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7.
GLOSSARY
7.1
ACU
The Airbag Control Unit is one of many Electronic Control Units (see 7.4) in a car. It controls the
deployment of the airbags in case of an accident. Through sensors, the ACU measures many
parameters regarding the vehicle’s acceleration and deceleration. If a certain constellation of
parameters exceeds predefined thresholds, the airbags and other protection mechanisms will
deploy.
7.2
Attack Surface
The attack surface of a software environment is the sum of the different points (the "attack
vectors") where an unauthorized user (the "attacker") can try to enter data to or extract data
from an environment.
7.3
BCM
In automotive electronics, Body Control Module is a generic term for an Electronic Control Units
(see 7.4) responsible for monitoring and controlling various electronic accessories in a vehicle's
body. Typically, in a car, the BCM controls the power windows, power mirrors, air conditioning,
immobilizer system, central locking, etc. The BCM communicates with other on-board computers
via the car's vehicle bus, and its main application is controlling load drivers – actuating relays that
in turn perform actions in the vehicle such as locking the doors or dimming the salon overhead
lamp.
7.4
ECU
In automotive electronics, electronic control unit (ECU) is a generic term for any embedded
system that controls one or more of the electrical system or subsystems in a motor vehicle.
7.5
E/E
Abbreviation used in the car industry. It stands for Electrical and Electronic design.
7.6
Head Unit
The Head Unit used to be the centerpiece of the car's sound system. Typically located in the
center of the dashboard, modern Head Units are densely integrated electronic packages housed
in detachable face plates. As high-end Head Units are common targets for theft, many Head Units
are typically integrated into the vehicle's alarm system. Today OEMs (see 7.12) are integrating
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December 2015