Reducing and Eliminating Thermal Interface Materials in EV Batteries
Samtec Connectors Target Automotive Lighting, Infotainment, and Power
Mouser Connects Engineers to the Future of EV/HEV Technology with New Comprehensive Resource Hub
Avalue Presents AIB-NVAO, AI Box PC for Autonomous Machines Intelligence
Newest Mouser Series Navigates Zonal Architectures for Software-Defined Vehicles
Research casts new light on bike safety in the age of self-driving cars
New research probes effectiveness of AR to improve self-driving car safety
Cars On the Lookout: IDTechEx Explores Image Sensors and Radars in Vehicles
New eBook from Mouser and TE Connectivity Explores Latest Innovations in EV and Connected Transportation
BAFS introduces ASEAN’s first high-flow EV hydrant dispenser for enhanced performance
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TRUMPF and KDPOF showcase first 980nm multi-gigabit interconnect system for automotive
980nm wavelength VCSELs for higher robustness and lifetime // TRUMPF and KDPOF working together to implement new standard in optical data communication within automotive // The target is to bring to the market an integrated transceiver for multi-gigabit optical communications in automotive systems Ulm, September 29, 2023 – TRUMPF Photonic Components, a global leader in high-speed VCSEL and photodiode solutions for data communication, and KDPOF, an expert in high-speed optical networking solutions based in Spain, will showcase the first 980nm multi-gigabit interconnect system for automotive systems at the European Conference for Optical Communication (ECOC), to be held in Glasgow on October 1st-5th. “After a long-term cooperation, it’s great to have entered the stage where we can prove to end-users the true strength of 980nm optical interconnects,” says Ralph Gudde, VP Marketing & Sales at TRUMPF Photonic Components. Both companies pursue the goal of implementing state-of-the art optical data communication standards and solutions for the automotive industry. Due to the push in the automotive sector towards autonomous driving, a large amount of data must be processed in cars. Consequently, optical interconnects are required to manage the data flow as a nervous system, connecting sensors and electronic brains, while tight electro-magnetic interference requirements are met. As this trend is even increasing, TRUMPF and KDPOF entered a strategic partnership as early as 2022 to combine their knowledge in the field of components and networks for data communication. Now, significant progress is made with the first implementation of the new IEEE Std 802.3cz (nGBASE-AU), consisting of a transceiver that integrates electronics, photonics, and optics in a single IC component. Evaluation kits soon become ready for OEMs to test. “Automotive is a very demanding industry. The IEEE Std 802.3cz standard is therefore focusing on highly reliable conditions that enable lifetimes of 15 years and more, with low cost and high-volume implementations”, explains Rubén Pérez-Aranda, CTO at KDPOF. “Having suppliers like TRUMPF in the 802.3cz working group enriched the discussion with their deep manufacturing and design knowledge of VCSEL and photodiode components, which in turn enabled the production of a serious and dependable standard. With our strategic partnership we are going one step further and are targeting optical networks to become an indispensable part of future cars,” Pérez-Aranda adds. Automotive applications require not only a much wider range of operating temperatures, reaching from minus 40 °C up to 125 °C but also a low interconnect length of less than 40 meters. For superior robustness against wear and random failures, 980nm VCSEL was approved as the wavelength to become the new standard. Besides its performance characteristics, 980nm suits the existing OM3 fibers with low dispersion loss. Visit TRUMPF Photonic Components (booth 641) and KDPOF (booth 937) at ECOC 2023 in Glasgow.
