In the 2011 SD Buying Guide ( 2011 Ford Super Duty Buying Guide .: Articles ) there is a reference (page 2) to CGEA. Does anyone know what that is? The only reference I could find was at Powered by Google Docs

If I understand right BMW (autos and motorcycles) have something with a similar name which "networks" everything and makes adding electrical stuff difficult. I have no reason to believe that this is similar but I want to know more. Any references?

 

A Yahoo search revealed this:
DSpace@MIT : Common global architecture applied to automobile electrical distribution systems

It's very academic, a thesis in fact. All I could glean from it was that it is a method, or proposed method of standardizing electrical distribution systems to make it cheaper, lighter, and more effecient to integrate the electronics in cars. Other than that, it was way over my head. BTW, this link is merely the abstract of the work. The entire thesis is available in PDF format, all 116 pages of it.

 

Thank you Bunky. Yes, that paper consists of glittering generalities about how to make the world better for designing stuff. I skimmed it through page 50 and it didn't get better. It isn't necessarily true that I'd understand what I hoped to find: what is this stuff, how is it networked, and how can I use it, but that is what I hoped for.

One day I'll learn to not depend only on Google.

Again, thanks.