Rugged Vehicle Computer
28/03/2012
Looking into a Rugged Vehicle Computer
The rugged vehicle computer is no longer a theory or a good idea. Instead, it’s a fact that governs the performance of nearly all vehicles made today. It’s impossible to look closely into a system within a modern vehicle without locating at least one computer or microprocessor. One needs to keep in mind that these computers can be smaller than the eye is able to discern, yet fully able to function in the same manner as larger computers.
Each vehicular computer has a specific purpose, whether it’s regulating systems to stay within acceptable parameters, monitoring fuel performance, or giving early warning that something needs attention.
A rugged vehicle computer is something of a misnomer in that all computers built into vehicles are rugged. They’re designed to handle sudden shocks or starting and stopping, bumps from rough terrain, extreme temperatures that can range from as much as fifty degrees below zero to as high as almost 160 degrees Fahrenheit inside of a vehicle on a hot, sunny day.
Further, these computers—unless they are hermetically sealed—must also be able to cope with ambient pollens, dust and other airborne pollutants without compromising the quality of their operations. The very fact that these workhorses slave reliably and without complaint day after day and often year after year indicates just how rugged they truly are. In fact, given the crucial role being played by many of the computers within a car, manufacturers cannot risk them being anything less than as rugged as possible.