Automatic climate control is the ability to monitor and influence the temperature of a specified space without manual intervention. This climate control capability can be found in many cars, boats, and airplanes. Its primary purpose is to manage the temperature of a given area based on settings by a user of the system.
Climate control devices were first introduced into automobiles in the early 1960s, and are available in many vehicles today. The benefit of automatic climate control is that it enables the occupants of a vehicle to set a specified temperature for one area within the automobile. This temperature is then regulated by the climate control system, which determines how best to maintain the current environment.
Prior to climate control, a heating and cooling system could only be engaged by manually selecting one of the mechanisms. While a user could select a general temperature via a sliding warmer or cooler control, the system would not automatically switch from air conditioning to heating without manual intervention. The creation of the automatic system has advanced the overall comfort for automobiles, as users are not forced to constantly move the controls to adjust the temperature of the compartment.
The mechanics of automated climate control require sensors to be placed into the compartment of the area to be managed. These sensors read the current temperature of the area. The readings are then matched to the setting defined by the occupants through the computer system within the vehicle, and the heating and cooling are adjusted appropriately.
Advances in automatic climate control in automobiles have evolved into zoned climate control. In this type of implementation, each occupant can adjust the temperature of the seating area in which he or she is seated. Each area within the defined zones has a separate climate control sensor that reads the current temperature of the specified area.
This type of system also includes a computer that regulates the entire air system within the compartment. The computer regulates the fan speed, engagement of air conditioning compressor, and overall air temperature to be disbursed. Typically, these processes are integrated into the overall computer system within modern automobiles.
Climate control systems are not limited to automobiles, and they can also be found in many boats and airplanes. While the implementation is unique for each type, the overall concept is the same.