for electronic control unit (ECU) testers, according to a report from Frost & Sullivan (www.testandmeasurement.frost.com). The report, "World Automotive Test Equipment Markets," says that sales totaled $173.8 million in 2001 and are likely to reach $233.2 million by 2007.

The trend toward developing mechanical functions into electromechanical functions to reduce cost, coupled with mandatory safety and environmental requirements, is expected to rapidly increase demand for ECUs. End-user expectations of comfort and convenience are also increasing the integration of ECUs for keyless entry; power seats, windows, and doors; and adaptive cruise control. This integration is expected to drive the requirement for suitable testers.

Figure 1 Automotive test-equipment market: unit shipment and revenue forecasts (world), 1998-2008.

"With the rapid advances in technology used in ECUs, test system vendors will need to react much more rapidly to market demands," said Sunderraju Ramachandran, a Frost & Sullivan industry analyst. "Testers will also have to be more flexible in their capacity to test different products with minimum setup times."

The installation rates of ECU-operated functions are expected to track increasing vehicle production and directly affect the demand for ECU testers. As automobile manufacturers offer extended warranties to attract customers, they push ECU suppliers to provide better quality products. This, in turn, will create a need for superior test programs to ensure that vehicles run longer without needing any major repairs.

Argonne opens new vehicle test lab

Bob Larsen, director of Argonne's Center for Transportation Research, and US Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) study the four-whell-drive dynamometer system during the dedication ceremony on November 15. Courtesy of Argonne Web site.

• A four-wheel-drive dynamometer system, which allows road load simulation, monitoring, tractive effort, coastdown, and calibration modes for four-wheel-drive vehicles;
• An emissions-measurement system for gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, which provides particulate and criteria emissions measurement of exhausts at super ultra-low emissions vehicle levels;
• A data-acquisition system, designed for testing fuel-cell, hybrid-electric, and electric vehicles;
• A safety system for testing ventilation of hydrogen, hazardous gas, heat, and smoke; and
• An air-handling system that cleans and conditions test air and provides for ventilation and cooling.

Argonne National Laboratory, the nation's first national laboratory, conducts basic and applied scientific research across a spectrum of disciplines, ranging from high-energy physics to climatology and biotechnology. The University of Chicago operates Argonne as part of the US Department of Energy's national laboratory system.

For more information, contact the Argonne National Laboratory: 630-252-2000; www.anl.gov.

Honeywell leads structural test team

Honeywell announced recently that it will lead a team of industry experts developing an automated system for the rapid inspection of the surface of an aircraft for corrosion or other structural anomalies. The structural anomaly mapping (SAM) technology can be used with military, commercial, or business aviation aircraft.

"SAM is capable of detecting and tracking subsurface defects such as composite delaminations, honeycomb damage, and metal corrosion on any type or class of aircraft," said Bernd Kessler, VP and general manager of Honeywell Aviation Aftermarket Services. "With the growing number of composite parts in aircraft and the aging of many aircraft fleets, early detection of these potential defects will greatly enhance aircraft safety. The use of SAM inspections for military or commercial aircraft will give the maintenance operations a database system for their aircraft fleet, ensuring that developing problems are detected and addressed sooner, helping reduce the time and cost of maintenance."

SAM is a laser-guided, computer-controlled robotic platform (about 6x9 ft in size) with a vertical mast and a horizontal extension that supports and positions acoustic and laser sensors. The sensors can view features 5 in. into an aircraft structure.

SAM can scan an entire aircraft in hours with no human interaction and without removing the aircraft from flight status. SAM will deliver a 3-D digital picture of the inspection. Technicians can compare this picture to previous inspections on the same air craft or measurements on other aircraft to identify developing problems.

Traditional aircraft surface inspection methods or localized and manual x-ray/ultrasonic scans often take days and require interpretation, which introduces variability. SAM positions itself with precision and security, does not require contact with the airframe, and can scan the whole external structure or just sections of it. With rapid, repeatable measurements, and a digital record of inspections, SAM will improve aircraft reliability and safety.