Electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles, along with the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), have been a huge incentive for change in automotive technologies. As part of this transformation, the automotive industry continually improves key technologies such as lithium-ion batteries to improve safety and extend battery life and LiDAR to make them smaller and more robust to deliver greater reliability and allow for a longer range. The industry is also looking at a new video connectivity standard that will deliver high-speed video and sensor data transmission in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), in-cabin infotainment, and autonomous driving.
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In the July/August digital issue, we look at some of the enabling technologies and standards and how they are evolving to meet the automotive industry’s requirements as vehicles become more autonomous and connected. The need for higher reliability and safety are big contributing factors.
The evolution of vehicle automation and the ability to implement security, in-vehicle infotainment, and vehicle performance features through complex software rely on centralized, high-performance computing architecture tailored to the automotive environment and delivered through an SDV platform, said Daniel Leih, product marketing manager for the USB and networking group at Microchip Technology Inc.
Transforming vehicles into data centers on wheels not only supports SDVs but also provides a better way to manage the growing variety of ECUs used for engine, transmission, traction, anti-lock braking, and airbag control, as well as those for climate control, windows, and seat controls, Leih said.
Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication allows vehicles to interact with their surroundings in real time and is powering the transition to AVs and connected cars. V2X improves road safety by allowing cars to share critical information about speed, direction, and potential hazards, thereby reducing the probability of accidents, contributing writer Stefano Lovati said, and it is also important in traffic management, helping to alleviate congestion and improve mobility efficiency, especially in urban areas. Lovati covers the basics of communication modes and some of the latest advances in sensors, a key component in AV technology.
However, no single sensor can solve autonomous driving on its own, said Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx, with cameras offering rich semantic data, radar excelling in poor weather conditions, and LiDAR offering a unique edge in building a centimeter-accurate, light-agnostic 3D model of the world. Fu reports on why LiDAR is quietly making its way back into the passenger car spotlight. Over 15% of global passenger cars will feature LiDAR by 2028, according to IDTechEx, and nearly all Level 3 and above models will include it by default.
As autonomous driving, ADAS, and in-cabin infotainment require more cameras, sensors, radar, LiDAR, and displays, having standardized video connectivity is growing in importance. However, it also adds to the challenges in data rate capabilities, resolution, and interoperability. The OpenGMSL Association recently launched to promote Analog Devices Inc.’s Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link (GMSL) SerDes technology as an open automotive standard for video and high-speed data transmission.
For EVs, improving batteries and charging systems is a continuous challenge. Lovati covers the basics of batteries, including lithium-ion and potential replacements such as solid-state, sodium-ion, and lithium-sulfur batteries, as well as the key specifications for the different EV charging levels and why wide-bandgap components are increasingly used to maximize a charger’s efficiency. He also highlights a few development platforms and reference designs from chipmakers that are contributing to the development of charging stations.
Also in this issue, the top 10 LEDs and LED drivers highlight advances in automotive and horticultural LED lighting. These devices deliver a range of improvements, from higher brightness and higher efficiency to better brightness control, smaller form factors, and greater durability. They also address reducing thermal stress and improving protection features.
Don’t miss some of the latest advances in sensors, including accelerometers and inertial measurement units. In applications such as automotive and industrial, not only are product designers looking for sensors and sensing solutions with higher integration and/or smaller package sizes, but these components also need to deliver in areas such as accuracy and precision, as well as ease of integration and ease of use.
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