Tutorial about the implementation of a vehicular high speed communication system

The growing network of mechatronic components within a vehicle, as well as their interaction creating new systems, request special and higher challenges to future communication systems. Besides the software implementation of these innovative systems, the investigation of new physical layers is of essential interest and of special interest in this article. Meanwhile the use of the electrical power supply grid as a communications medium has reached a considerable level of quality. Due to this success, it appears rewarding to open further areas of application for the new and innovative powerline technology, e.g. automotive power line communications. This paper investigates the properties of automotive onboard power supply networks for the purpose of an integrated power and data transmission. It is obvious, that the electrical power supply system within an automobile has very few in common with a residential area's supply grid. This means that new and different approaches must be found. This article introduces a brief tutorial about the realization of a vehicular high speed data communication on powerlines. Besides the investigation of existing harnesses, a prospect of required modifications and network components are presented.