This book is an introduction to automotive engineering, to give freshmen
ideas about this technology. The text is subdivided in parts that cover
all facets of the automobile, including legal and economic aspects
related to industry and products, product configuration and fabrication
processes, historic evolution and future developments.
The first part describes how motor vehicles were invented and evolved
into the present product in more than 100 years of development. The
purpose is not only to supply an historical perspective, but also to
introduce and discuss the many solutions that were applied (and could be
applied again) to solve the same basic problems of vehicle engineering.
This part also briefly describes the evolution of automotive
technologies and market, including production and development processes.
The second part deals with the description and function analysis of all
car subsystems, such as:
- vehicle body,
- chassis, including wheels, suspensions, brakes and steering
mechanisms,
- diesel and gasoline engines,
- electric motors, batteries, fuel cells, hybrid propulsion systems,
- driveline, including manual and automatic gearboxes.
This part addresses also many non-technical issues that influence
vehicle design and production, such as social and economic impact of
vehicles, market, regulations, particularly on pollution and safety.
In spite of the difficulty in forecasting the paths that will be taken
by automotive technology, the third part tries to open a window on the
future. It is not meant to make predictions that are likely to be wrong,
but to discuss the trends of automotive research and innovation and to
see the possible paths that may be taken to solve the many problems that
are at present open or we can expect for the future.
The book is completed by two appendices about the contribution of
computers in designing cars, particularly the car body and outlining
fundamentals of vehicle mechanics, including aerodynamics, longitudinal
(acceleration and braking) and transversal (path control) motion.
