Automotive Technology Terms

noun the components and connections of an electrical system

• The engineer carefully examined the circuitry of the new prototype.
• I have no idea how to fix the circuitry in this old TV.
• Dude, the circuitry in this gaming console is totally fried.
• The intricate circuitry of the human brain is still a mystery to scientists.

noun a person or thing that generates or produces something

• The power plant uses a large generator to produce electricity.
• I borrowed my neighbor's generator for the camping trip.
• I need to hook up the gennie to get some power in here.
• His creativity is like a generator, always coming up with new ideas.

noun a branch of technology that deals with the study and application of pressurized gas to produce mechanical motion

• Pneumatics is a branch of engineering that deals with the mechanical properties of gases.
• I learned about pneumatics in my engineering class - it's all about using air to power machines.
• Hey, did you know that some cars use pneumatics to adjust their suspension on the fly?
• Her ideas flowed through the company like pneumatics, powering innovation at every turn.

noun a device that emits heat, typically used to warm a room or a vehicle

• The radiator in the room provides heat during the winter months.
• Make sure to bleed the radiator if it's not warming up properly.
• I'm freezing, can you crank up the radiator?
• His anger was like a radiator, slowly building up until it exploded.

noun a component of a vehicle's suspension system designed to absorb and dampen the shock impulses transmitted from the road surface

• The shock absorber in the car helps to minimize the impact of bumps on the road.
• I need to replace the shock absorber on my bike, it's making a weird noise.
• Dude, that new skateboard has some sick shock absorbers, it rides so smooth.
• Learning to cope with failure is like having a good shock absorber for life's ups and downs.

noun the action of making something tighter or more secure

verb the act of making something tighter or more secure

• The company is tightening its budget in response to the economic downturn.
• I need to start tightening my spending if I want to save up for a vacation.
• My jeans are so tight, I can barely breathe!
• The government is tightening its grip on social media regulation.

noun the extent to which a product, idea, etc., gains popularity or acceptance

• The new marketing campaign is gaining traction among our target audience.
• The new video game is really starting to get traction with gamers.
• That new song is getting mad traction on social media.
• The project seemed to be losing traction until we brought in a new team member to help.

noun a type of shock absorber

• The dashpot is a mechanical device used to dampen vibrations in a system.
• I had to replace the dashpot in my car's suspension system.
• That old dashpot is really giving me trouble.
• Her calm demeanor acted like a dashpot, absorbing all the stress and tension in the room.

noun the act or process of increasing speed or velocity

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• The process of velocitization involves increasing the speed of a moving object.
• Velocitization is all about making things go faster.
• Let's velocitize this project and get it done quicker!
• Her mind was in a state of velocitization, racing with ideas and thoughts.

noun A coil of wire usually in the form of a helix, used to produce a magnetic field when carrying an electric current.

• The solenoid is an electromechanical device used to convert electrical energy into linear motion.
• I had to replace the solenoid in my car because it was causing starting issues.
• I need to get my hands on a new solenoid for my ride.
• The solenoid acted like a gatekeeper, controlling the flow of energy in the system.

noun a device used to cheat emissions tests in vehicles

• The company was fined for installing a defeat device in their vehicles to cheat emissions tests.
• The car manufacturer got caught using a defeat device to pass emissions tests.
• They thought they could get away with using a defeat device, but they were caught red-handed.
• Trying to use a defeat device to manipulate the system is like trying to cheat in a game with no consequences.

noun a device that uses feedback control to accurately position a mechanical component

adjective related to or involving a servo mechanism

• The servo motor in the robotic arm allows for precise control of movement.
• I had to replace the servo in my RC car because it stopped working.
• I'm going to tweak the servo settings to make my drone fly faster.
• She acted as a servo, always adjusting to others' needs before her own.

noun a type of cylindrical battery commonly used in small electronic devices

adjective describing the type or size of the battery

• The remote control requires an AA cell to function properly.
• Hey, do you have an extra AA cell for my flashlight?
• I need to grab some double As for my portable fan.
• Her energy was like an AA cell, always ready to tackle any task.

noun a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'inertance' is a noun that refers to the tendency of a system to resist changes in motion.

• The acoustic inertance of the material affects the sound absorption properties.
• The acoustic inertance basically measures how well the material absorbs sound.
• The acoustic thingy measures how good the material is at soaking up sound.
• The acoustic inertance is like the material's ability to swallow up sound waves.

noun a system in a vehicle that automatically adjusts the speed of the vehicle to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead

• The new luxury car model comes equipped with adaptive cruise control for a smoother driving experience.
• I love how my car automatically adjusts its speed with adaptive cruise control on the highway.
• My ride has this cool feature called adaptive cruise control that makes driving so much easier.
• Using adaptive cruise control is like having a personal chauffeur who knows exactly when to speed up or slow down.

noun the quality of being able to be adjusted or adapted

adjective adjustable

• The new office chairs come with a high level of adjustability to ensure maximum comfort for employees.
• I love how this car seat has so much adjustability - I can find the perfect position for my back.
• Dude, this gaming chair has sick adjustability options. It's like sitting on a cloud.
• The adjustability of his schedule allowed him to pursue his passion for painting in the evenings.

noun a process or treatment that occurs after the main treatment or process has been completed

• The aftertreatment system is designed to reduce harmful emissions from the vehicle.
• Make sure you take your car in for aftertreatment maintenance to keep it running smoothly.
• I heard the aftertreatment on that truck is top-notch, it's practically brand new.
• Implementing aftertreatment measures can help clean up the environmental mess we've made.