Patent Publication Number: US-9415687-B2

Title: Reconfigurable dashboard assembly for military vehicles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/957,405, filed Aug. 1, 2013 and titled RECONFIGURABLE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR MILITARY VEHICLES, which is a continuation of of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/938,257, filed Nov. 2, 2010 and titled RECONFIGURABLE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR MILITARY VEHICLES, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/246,462, filed Oct. 6, 2008 and titled RECONFIGURABLE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY FOR MILITARY VEHICLES, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to interior components for vehicles, including dashboards and consoles for military vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A conventional dashboard assembly typically includes an integral control panel located under the windshield of a vehicle. The dashboard assembly may contain instrumentation and controls associated with the operation, functionality, and/or monitoring of the vehicle. For example, a dashboard includes multiple gauges (such as speedometers, tachometers, odometers, and/or fuel gauges), indicators (such as gear shift position, seat belt warning lights, and/or engine malfunction lights), and other instruments. A dashboard may also include heating or ventilation controls, vents, lighting controls, audio equipment, navigation systems, storage compartments (e.g., glove compartments), consoles, and other features. 
     Generally, these instruments, indicators and other components are located in various fixed positions on a single dashboard panel. For example, the gauges and indicators may be at a driver&#39;s side of the dashboard, the audio equipment may be centrally located, and the storage compartment may be at a passenger&#39;s side of the dashboard. 
     Tactical vehicles, such as vehicles that operate military missions, generally include additional components within their dashboards. The components may be mission specific components, providing drivers and passengers with information and functionalities necessary for the mission. These components may include C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) equipment, display components, human machine interface equipment, storage equipment, auxiliary power equipment, communications equipment, weapon control, navigation, situational awareness information, and other controls and/or information systems. 
     These types of vehicles are often used for different mission variants, such as command missions, supply missions, control missions, reconnaissance mission, intelligence gathering missions and medivac missions. Once the vehicles are built and configured in a factory, it can be difficult to reconfigure them to satisfy the needs of a certain mission variant. A tactical vehicle may often be called upon to perform different variants within a short period of time. However, conventional vehicles cannot be easily modified, and unnecessary equipment may clutter or hinder efficient operation in a vehicle during a mission. Also, repairing or servicing equipment in the dashboard can be difficult due to the relative rigid structure of single dashboard panels. In addition, upgrading equipment can also be challenging, because the new equipment may require adjustments to the dashboard configuration, such as the placement and/or location of HVAC routing, equipment cutouts, wiring, and so on. These and other drawbacks exist with respect to traditional, single panel, dashboards in vehicles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic isometric view of a dashboard assembly within a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic front perspective view of the dashboard assembly of  FIG. 1A  within a vehicle. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a schematic, partially exploded isometric views of multi-piece modular dashboard assemblies in accordance with other embodiments. 
         FIG. 2C  is a schematic isometric view of a multi-piece modular dashboard assembly in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a module attached to a smart back-panel in a modular dashboard assembly in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an interchangeable module of the modular dashboard assembly with sub-modules removeably attached to the module. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a routine for assembling a modular dashboard assembly within a vehicle. 
         FIG. 6  is flow diagram illustrating a routine for providing information to a user via a modular dashboard assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a routine for controlling a vehicle via a modular dashboard assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating a routine for controlling a component at one module with a component at another module. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram illustrating a routine for performing actions via a dashboard assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     Described in detail herein is a mission adaptable control system having a modular dashboard assembly for use in vehicles, such as tactical vehicles. In some examples, the dashboard assembly includes a back support structure, such as a back plane attached to the vehicle&#39;s chassis or frame. Additional control modules, such as driver modules, center modules, and/or passenger modules, are removably coupled to the back plane to form the dashboard assembly. 
     In some cases, some of the control modules are specifically configured with mission variant capabilities or controls, and the modules can be easily and quickly removed and replaced by other modules with the same or other configurations depending upon the mission requirements or other needs of the vehicle. For example, before deploying the vehicle on a mission, a passenger module configured for a prior different mission is quickly and easily removed from the back panel, and replaced by a new passenger module better suited for the current mission. A driver module and/or center module may also be removed from the back panel and replaced with another module as needed for a particular mission or intended use of the vehicle. 