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Wialon announces 3.6 million tracked vehicles across over 150 countries
At Securex, Africa’s ultimate security expo, Wialon, the global fleet management platform created by European software developer Gurtam, announced it has reached a record number of 3.6 million fleet vehicles and assets connected on the platform worldwide, including 34,000 in South Africa. Wialon provides software solutions for fleet management and security, via over 2,400 partner companies in over 150 countries. In South Africa, Wialon works with almost 90 partner companies, who provide fleet management services to thousands of businesses in diverse sectors such as cargo shipping, delivery services, security personnel, long-haul transportation, cold chain transportation and agribusinesses. The fleet management market in South Africa is on an upward trajectory, with a forecasted CAGR of 12.6 percent. This means the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in South Africa, which reached an estimated 2 million in Q4 2021, and is predicted to grow to about 3.6 million by 2026. Aliaksandr Kuushynau, Head of the Wialon, who attended Securex to meet with South African partners and clients, states: “There is growing interest in fleet management in Africa, and a marked increase in the adoption of telematics, the use of electric vehicles, and in the emphasis on safety and data analytics, reflecting the continent's focus on efficiency and sustainability. However, it is also important to acknowledge the security challenges that the region faces. Theft, hijacking, and vehicle vandalism are serious issues that can have a significant impact on businesses and the local economy. As a result, fleet managers need to adopt security measures to protect their assets and employees.” Wialon provides a range of solutions for security in fleet management, helping businesses in Africa protect their vehicles and other assets. The platform’s GPS tracking and geofencing technology, combined with remote vehicle disabling, and the option to integrate security technologies, enables fleet managers to monitor their vehicles in real-time and respond quickly to safety and security incidents. Joining Wialon at Securex, Carla Greyling, Sales Executive at Tracking Africa, Wialon’s South African partner, commented on the benefits of fleet management software and telematics technology for South African companies: “The top priorities in fleet management in South Africa center on safety and security of vehicles, goods and drivers (including stolen vehicle recovery), video surveillance, fuel control and asset tracking. Features such as driver identification, panic buttons, remote engine blocking and real-time location monitoring have seen high growth in the demand and adoption rate for businesses in South Africa.” The Wialon platform integrates GPS tracking and video surveillance capabilities, enabling fleet managers to monitor assets and drivers en route in real time with live streaming, and to access additional features with playback functions. “Integrating GPS tracking systems and video telematics into a company’s operation can bring significant savings for businesses. The potential of IoT can revolutionise not just the way we do business, but the way public infrastructure as a whole operates, with the potential to facilitate dramatic improvements in efficiency, reliability and customer service. We believe that collaboration between fleet managers, security agencies, and technology providers is essential for addressing the safety challenges in the region. By working together, we can create a safer and more efficient environment for businesses and communities in Africa,” adds Aliaksandr Kuushynau.
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KDPOF Celebrates Release of IEEE 802.3cz-2023 Standard
New Standard Defines Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for Multi-gigabit Glass Optical Fiber Automotive Ethernet Madrid (Spain) June 6, 2023 – KDPOF (leading supplier for high-speed connectivity over fiber optics in harsh environments) welcomes the publication of the IEEE 802.3cz-2023 standard “IEEE Standard for Ethernet Amendment 7: Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for multi-gigabit glass optical fiber automotive Ethernet” with the final release by the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA). This amendment to IEEE Std 802.3-2022 adds Physical Layer specifications and management parameters for 2.5 Gb/s, 5 Gb/s, 10 Gb/s, 25 Gb/s, and 50 Gb/s operation on glass optical fiber in an automotive environment. “We’re very excited about this major milestone for optical automotive multi-gigabit Ethernet,” stated Rubén Pérez de Aranda, KDPOF CTO and Co-founder, as well as IEEE Senior Member and active participant in the IEEE 802.3 working group. “The 802.3 Task Force includes numerous individuals affiliated with key carmakers, such as PSA, Toyota, BMW, Ford, GM, and Volvo; Tier 1 suppliers; and components suppliers. Many thanks to all contributors and supporters for making optical in-vehicle Ethernet networks of up to 50 Gb/s a reality!” Future-proof: Robust, Low Power, Scalable The IEEE 802.3cz-2023 (nGBASE-AU) standard has been designed from scratch with the goal of meeting stringent automotive requirements. The use of glass optical fiber improves power consumption. In addition, it is more resilient to aging problems. It is absolutely future-proof since ECUs can be upgraded to higher speeds while keeping the same harness. “As of today, the IEEE 802.3cz standard technology provides the only existing solution for 25 Gb/s