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One cannot deny that modern car technology is quite awesome. Once considered technically impossible space-age luxuries, split-zone airconditioned climate control, anti-pinch electric windows, self-operating lights and wipers are now widespread on even very basic models. Additionally, safety systems, which encompass airbags, Anti-lock Brakes and Electronic Stability Control, through to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, are ever watchful and ready to be deployed, should something go wrong.
Even so, most motorists do not consider the sophistication that goes on behind the scenes. While more recent technologies, such as emergency braking, lane keeping/steering assist and automatic parking involve multiple sensors and Electronic Control Units (ECUs), even basic functions rely on data transfer from ECU to ECU. Just starting an engine on a modern car demands that all ECUs are woken and that the immobiliser is deactivated, for instance.
Thirty years ago, carmakers realised that all of this extra equipment was making their wiring looms heavier, costlier, more complex and harder to diagnose. Furthermore, the need for systems to communicate with each other complicated the issue further. For instance, if the cruise control required data from the engine, transmission, airbag and ABS ECUs, it would need at least 12 wires (or more), if each ECUs were to communicate