     In some cases, the back plane contains and/or consolidates electrical wiring and other equipment necessary for interfacing between the dashboard assembly and the vehicle, such as the HVAC system, computerized control systems, power systems, data busses and other communication systems, and so on. In these cases, the back plane is a smart back panel configured with module reception parts shaped and sized to removeably receive and securely retain the selected control modules. The reception parts may provide electrical and data connections that facilitate electrical and data communications between the back panel and the control modules. The reception parts may also provide connections for cooling systems for the electrical and data communication systems, such as high powered display modules and associated equipment. By providing the smart back panel that contains and integrates the electrical, data, and other underlying equipment for the interface between the control modules and the other vehicle systems, the modular dashboard assembly facilitates modifying and reconfiguring the dashboard without reconfiguring the underlying infrastructure of the dashboard assembly. The smart back panel can also be configured with electrical, communication, and/or data related systems that facilitate sensor fusion between the features of the modules and/or the mission-specific components in the vehicle controlled at least in part by features, such as control heads, on the front modules. 
     The system and dashboard assembly will now be described with respect to various examples. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, these examples of the system. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the system may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples of the system. 
     The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific examples of the system. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section. 
     Suitable System 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a schematic isometric view of a suitable dashboard assembly within a vehicle is shown. A vehicle  100  includes a modular dashboard assembly  110 . The modular dashboard assembly  110  includes three front modules (modules viewable and accessible to users of the vehicle). The front modules may be a driver module  120 , a center module  130 , and a passenger module  140 . The driver module  120  may include various integrated components, such as gauges  123  and controls  125 . The center module  130  may include various components, such as various display and/or control components  133 ,  135 . The passenger module  140  may include various components, such as communication components, command center components, displays, switches, controls, and/or storage component  145 . Of course, the front modules may include other components not shown in the Figure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , a schematic perspective view of a suitable dashboard assembly within a vehicle is shown. The illustrated dashboard assembly  110  shows the driver module  120 , the center module  130 , and the passenger module  140 . These modules are generally located in certain positions within the vehicle. The driver module  120  is generally accessible by a driver of the vehicle, the center module  130  is centered in the vehicle and accessible by both a driver and a passenger, and the passenger module  140  is generally accessible by a passenger of the vehicle. 
     These modules, discussed in more detail herein, may communicate with one another via the smart back plane  210 , enabling drivers and passengers to interact, when necessary, via the dashboard components. For example, the controls  125  on the driver module  120  may interface with the smart back panel to control or communicate with the display  135  of the center module and/or other systems in the vehicle. 
     As discussed herein, the dashboard assembly can be configured with selected modules to meet the needs of a mission variant performed by a tactical vehicle. Some examples of suitable vehicles include Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV). These vehicles can be configured to be infantry combat vehicles, command vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, armored utility vehicles, and so on. Briefly, all JLTV vehicles share some similar capabilities and have some unique capabilities. They include a number of different payload categories. 
     A first category includes “Battlespace Awareness” vehicles, having payload capacities of approximately 3,500 lbs. These vehicles include the General Purpose Mobility (JLTV-A-GP) variant, which is designed as a general purpose utility vehicle having a 4-person capacity. A second category includes “Force Application” vehicles, having payload capacities of 4,000-4,500 lbs. These vehicles may be a number of different variants, including infantry carriers (JLTV-B-IC), reconnaissance vehicles, command and control vehicles, convoy escort vehicles, policing vehicles, weaponry vehicles, utility vehicles, ambulances and other medical vehicles, and so on. 
     A third category includes “Focused Logistics” vehicles, having payload capacities of approximately 5,100 lbs. These vehicles may also be a number of different variants, include shelter carrying vehicles, mover vehicles, other medical vehicles, and so on. Of course, other vehicle types may employ the modular dashboard assembly described herein and the dashboard assemblies can be configured and reconfigured with the modules best suited for the intended uses or missions of the vehicles. 
