Computers as Components, 2nd Edition

4 CHAPTER 1 Embedded Computing

stability control (ASC ⫹ T) system intervenes with the engine during maneuvering to improve

the car’s stability. These systems actively control critical systems of the car; as control systems,

they require inputs from and output to the automobile.

Let’s first look at the ABS. The purpose of an ABS is to temporarily release the brake on

a wheel when it rotates too slowly—when a wheel stops turning, the car starts skidding and

becomes hard to control. It sits between the hydraulic pump, which provides power to the

brakes, and the brakes themselves as seen in the following diagram. This hookup allows the

ABS system to modulate ...