Engine Control Unit Specifications Suprisingly Modest

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Drew Sebastino
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Engine Control Unit Specifications Suprisingly Modest

Post by Drew Sebastino »

Helping my grandfather work on an old car, we had to upload new firmware to the computer inside the aftermarket fuel injection system to make it run, and it got me wondering as to what sort of hardware is used in engine and transmission computers. Apparently not much like, at all; just 8 and 16 bit processors, like these: https://www.nxp.com/products/processors ... mcus:HCS08 (Some can withstand up to 125 degrees Celsius!)

Only a handful of variables are being monitored, but in today's world where 60MHz ARM processors are worth a dime a dozen, it's surprising to see such "outdated" hardware being used in anything beyond a coffee maker. Of course, the infotainment systems in every modern vehicle are going to be a whole different story; they're at least as powerful as a 66MHz 486DX2:

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pubby
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Re: Engine Control Unit Specifications Suprisingly Modest

Post by pubby »

Yeah, they have to be really resilient to temperature and vibration. You do not want a chip that can overheat to be controlling your two ton hunk of metal moving at 70 MPH.
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FrankenGraphics
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Re: Engine Control Unit Specifications Suprisingly Modest

Post by FrankenGraphics »

That and you want a fully documented, known for by engineers for years feature set. These old processors are still used in industrial control & automation and medical equipment for the same reason.
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