     Modular Dashboard Assembly 
     As discussed herein, some examples of the system employ a modular dashboard assembly useable in the tactical vehicle. Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  are schematic, partially exploded isometric views of a four-piece modular dashboard assembly  200  is shown. The dashboard assembly  200  includes a back plane  210 , and three front modules: a driver module  120 , a center module  130 , and a passenger module  140 . The dashboard assembly  200  includes two or more module reception portions  340 , wherein the module reception portions  340  are configured to receive a module containing one or more dashboard components  123 ,  125 , provide an electrical communication link between the one or more dashboard components  123 ,  125  and a wiring harness  214 , and provide a data communication link between the one or more dashboard components  123 ,  125  and a data bus  212 . 
     In some examples, the back plane  210  is a smart back plane that includes the underlying electrical and data communications architecture for the dashboard assembly. In one embodiment, the smart back plane  210  includes a data bus  212  that provides data communication between the dashboard assembly  200  and the vehicle. The smart back plane  210  has an integral control system  160  that can be programmed and/or reprogrammed to control, monitor, and manage the modules  120 ,  130 , and  140 , the vehicle systems and components, and/or other mission-specific equipment carried by the vehicle. The back plane  210  is configured to connect to and/or interface with other systems in the vehicle, including the HVAC systems, drive systems, computer control systems, engine related systems, communication systems, etc. In one embodiment, the smart back plane  210  has a wiring harness  214  that provides electrical communication between the dashboard assembly  200  and the vehicle. The back plane  210  is also configured with the electronics and/or communication-related components that interface with each of the different front modules.  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3  and the following discussion provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the system can be implemented. Although not required, aspects of the system are described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as routines executed by a general-purpose computing system within the backplane  210 . Aspects of the system can be embodied in a special purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions explained in detail herein. Aspects of the system may be stored or distributed on computer-readable media, including magnetically or optically readable computer discs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROM semiconductor chips), nanotechnology memory, biological memory, or other data storage media. 
     The back plane  210  attaches the dashboard assembly to the vehicle, and can be fixedly secured to the vehicle. The front modules plug into or otherwise attach to the back plane. Thus, the combination of the fixed back panel with removable front modules provides for a secure, reliable dashboard easily reconfigurable to meet the operational or mission-specific needs of a vehicle. 
     In some examples, the smart back plane  210  with the integral control system  160  provides an electrical and/or communication link  161  between dashboard components contained in the various front modules and one or more controller area networks (CAN) or other control networks  211 , of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle may have an engine control unit, a transmission control unit, braking control unit, and so on to control aspects of the vehicle. The vehicle can also be configured with other CANs to operatively connect to, as an example, mission-specific equipment or components  213  carried by the vehicle  100 . The CAN facilitates communications between these and other control units, and controls actuators and receives information from sensors based on input from dashboard components. The system may employ other communication networks and protocols, such as the SAE J1939 protocol, the vehicle bus standard used for communication and diagnostics between vehicle components. The smart back plane interfaces with these vehicle components for the dashboard assembly  200 . 
     In some examples, the back plane  210  with the integral control system  160  also contains or hosts data communication networks and channels not used in vehicle control and monitoring. For example, the back plane  210  may include DVI communications channels, USB communications channels, smart cards, and so on. Thus, the back plane  210  can facilitate the attachment and operation of C4I and other communication-based front modules within the modular dashboard assembly  200 . 
     The back plane  210  can also be configured to interconnect the modules  120 ,  130  and  140  to other mission-specific equipment installed in or carried by the vehicle. For example, the back panel  210  can be configured to connect or interface with weapons control systems, fire control guidance systems, satellite based imaging systems, satellite radio systems, high-power communications or computing systems or other mission-specific equipment carried by the vehicle. The modules  120 ,  130  and  140  can plug into or otherwise connect to the back panel  210 , thereby operatively connecting to the mission-specific equipment and to each other. The back panel  210  with the integral control system  160  can be configured to identify which modules  120 ,  130  and  140  (and their associated functionality) are mounted on the back panel. The back panel  210  can be also be configured to monitor the health of the modules  120 ,  130  and  140  and/or systems in or carried by the vehicle. 
