Looking back when the International Forum on Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Application (AMAA) started, enormous progress has been made in reducing casualties, emissions and in increasing comfort and performance. Microsystems in many cases provided the key functions for this progress. Although the issues the event concentrated on didn t change significantly (safety, powertrain, comfort, etc.), considerable shifts of technological paradigms and approaches can be stated.

The future of microsystems will consist of integrated smart systems which are able to diagnose a situation,...