Technologies behind multigigabit Ethernet and 5G could transform transportation. Harsh Patel | Molex The connected vehicle segments are growing at a rapid pace. By 2020, industry analysts predict there will be 250 million connected vehicles and 10 million self-driving cars on the road, and 470 million connected/autonomous vehicles by 2025. As the number of connected […]
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Flash memory keeps cars connected
A new kind of flash memory is optimized specifically to handle the hostile environment imposed on electronics in vehicular uses. Leland Teschler | Executive Editor You’d have to say the NAND flash memory had an inauspicious beginning. Invented in 1987 by Toshiba, the first NAND flash chip didn’t sell until 1995 when it finally found […]
Tech refresher: Basics of flash, NAND flash, and NOR flash
Flash memory stores information in an array of memory cells made from floating-gate transistors. Each memory cell resembles a standard metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) except that the transistor has two gates instead of one. The floating gate (FG) and the control gate (CG) control the current flowing between the source and drain. The CG resembles […]
Data injection — Testing autonomous sensors through realistic simulation
Proof that autonomous vehicles are safe to put on the road begins with rigorous models of the sensors that guide them. Holger Krumm | dSPACE GmbH Onboard sensors are critical for autonomous vehicles to navigate the open road, but the real environment is full of obstacles. Everyday interferences such reflective surfaces, whiteout conditions, fog, rain, […]
First implementations of Bluetooth-enabled keyless cars reveal a few bugs
The first production vehicle to employ a Bluetooth (actually a BLE) digital key is Tesla’s Model 3. When the owner approaches carrying his or her smartphone equipped with Bluetooth, Model 3s can be set to unlock their doors and trunk automatically, and starting the Model 3 is as simple as shifting out of Park. Nevertheless, […]
Spectrum co-existence challenges in the fully connected car
High-performance RF bandpass filters may hold the key to autonomous vehicle communication without interference. Ali Bawangaonwala | Qorvo, Inc. Continuing advances in technology are making the autonomous vehicle a practical reality, and there is frequent discussion among technologists about Wi-Fi and 5G as enablers of the connected car. Equally important, but less talked about, are […]
How GMR wheel speed sensors help advance vehicle control and braking systems
Giant magnetoresistance sensors are strong candidates for the high-accuracy wheel-speed sensing necessary in autonomous vehicle systems. Christine Graham | Allegro MicroSystems The purpose of a braking system has evolved from simplistic stopping to critical functions in vehicle safety through highly accurate feedback to traction control (TCS) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These advances have […]
The working principle, applications and limitations of ultrasonic sensors
The ultrasonic sensor (or transducer) works on the same principles as a radar system. An ultrasonic sensor can convert electrical energy into acoustic waves and vice versa. The acoustic wave signal is an ultrasonic wave traveling at a frequency above 18kHz. The famous HC SR04 ultrasonic sensor generates ultrasonic waves at 40kHz frequency. Typically, a […]
Embedded security: Do you know what you don’t know?
by Lynnette Reese, contributing editor Most of us assume that security comes from the operating system or application software. However, firmware is also at risk, including anything that barely hovers over the physical layer (silicon) in the chip. Embedded security is especially important in blocking seemingly innocuous pathways for hacking, such as in an automotive […]
The role of sensors in IoT networks, Part 2: Smart sensors and how to choose
Part 2 of this series continues with answering common questions about how sensors work in IoT system development. What are smart sensors? Basic sensors can detect changes in their environments and convert measured data into a digital format for the external microcontroller to process. The “smart” is in the microcontroller. Combining the microcontrollers in a […]