     In one embodiment, the mission-specific components are coupled to and controlled by the back panel&#39;s integral control system  160  for communication with the modules  120 ,  130  and  140 . This arrangement can facilitate the sensor fusion between the components in or carried by the vehicle, such as the mission-specific components configured to work together in direct or complimentary fashions. In other embodiments, the back panel  210  can include one or more independent connectors (i.e, not routed through to the back panel&#39;s integral control system  160 ) to allow for direct interconnection between a mission-specific component and a selected modules  120 ,  130  or  140 . These independent connectors are positioned on the back panel  210  so as to allow mating connectors on a modules  120 ,  130  or  140  to plug into and/or connect with the mission-specific component. In another embodiment, the back panel  210  can include one or more apertures or pass-through portions that allow power, electrical, and/or communication lines in the vehicle to pass through the back panel. These pass through portions can be positioned to accommodate and of the vehicle&#39;s existing or fixed wiring and cable systems as needed. 
     As discussed herein, the front modules may provide various dashboard components, depending on the needs of the system, vehicle, and/or mission. A driver module  120  may include user interface components  230 , such as gauges, displays, vehicle toggles, switches, and controls, and so on. That is, the driver module  120  may include input components that receive input from a user (such as a driver) to control the performance or functionality of the vehicle, as well as output components that provide information to the driver associated with the functionality or performance of the vehicle. 
     A center module  130  may extend the driver module  120 , or may include additional dashboard components. For example, the center module  130  may include additional switches and controls  230  as well as display components  240 , such as displays that provide multimedia information to the driver. 
     A passenger module  140  may include modules dependent on a mission variant of the vehicle. For example, the passenger module  140  may include a display component  250  that acts to receive input and output information via a touch screen or associated keyboard. In some cases, the passenger module includes C4I (command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence) equipment. These components may provide mission-based and/or situation-based information to a passenger of the vehicle. Example components include displays, computing systems, weapon systems, monitoring systems, storage systems, navigation systems, and communication systems. 
     The front modules  120 ,  130 , and  140  may be releasably attached to the back plane  210  using a number of different attachment mechanisms. In some cases, the front modules are removable attached to the back plane using quick-release attachment mechanisms. That is, the front modules are secured in the back plane, but can be easily and quickly removed by releasing the quick-release mechanisms should the need arise. The back plane  210  may include reception ports configured to receive the front modules. The reception ports may be configured to receive all front modules, a selected number of front modules, or a single module. For example, in some cases a reception port on the back plane located on a passenger portion of the vehicle may be configured to receive a number of different passenger modules  140   a  and  140   b  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ), but not driver or center modules. In other cases, the reception port may be configured to receive all types of front modules so that the front modules are interchangeable in the different reception ports. For example, it may be necessary to swap the center and passenger modules with each other. Having reception ports configured to receive different types of front modules facilitates such a reconfiguration requirement. 
     In some examples, the back plane  210 , via reception ports, facilitates electrical and data communications between dashboard components and a vehicle control network or other equipment or components carried by the vehicle as discussed above. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram  300  illustrating a front module  310  attached to a back plane  210  in a modular dashboard is shown. The back plane  210  includes vehicle network communication equipment  320  and dashboard communication systems equipment  330 . The back plane  210  also includes a reception portion  340  configured to receive a front module  310 , such as a via an attachment portion  313  of the front module  310 . The back plane  210  may provide wiring or other electrical connections  321 ,  331  that connect the communication equipment  320 ,  330 , respectively, to the front module  310 . The front module  310  may also include electrical connections  317  that connect dashboard components  313  to the electrical and communications equipment within the back module  110 . Thus, the back plane  210  facilitates communications between dashboard components, the vehicle network, and other mission-specific components mounted in the vehicle. In addition, the back panel  210  facilitates communications between the components or features on the dashboard components or in the modules  120 ,  130  and  140 . 
