The Electronic Environment for Off-Highway Equipment

Benefits of adapting electronic controls to off-highway equipment are improved performance and productivity. Such improvements may be realized in several ways; for example, reduced fuel consumption, less time required to complete a task, more accurate results in work performed, and reduced operator fatigue by automating functions.

It is obvious that the controller must be reliable, and that the reliability of the system is dependent upon the ability of critical components to operate as intended under environmental stresses normally present in the application. Off-highway equipment can be subjected to harsh environmental stresses produced by various climatic, mechanical and electrical conditions. An understanding of these conditions, the detrimental effects they may produce, and protection against such effects are important considerations for the design of reliable electronic control systems.