One factor that has forever remained a key issue within the automotive market has been that of passenger safety. While various passive safety systems such as safety airbags have reduced the number of deaths, there has been a need for a reliable system that could do more than just reacting to an accident. In this context, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a truly revolutionary concept in the field of active safety systems.

The ESC system monitors the driving conditions to determine the driver's intended course versus the car’s actual movement. This system intervenes when required, keeping the driver on course and thereby also reducing chances of rollover. ESC is expected to be the first in a long line of systems that improve the intelligence of the automotive in responding and preventing accidents. Studies by various automotive manufacturers, universities and regulatory boards have shown the decrease in accidents with the installation of ESC systems.

Micro machined sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes are incorporated in the ESC system and form a critical part of the functioning of Electronic Stability Control. Called Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) Inertial sensors, the boom in the ESC market is set to support robust growth for inertial sensors.

The ESC system uses the automatic breaking of the wheels to prevent the automotive from spinning out of control. The speed of response of the ESC system ensures that the driver does not feel the need to make any steering corrections. . This system can be a potential lifesaver especially in situations where a driver is navigating a very steep curve or on slippery road conditions caused by heavy rain.

The ESC system uses a gyroscope (yaw rate sensor), an accelerometer and a steering angle sensor. The accelerometer detects the acceleration of the chassis, which is zero when the vehicle is being driven in a straight line. When the vehicle starts to slip due to road conditions or high speed cornering, the accelerometer sends a signal to the control unit. At the same time, the gyroscope detects the rotational speed of the vehicle. The steering sensor detects the steering angle; thereby any discrepancy between the driver’s intention and the vehicle’s actual motion causes the ESC system to intervene and also providing control to the vehicle.

Advanced ESC systems come with additional features such as Traction Control, Electronic Brake Assist and Rollover stability Control. However, it is expected that standard ESC systems will have maximum penetration into the market and that the Advanced ESC systems will largely be restricted to the luxury vehicle segment. Rollover Stability Control (RSC) will continue to be an important driver in Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

Europe:

Europe has remained at the forefront of the ESC market and is expected to be the region of largest growth for ESC systems. Electronic Stability Control systems are now becoming a norm in new vehicles especially in countries such as Germany, Sweden and France. Other countries are expected to follow suit, as car manufacturers driven by both customer demand and competition make ESC systems a standard feature on most models.

North America:

The North American market for ESC systems has been rather slow to take off primarily because of lack of customer response. Studies have shown that customers are simply not aware of the benefits of the ESC system. To address this, ESC system manufacturers such as Bosch and Continental Teves have launched programs to educate the public. It is expected that the ESC systems will penetrate the U.S. market first via Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), automotives that are notorious for their rollover frequency. In fact, earlier this year General Motors announced the installation of ESC systems on all their vehicles by 2010. All this could change if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) passes a mandate that could require all vehicles to have ESC systems installed. The ruling is expected within next year.

Asia Pacific:

The Japanese and the Australian markets are two other markets where the impact of ESC systems is expected to be felt. The Japanese market has always been driven by technology and vehicle manufacturers are expected to introduce ESC systems in a phased manner over the next 5-10 years. In other countries, ESC systems are largely expected to be restricted to the luxury end segments and even this market entry is not expected to take place till late 2008.

Opportunities for MEMS Manufacturers:

The success of the ESC application in automobiles is set to provide tremendous opportunities for MEMS manufacturers. However, manufacturers will need to negotiate the large drop in price that is expected in these systems over the next five years. Additionally, MEMS Sensor manufacturers will need to meet the stringent reliability requirements of the automotive industry.

Some of the leading manufacturers in the Accelerometers segment include Analog Devices, Inc. VTI Technologies and Bosch whereas Bosch and BEI Technologies dominate the Gyroscopes segment. The market is expected to witness the entry of new players into the market over the next five years thereby increasing the competition to supply to ESC system manufacturers. The opportunities are available for sensor manufacturers but which companies exploit these remains to be seen.