By Bipin Pande, Technical Marketing Manager, Automotive Product Group, STMicroelectronics
The number of semiconductors in automobiles has seen astonishing growth in the last few years and has influenced all functionalities in a vehicle. Advanced features in premium vehicles make up for an-ever increasing semiconductor content, and after a few years this trickles down to lower-end car models. Average semiconductor content for premium cars is ~$1000 and average content for midrange models is $350[1]. The cloud, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also playing big roles in the global automotive industry today. The steadily increasing electronic content in vehicles is suggestive of the growth potential for semiconductors in the short and long terms. In fact, according to some analysts[2], the global revenue for automotive electronics is expected to rise at an annual growth rate of 6.8 percent between 2014 and 2018.
Efficiency, standards, safety, comfort, user experience, and connectivity are some of the areas where electronics play a major role in automotives. All these systems within the car are already interconnected and centrally controlled. Some, such as positioning and car-to-infrastructure systems, are even connectivity features in their own right. The car as a technology hub has already begun to fulfill the Internet of Everything (IoE) concept with people, things, and processes interacting seamlessly. Embedded systems applications are becoming increasingly popular, and technological improvements have resulted in overall benefits for the automobile industry. Some of the mechanical systems in cars are giving way to electronic systems ranging from complex anti-lock brake controls and air bags to wiper controls. In Safety, the air-bag system has emerged as the one of the most significant parts in a vehicle, and is closely followed in importance byanti-lock brakes or ABS in standard models. In higher end vehicles, collision avoidance systems, which consist of sensors that track speed, valves, pump and controllers, add to the safety mix. The navigation system has also gained traction and has become widely popular, even being included in some entry level vehicle models. In-car entertainment systems have also matured and are enriched with new digital standards.
The most significant changes are in the areas of infotainment, telematics, and safety. Advanced driver assistance systems and safety features are increasingly being implemented in newer vehicles. Today we are at a stage where the way a car is perceived and conceptualized can be completely overhauled. Connectivity will play a big role here, as the car will always be connected and will require access to multiple services at any given moment. The next most important area will be the evolution of the powertrain, which encompasses the optimisation of the conventional engine for more efficiency as well as the development of hybrid and electric vehicles. Other significant changes taking place are in regards to systems such as drive-by-wire and body control modules, which are bringing a considerable change in the vehicle although invisible to end-users. Efficient designing and packaging of electronics will lead to better performance at a lower weight, which in turn will increase fuel-efficiency.
Autonomous car and security concerns associated
On top of a necessary evolution of many regulatory constraints (notably on insurance and liability, on top of standardization of a number of features necessary for system-wide deployments), the concept of semi-autonomous and autonomous driving rides on the back of technologies that would take care of three main systems: safety and security; infotainment and telematics; and powertrain/fuel economy. In turn, these main systems will be driven by the amount of connectivity and data transfer necessary to implement their requirements.
Improvements in smart traffic management, positioning and location-based services, car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication all will contribute towards a positive autonomous car driving experience. . Key functions are already controlled by engine control units (ECUs) such as engine management, infotainment/navigation systems, ABS, electronic stabilization program (ESP), Park Assist, and so on. It can already be said that some high-end cars available today on the market have reached the level of “semi-autonomous” in many situations. The last major milestone is high-speed autonomy, which is the situation with the highest security and safety constraints.
But the autonomous car also faces risk of hacking and hijacking, as demonstrated in recent examples, and security systems must be equipped for proactive protection and be able to update throughout the lifecycle of the car systems.
Solutions for Auto electronics
STMicroelectronics is one of the leading suppliers and innovators in the domain of semiconductor devices dedicated to automotive applications. With a portfolio spanning complex powertrain microcontrollers, audio and infotainment devices, and body/convenience dedicated and standard functions, ST maintains a leading edge position and focus.
For years, ST has demonstrated its ability to provide innovative, cost effective solutions for automotive. Those solutions cover almost all automotive challenges: green power (engine management, hybrid/electrical car), safety (ADAS, radar, image recognition, transmission, airbags), body (relays replacement, lighting, motor drives), infotainment (radio, positioning, multimedia, networking) and connectivity (Car2Car, FlexRay, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth).
Combined with in-house design expertise and a highly efficient automotive-grade manufacturing machine, ST continuously refines and expands its technology offering to system makers, car manufacturers, and other stakeholders within the ecosystem to successfully implement the next generations of smarter, greener, safer, networked cars.
[1]Winning Share in Automotive Semiconductors, McKinsey & Co, Autumn 2013
[2]Strategy Analytics’ Automotive Semiconductor Demand Forecast 2012 – 2021, Oct 2014
