I am observing the Automotive Technology Trend from last few years. Although when one look at technologies they may look(or at least sound) complex . If you are thinking that these technology are coming into play as a results extensive brainstorming and research involved..you may be wrong! The extensive research is required to make the technology feasible but not for creating or appreciating the base ideas...So if you want to build your appreciation for any technology (without doing research for several years) here is simple rule you need to understand...
THE RULE
"System achieves more functionality with every additional control"
Let's see if it really works
If you belong to Automotive industry think of how gasoline engine technology have changed especially for meeting emission and performance ..
GASOLINE ENGINE EXAMPLE
Carburettor engine....> Throttle body injection.....>Multi Port fuel injection....> Gasoline direct inject...>DMI
Can you spot the trend? The controls are getting added to the system.
Carburetor ..> no control on Fuelling
TBI..> Control on the fuelling quantity at single point
MPFI..> Control on fuelling qunatity at more points (At every port)
GDI...> Control on fuel quantity, Control on combustion
DMI (Direct multiple injection (my owned coined term))...> Have more injector per cylinder..More control on combustion
TURBOCHARGER EXAMPLE
Fixed geometry.....> Waste gate...> VGT (Variable geometry turbine)...>VIGV..>MAT
VGT : Variable geometry turbine
VIGV : Variable inlet guide vane
MAT : Motor assist Turbo
You can read more on turbo technologies at
https://www.tytlabs.co.jp/japanese/review/rev413pdf/413_001uchida.pdf
So what actually happens? When more controls are added? It so happens that when we add more controls (Xs) we can achieve more objective (Ys) in space and time. In mathematical terms Y1 = F(X1, X2), Y2= F(X1, X2) then adding another relvant X3 can either improve Y1 or Y2 or Y3 is also possible to improve.
Does it mean that the complexity of a system will keep on incresing endlessely. Answer is no..it is replaced by another technology which is simpler and less complex. Is it again random which technology will take over?
Certainly not..Technology based on advanced fields certainly will take over the less advanced one.. The strength
of the fields are given below. This is perfectly in line with TRIZ evolution theory
Fields Starting with lowest potential
- Gravitational
- Mechanical
- Thermal
- Chemical
- Electrical
- Electromagnetic
So no wonder if we get more of hybrid vehicles (with lesser need of advanced turbo) followed by fully electrical vehicles with fuel cells and of course with no sign of turbochargers around them!