     The dashboard system contains much of the underlying communications, HVAC, and electrical interface architecture within the back plane in order to facilitate the attachment of front modules (and, indirectly, dashboard components) and the interface with the other vehicle systems from the dashboard assembly. In some examples, the back plane acts as a structural backbone of the dashboard assembly. Therefore, the dashboard system may locate electrical wiring, HVAC assemblies, communications assemblies, and so on within the back plane without hindering the interchangeable capabilities of the dashboard assembly, because the placement, size, and configuration of the front modules is standardized. 
     The front modules may be sealed during or after attachment to the back plane. The dashboard system may seal the modules (and interfaces between the modules) using a number of different techniques and processes, and should provide protection from NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) washing, high pressure hose washing, immersion, and pressurization of the vehicle. 
     In addition to containing discrete dashboard components, one or more of the front modules in accordance with other embodiments may also contain sub-modules removeably and/or interchangeably mounted on a selected front module. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram illustrating a modular dashboard assembly  400  with front modules mounted to a smart back plane, and a least one of the front modules (driver, center, or passenger module) includes sub-modules within the front module is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the dashboard assembly  400  includes a front module  410  containing two sub-modules, such as sub-module  420  and sub-module  430 . Sub-module  420  includes a display component  422  and an input component  424 , and sub-module  430  includes two different interface, display or communication components  432  and  434 . Thus, in some examples, the system adapts the front modules to include sub-modules, providing additional adaptability and scalability, among other benefits, when a vehicle is configured to a mission&#39;s requirements. 
     For example, a vehicle can be used in a reconnaissance mission, with the front module  400  containing a communications sub-module  420  and an interface sub-module  430  supported by a support portion  440  of the first module. Once the mission is completed, the vehicle may be assigned to a patrol mission, wherein the vehicle does not require the communications sub-module, but requires other mission-specific components, such as gauges, navigational features, etc. The communications sub-module  420  can be easily and quickly, removed, and another sub-module is plugged into or otherwise attached to the respective front module. Thus, instead of removing the entire front module, only the sub-module unnecessary for the mission is removed and replaced. Thus, the modular dashboard system can provide a deeper level of granularity in how the modular dashboard can be reconfigured. 
     As discussed herein, the modular dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and a number of different front modules. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flow diagram illustrating a routine  500  for manufacturing a modular dashboard assembly within a vehicle is shown. In step  510 , a smart back panel is installed into a vehicle. During installation, electrical, data, HVAC and other interface components within the back plane is connected to the various complementary networks and/or systems of the vehicle, as described herein. The back plane may be removable attached, or may be fixedly attached to the vehicle, depending of the configuration of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the back plane can be modular or segmented, and the back plane segments are attached individually to the vehicle structures. For example, a first back plane segment, which includes an electrical bus is first installed, followed by a second back plane segment that includes a data bus. Of course, other installations or attachments of the back segments are possible in other embodiments. 
     In step  520 , a driver module is removably attached to the back plane. As described herein, the driver module (and other described modules) may include an attachment portion configured to attach to a reception component of the back module. The driver module may be selected from a number of different driver modules, depending on requirements of the mission, the needs of the driver, and so on. In step  530 , a center module is removably attached to the back plane. The center module may be selected from a number of different modules, depending on the requirements of the mission, the needs of the occupants, and so on. In step  540 , the passenger module is removably attached to the back plane. The passenger module may be selected from a number of different modules, depending on the mission, the needs of the passenger, and so on. In general, each type of module is removably attached at one specific location (e.g., the center module is removably attached to a center portion of the back module). However, in some cases the front modules may be attached at different locations. For example, a mission may require two different passenger modules, and the system may facilitate attaching one of the passenger modules in place of a center module. 
     Communications Via the Dashboard Assembly 
     As described herein, the back plane  210  provides an electrical and/or communications link between a vehicle network (such as a CAN) and dashboard components on a modular dashboard assembly  200 . In some examples, the back plane facilitates the display of information about a vehicle to a user. Referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow diagram illustrating a routine  600  for providing information to a user via a modular dashboard assembly is shown. In step  610 , the back plane receives a signal from a vehicle monitoring component, such as a sensor within a control network. In step  620 , the back plane transmits the signal, or information associated with the signal, to a dashboard component, such as a dashboard component associated with the sensor. The back plane may condition the signal or generate a different signal or command based on the front module and associated dashboard components attached to the back plane. In step  630 , the dashboard component presents the information from the sensor to a user of the vehicle. Thus, the back plane provides a link between a control network in a vehicle with various dashboard components, enabling the system to provide different modules (and, therefore, different dashboard components), without requiring direct connections between the dashboard components and systems within the vehicle. 
