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The rapid growth of automotive electronics in the past decade has introduced multiple challenges, such as increased complexity, wiring weight, connector count, and reduced reliability. Design teams face the conflict of maximizing both a product's functionality and quality while minimizing the development and manufacturing costs. This conflict has largely defined the evolution of automotive electronics, and will continue to do so in the near future. The authors present a TRIZ-based historical analysis of this conflict and propose some approaches to overcoming it.

Analysis of requirements, generation of architectural concepts, and definition of interfaces in system engineering are closely related to recognition and resolution of inevitable conflicts between different functions and requirements. As a rule, such conflicts are not resolved but rather alleviated through trade-offs or compromises, which reduces the overall system effectiveness. The authors describe a compromise-free structured approach to resolving architectural and interface conflicts in automotive system using TRIZ methodology. The principles of TRIZ-based conflict-resolution are explained and examples of typical conflicts in automotive engineering and typical solutions given.

Significant resources are spent by the OEMs and suppliers to determine the most promising directions for the development of next-generation vehicle electronics and software. Existing technology planning methods, while useful, still leave a large margin of error. The authors describe a new structured approach to technology and product planning based on TRIZ methodology. This approach largely removes guesswork from pinning down the next most likely evolutions of automotive software and electronics and provides objective justification for investment decisions.