and 50 Gb/s single lane connections with 4 inline connectors and a maximum length of 40 meters in the car over OM3 multimode fiber,” added Luis Manuel Torres, Principal System Architect at KDPOF and active member at IEEE Standards Association. The standard specifies speeds of 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Gb/s per lane. It meets automotive temperature requirements of -40 °C to +105 °C and OEM reliability requirements with a minimum of 15 years of operation with 10 FIT. The maximum link length is 40 meters with 4 inline connectors. The solution is affordable since the higher optical power budget allows lower tolerance connectors. Additionally, the OM3 fiber is widely used, ensuring high volume production. An almost ideal communication channel allows a much simpler physical layer with a lower DSP/equalization complexity and no echo cancellation, resulting in lower power consumption, lower latency, a smaller silicon area, and overall lower-cost solution. A specially dedicated Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) side channel is available for dependability and link management. The Automotive Future is Optical For higher speeds, automotive requirements demand this movement from copper to optical physical data transmission. Optical Ethernet connectivity perfectly solves vehicles' challenges and electrical interference thanks to its unbeatable electromagnetic compatibility, reliability, and low cost: EMC: Fiber is inherently immune to electromagnetic interferences and does not emit interference, thus saving an immense amount of additional development time and cost. Temperature: Fiber cables withstand extreme temperature ranges from -40 ºC up to +125ºC for operation ambient. Power consumption: A simpler channel allows for a lower power consumption than copper, thanks to a simpler DSP/equalization and no need for echo cancelling. Reliability/Durability: The selection of the 980 nm wavelength allows VCSEL devices to comply with automotive reliability and lifetime. Inline Connectors: As no shielding is needed, connectors are smaller and mechanically more robust. Power Budget: In contrast to copper, up to 4 inline connectors for a speed of 25Gb/s and 2 inline connectors for 50Gb/s can be inserted over a length of 40 meters. With copper it is only possible to insert 2 inline connectors with a maximum length of 11 meters and 25Gb/s. Cost-effective: The lower diameter of the OM3 fiber results in significant cost efficiency. In comparison, copper-shielded differential pairs (SDP) proposed for 25GBASE-T1 are AWG26 (0.14 mm^2) and AWG24 (0.22 mm^2). For reference, the Cat 6A cable is usually AWG23.
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Mouser Electronics Offers Latest in Autonomous Vehicle Design Resources for Engineers
Mouser Electronics, Inc., the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader™ empowering innovation, is helping engineers stay ahead of the latest automotive design trends with an extensive content hub dedicated to resources and developments in autonomous vehicle technology. With increasingly complex hardware and systems, these vehicles require reliable, connected solutions to create a seamless user experience. Driver safety, whether on the road or via cybersecurity, requires significant consideration, making it all the more critical for automotive designers to have access to trustworthy resources and made-to-order components. Mouser provides technical resources for various automotive design aspects, such as LiDAR design and ADAS power, in the all-inclusive content hub. Access to Mouser's articles, videos, and blogs enables designers of all skill levels to find advanced solutions with reputable components. Mouser stocks the industry's widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components, including the following solutions for autonomous vehicle applications: u-blox SAM-M10Q Standard Precision GNSS Antenna Module is a small, high-performance module with a simple interface that enables easy incorporation into user designs. The low power consumption allows for greater power autonomy for battery-operated devices. This device offers excellent out-band jamming immunity, such as caused by mobile phones. The SAM-M10Q also detects jamming and spoofing attempts and reports them to the host, so the system can react to such events. ams OSRAM SPL SxL90A LiDAR QFN Packaged SMT Lasers allow autonomous vehicles to "see" farther and more effectively with the infrared LiDAR components. These devices feature low-thermal resistance to withstand temperatures at high currents. These lasers are specially made for industrial automation, 3D sensing and more. STMicroelectronics SPC58 N Line Performance Microcontrollers are built to perform at high speeds with three cores that process accurately in real time. Meeting the highest ASIL-D safety levels, these microcontrollers are ideal for various automotive applications, such as powertrains, Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and ADAS. These devices support high operating temperatures and ensure augmented connectivity through different communication interfaces. Taoglas Raptor III MA1280 7-in-1 Public Safety Antenna is mounted in a small, robust, IP67-rated enclosure. The antenna is suitable for all automotive and commercial trucking applications and can be modified for use at different frequencies. It features multiband GNSS (GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo), two 5G/4G cellular MIMOs, two dual-band Wi-Fi®, active AM/FM, and LMR (700 MHz to 900 MHz) antennas. For the latest on solutions for autonomous vehicles, visit https://resources.mouser.com/autonomous/
