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ADAS Electronic Components for Autonomous Vehicles

Jul 27, 2021

We’re witnessing the most exciting time in the history of electronics. Rapid adoption and expansion of electronics have made the vehicles evolve from hand-crafted classics that were earlier controlled by cables and mechanical systems to now completely computer-controlled self-thinking autonomous machines. The growing adoption of connected vehicle technology and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) drives the demand for electronics. It’s projected that hybrid, electric vehicles (EV), and ADAS systems alone would contribute to over 45% of the electronics in a car by 2030. 

According to WHO, approximately 1.25M people die each year due to accidents on the road caused by human error. Thus, safety features in autonomous vehicles (AV) are a compelling reason for their rapid adoption. Nevertheless, liability and regulatory complexity remain a concern when autonomous vehicles share roads with human-driven vehicles in different conditions. [1]

AV Passive Components

Passive components dominate the count on ADAS systems. These components play a major role in improving system reliability. They have an impact on overall system reliability and also contribute extremely positive performance. Below are the latest technological upgrades that are happening in the circuits of autonomous cars:

Self-Healing Capacitors: The mid-complexity ECU contains 200 capacitors, and the next-generation self-healing capacitors will help eliminate 200 potential failure points in the circuit. These devices are an enabling technology for failsafe power supplies and regulators in automobile circuits.

Transient Capable Passives: Radio-frequency (RF) capacitors and inductors are miniature by having high Q and low RF that haven’t performed very well when exposed to ESD and other temporary waveforms. A new material and manufacturing system has been developed to create ESD-capable inductors, capacitors, and filters. These devices can harden RF links and sensors throughout ADAS designs (GPS, radar, and lidar). Pulse capable integration capacitors can be utilized on IR cameras, stereo vision, and lane-keeping modules to improve system reliability.

LCT Filters: When replacing a T-filter configuration, consisting of two inductors and one capacitor, with a single integrated filter package in a 0805-case size. As the number of components gets reduced, there are fewer possibilities for assembly-induced defects like pick and place errors, damages, board flexure induced failures, etc. Solder process errors are also reduced with the lower number of solder joints. Thus, the failure rate of the single filter is better than a combination of discrete devices.

Electrified & Autonomous Future

The widespread adoption of advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving technology is expected to hit $270B by 2030. The rise in the development of smart cities is a key factor driving the autonomous car market. This brings equal opportunity in smart infrastructures such as IoT enablement for roads, lanes, signals, road signs, parking, and e-charging points, a robust 5G, AI-driven traffic management, and decision support to help predict congestion, hazards directions, and diversions. Autonomous cars appear to be an ecosystem in itself that sweeps in not just the vehicle per se but also several other support systems around it. The scope for electronics is, therefore, truly mind-boggling. 

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