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The J1850 Automotive Multiplexing System is opening up new opportunities for automotive designers. Multiplexing not only reduces wiring, weight and cost; but is also adding features by sharing information among modules. For example a door module could communicate that the car is being unlocked and who is unlocking it. The body controller can use this information and tell smart seats and mirrors to adjust themselves to that driver's preferences; tell the radio to turn to a particular station and start the engine. The number of modules that are being multiplexed are increasing in both number and function. Everything from sophisticated engine controllers to simple actuator/sensor nodes are being multiplexed. The challenge with Multiplexing a large number of modules is how to make an integrated circuit that fits all their diverse needs.

Three commonly used energy management systems (expanded polypropylene foam, collapsing honeycomb and hydraulic shock absorbers) were fully characterized in 2.2 m/s pendulum bumper impact testing. This work was done to better understand the dynamic energy transfer and absorption of the system components and any synergies which exist between them. The test results showed that the energy absorbing systems which exhibited the best load and deflection performance when considered as individual components do not always work the most synergistically with the reinforcement beam. Simply examining the energy absorber's performance alone did not truly reflect the ability of the beam/absorber system's ability to manage energy.