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Infineon and Delta Electronics to collaborate on electromobility
Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY), global leader in automotive semiconductors, and Delta Electronics, Inc., the world-leading power and energy management company based in Taiwan, are expanding their long-term cooperation from industrial to automotive applications. Today, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will deepen their joint innovation activities to provide more efficient and higher-density solutions for the fast-growing market of electric vehicles (EV). The agreement covers a wide range of components such as high- voltage and low-voltage discretes and modules as well as microcontrollers to be used in EV drivetrain applications such as traction inverters, DC-DC converters and on-board chargers. In addition, both parties agreed to set up a joint innovation lab for automotive applications. The Delta-Infineon Automotive Innovation Center will be co-managed by both companies. It is scheduled to be set up in Pingzhen, Taiwan in the second half of 2023. “Infineon and Delta share the common goal of developing increasingly energy- efficient and CO2-saving solutions that support global decarbonization efforts,” said Peter Schiefer, President of Infineon’s Automotive division. “We want to further advance the energy efficiency of electromobility together by combining Infineon’s comprehensive automotive product portfolio and application know-how with Delta’s expertise in integration and system optimization. Ensuring the energy efficiency of automotive applications is of paramount importance in our time and we are committed to further improving it.” “Infineon is a trusted partner of Delta. Over the past 25 years we have successfully collaborated in the area of industrial products. We are now looking forward to extending this partnership to electromobility,” said James Tang, Corporate Vice President of Delta Electronics. “We see a growing demand in the automotive industry for innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions. Together with Infineon, we are committed to support the global transition to electromobility with our products and solutions and to bring electromobility to a whole new level.”
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Wialon Telematics Platform Reaches 3.5 Million Connected Vehicles Worldwide
Wialon, the global telematics and IoT platform created by European software developer Gurtam, has reached a record 3.5 million units connected, across over 150 countries. Wialon is the largest fleet management platform in the world by number of connected vehicles and other assets. Working worldwide through a network of more than 2,400 partners, which include telematics service providers and solutions developers, Wialon connects and tracks vehicles and assets ranging from cargo and passenger vehicle fleets, special machinery, as well as stationary units, including generators and fuel storage units. The 3.500.000-th vehicle connected via the Wialon platform is one of a fleet of ambulances in West Africa, where Wialon partner Geoloc Conseil ensures efficient dispatching of ambulances and fuel management. Founded in 2012, Geoloc Conseil has been a Wialon partner since 2016. The company predominantly operates in France and West Africa, serving transport, construction, express courier, and service companies. It specialises in the development of geolocation software, with a focus on professional vehicle fleet management and geolocation. “We have been working with Wialon since 2016, when a simple internet search led us to the solution for fuel tracking and monitoring machine hours. The first major project involved geolocation and fuel monitoring for a large fleet of trucks and construction machinery in Africa, and we saw very positive outcomes thanks to Wialon. Seven years on, we’re proud to have connected the 3,500,000th vehicle on the platform. Innovative, reliable and user-friendly technology solutions on Wialon base play a key role in enabling and accelerating business growth in Africa,” says Francois Traoré, Managing Director Geoloc Conseils. Using the Wialon platform and its fleet management software solutions, Wialon’s over 2,400 partners – telematics service providers and solutions developers – have deployed applications in a broad range of markets and sectors: transportation and mobility, logistics, delivery services, construction, agribusiness, water and waste management, public utilities, railway, mining and processing, and security. They work in Europe, USA, Canada, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Central Asia. With over 20 years of experience, Wialon has developed integrations with nearly 2,900 types of GPS tracking devices from 700 manufacturers, including automobile controllers, personal trackers and software-based trackers installed as mobile apps on smartphones. Additionally, Wialon is able to process data received from after-market sensors (weight, humidity, light, temperature and others), cameras, tachograph and supplementary GPS hardware, connected to GPS tracking devices. “Telematics and IoT applications are now ubiquitous for fleet management, and we are very proud of Wialon’s contribution to the growth of the ecosystem of global partners, developers, and clients. Connecting 3.5 million units is a significant milestone for us, making Wialon the largest global telematics and IoT platform by number of connected vehicles and other assets worldwide,” says Aliaksandr Kuushynau, Head of Wialon at Gurtam.
