WSA Nomenclature Practice Test

The brain of the system is the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). It houses the microcontroller (like the STM32) and runs the software that processes sensor data, makes decisions, and sends commands to actuators. Since the STM32 PCB sits in the front tray, that central processing unit is located there, coordinating the whole system. The other parts have more specific roles: an inertial switch is a sensor that detects motion or impact, CAN termination is just the resistor network that ends the CAN bus to keep communications clean, and dashboard switches are input devices for user commands. None of these perform central processing, so the ECU best fits the role of the system’s brain.