Composites are a class of materials that are made of two or more constituent materials having different properties. The properties of the composites are unique and different from those of the constituent materials. The constituent materials of the composites remain separate and distinct and do not blend or dissolve with each other. Two types of constituents are required to form a composite: matrix and reinforcement. The matrix keeps the reinforcement materials in their relative positions, and the reinforcement materials add value to the matrix by imparting their specific physical and mechanical properties to the matrix. The reinforcement materials are usually fibers. The composites are also referred to as reinforced plastics/polymers. Some of the constituents of composites are fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fibers, natural fibers (wood, flax, hemp), metal matrix, and ceramic matrix. Many composites use a polymer matrix material called a resin solution to keep the reinforcement fibers in the desired orientation.

The utilization and consumption of rechargeable batteries are growing globally, covering all major sectors like consumer electronics, energy, automotive, and telecom. With advanced technologies and developments, battery efficiency (the maximum output power with respect to size and weight) has improved dramatically. The rapid growth of the global green vehicle market in the automotive sector has fueled the sales of high-density, high-power, small-size batteries especially Li-ion batteries globally. This increase in the global rechargeable battery market has prompted companies to become knowledgeable about battery management, thereby driving the global BMS market.

Technavio defines automotive remote diagnostics or remote vehicle diagnostics as a solution that enables automation of vehicle health and diagnosis using a wireless network. Vehicle health check refers to monitoring vehicle performance by continuously checking and assessing real-time data of certain parameters. This process helps to identify any deviation against expected vehicle performance. Diagnosis refers to the investigation based on real-time vehicle data associated with vehicle performance parameter deviation and the determination of root causes of the deviation. This technology offers several business benefits to both customers and OEMs by enabling an effective vehicle health planner.

Adaptive brake lights alert drivers of the emergency brake being activated in the vehicle in front of them. The flashing of the brake lights indicates to the car behind that the emergency brakes are being activated. The brake lights are automatically activated to flash several times with different illuminating levels when the vehicle undergoes an emergency brake while traveling at a speed of over 60 km/h. The intensity of the brake lights could be enhanced through the activation of additional lights along with the car’s existing brake lights upon emergency braking. The signal can either be given through flashing of brake and hazard lights or through high-intensity brake lights (intensity higher than that during normal braking), along with the activation of hazard lights.

Conventional vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines (ICEs). Over the course of time, the electrical content in these vehicles have increased, owing to the customer demand for more electrical and electronic devices for comfort and safety. For instance, remote opening of the trunk and seat adjustments require increased number of electric motors and actuators. In addition, the inclusion of infotainment and telematics systems in vehicles improved the use of electronic devices. Such an addition is the inclusion of the start-stop system, which led to an approximately 5% increase in fuel efficiency in vehicles.

The global automotive industry is highly competitive. The nature of competition, product life cycle, and consumer demand result in dynamic growth of the industry. Presently, the industry is characterized by companies that are relocating their production centers from developed to developing regions. During the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, the industry experienced a considerable decline in demand; however, it has slowly stabilized primarily due to the relative economic stability in developing nations.

Electron beam (e-beam) wafer inspection system is a semiconductor fab equipment that is used during the semiconductor wafer manufacturing process to find defects in the wafers before packaging them. Apart from the production process, it is also used for R&D purposes. As the use of semiconductor wafers is prevalent in a large number of industries like consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial, the demand for ebeam wafer inspection systems is bound to grow during the forecast period.

The consumption of rechargeable batteries is growing globally, covering all major sectors, including consumer electronics, energy, automotive, and telecom. The efficiency of the batteries (the maximum output power with respect to size and weight) has improved due to the advances in technologies. This growth in the global rechargeable battery market has prompted companies to become knowledgeable about the thermal management of battery systems, such as solutions for overheating and cold weather conditions, to improve battery life and performance.

An electric motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by the interaction of magnetic field with the current. The motor mainly consists of two parts: a rotor and a stator. The motors can be categorized into direct current (DC) motor and alternating current (AC) motor based on the type of electricity used by the motor. Furthermore, AC motors are classified into synchronous or asynchronous motors, and DC motors are classified into brushed and brushless motors.

Mirrors are a crucial visual aid for safe driving. Some of them are manually operated while others are electronically operated. Many types of mirrors, including interior rear view, side view, and front view mirrors are used in vehicles. The dimensions and positioning of the mirrors vary according to the type of vehicle.