     In some examples, the back plane facilitates user control of the vehicle using dashboard components. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a flow diagram illustrating a routine  700  for controlling a vehicle via a modular dashboard assembly is shown. In step  710 , user input is received via a dashboard component, such as a control component. For example, the system may a selection to adjust the braking force of the vehicle. In step  720 , the front module that contains the control components communicates the input to the back plane. In step  730 , the back plane transmits a signal based on the received input. For example, the back plane directs a signal to an actuator associated with the braking control unit of the vehicle. Again, the back plane provides indirect connections between front modules containing dashboard components with vehicle network components, which facilitates easy reconfiguration of the front modules, because they are not directly connected to the vehicle. 
     In some examples, the modular dashboard assembly, via the back plane, provides for communications between modules. Referring to  FIG. 8 , a flow diagram illustrating a routine  800  for controlling a component at one module with a component at another module is shown. In step  810 , the dashboard assembly receives input at a dashboard component within a first module. For example, the driver pushes a button to turn on a display component within a passenger module. In step  820 , the dashboard assembly directs the input (or, information, data, or electrical signals associated with the input) to a second module via the back plane. For example, the input generates a signal that moves through an electrical bus within the back plane to the passenger module. The back plane may direct the signal to the appropriate module according to known techniques. In step  830 , a dashboard component within the second module performs an action based on the received input at the first module. For example, the display component within the passenger module displays a map as directed by the input. 
     Because the front modules are interchangeable, the system may facilitate the reassignment of control components to other components depending on the configuration of the dashboard assembly. Referring to  FIG. 9 , a flow diagram illustrating a routine  900  for performing actions via a dashboard assembly is shown. In step  910 , the dashboard assembly receives input via a control component within a first module. For example, during a first mission, the driver turns a dial within the driver module. In step  920 , the dashboard assembly performs an action at a component within a second module. For example, a display within the passenger module provides a wide view of an area in front of the driver. 
     In step  930 , the second module is removed from the dashboard assembly. For example, the vehicle may have completed the first mission, and is awaiting deployment to another mission. In step  940 , a third module is removably attached to the dashboard assembly. For example, the new mission requires additional communication components, and a new module that includes satellite radio is removable attached to the dashboard assembly. 
     In step  950 , the dashboard assembly receives input via the control component at the first module. For example, the driver turns the same dial. In step  960 , the dashboard assembly performs a different action at a component within the third module. For example, the radio tunes to a selected channel. 
     Thus, in some cases the modular dashboard assembly, via a back plane facilitates the control of different dashboard components without direct connections between the components. This enables the easy reconfiguration of the dashboard assembly, among other things. Additionally, the modular dashboard assembly can assign certain control and other dashboard components many different functions by replacing one front module with another. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Thus, the modular dashboard assembly described herein provides flexibility in manufacturing and developing vehicles for deployment into mission variants. The interchangeability may reduce costs and effort in configuring vehicles for certain uses. In addition, the modular dashboard assembly may be implemented into other vehicles, such as commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, automobiles, and so on. The modularity may enable vehicle dealers to provide different styles and functions for the interiors of their vehicles, which can be attractive to potential buyers, without incurring the additional costs associated with supplying different vehicles. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific examples of the system have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the system. Accordingly, the system is not limited except as by the appended claims. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” The word “coupled”, as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The above detailed description of embodiments of the system is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the system to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the system, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. 
     The teachings of the system provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     These and other changes can be made to the system in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the system and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the system can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in implementation details, while still being encompassed by the system disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the system should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the system with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the system to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the system encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the system under the claims. 
     While certain aspects of the system are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the system in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the system is recited as a method of manufacturing, other aspects may likewise be recited as a method of manufacturing. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the system.