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First Automotive Gigabit Ethernet Switch with Optical Ports
KDPOF, leading supplier for gigabit connectivity over fiber optics, introduces the first automotive Ethernet switch EVB9351-AUT-SW-NXP with five 1000BASE-RH optical ports, each comprised of KDPOF’s KD9351 FOT and KD1053 PHY IC. “We very much appreciate the support from NXP® Semiconductors, a world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, in the development of our new switch evaluation board,” stated Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “The core of the high-speed switch platform is the new NXP SJA1110 SoC.” Guenter Sporer, Director of Marketing, Systems and Applications of Automotive Ethernet Solutions at NXP Semiconductors, added, “With the SJA1110, NXP Semiconductors provides a family of four pin-compatible and software-compatible automotive Ethernet switch SoC. Thus, we offer a scalable solution for automotive applications.” KDPOF’s new evaluation board supports carmakers and suppliers in delivering high-speed connectivity essential for the progress of autonomous vehicles. Scalable Automotive Ethernet Switch for High-speed Networks The EVB9351-AUT-SW-NXP automotive Ethernet switch board has two SJA1110 switches from NXP on board. This part integrates an ARM Cortex-M7 @200MHz processor for autonomous and secure operation: 512 kB integrated SRAM as Instruction Tightly Coupled Memory (ITCM) and 256 kB integrated SRAM as Data Tightly Coupled Memory (DTCM). It further contains a double-precision floating-point unit and a memory protection unit. Boot time is less than 100 ms with a 512 kB firmware with authentication. The switch has selectable I/O voltages (1.8V, 2.5V and 3.3V) to aid in design flexibility. It provides a small footprint of 14 mm by 14 mm (LFBGA256) and a package with 0.8 mm pitch. It is automotive AEC-Q100 qualified, compliant with ISO 26262, and ASIL-B. 2.5 Gb/s operation is supported for two SGMII ports. The board has five optical 1000/100BASE-RH ports, 12 100BASE-T1 ports, and one NXP SABRE expansion connector. EMC-safe and Reliable: 1000BASE-RH Optical Ports with KDPOF Chipset With the KD9351 optical interface, KDPOF complements the proven KD1053 digital interface IC, thus providing a full optical port for in-vehicle gigabit connectivity. The assembly of the FOT and the IC is simplified, and the connector offers snap-fit without soldering. The devices form a complete automotive 1000BASE-RHC physical layer. Constructing the transimpedance amplifier, photodiode, LED driver, and LED as one single device significantly lowers costs. Optical Ethernet connectivity perfectly solves the challenges and electrical interference in vehicles thanks to its electromagnetic compatibility, reliability, and low cost. Applications include safe Ethernet backbones, smart antenna modules, and sensor connections for ADAS and audio/video.
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Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together Explores AI-Based Driver Monitoring
Mouser Electronics Inc., the industry’s leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components™, has released the latest chapter of its award-winning Empowering Innovation Together™ program. The new episode explores the importance of driver monitoring systems for occupant presence and condition — such as fatigue or distraction — to help foster the safety required for Level 3 autonomous driving and beyond. Content for this fourth installment includes two articles, a blog, an infographic, a new episode of the Tech Between Us podcast and a Then, Now and Next video. The driver monitoring systems topic explains the methods by which detection of both the driver and occupants can mitigate negative conditions using new user interfaces. Interior monitoring systems can detect signs of distracted or fatigued drivers along with occupant presence and condition to alert the driver. “As the market begins to increase adoption of autonomous vehicles, the safety of vehicles and passengers is imperative,” says Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics. “Through this installment of EIT, we’re eager to share expert knowledge from industry leaders, helping our customers and followers understand this technology and its importance.” In the latest episode of the Tech Between Us podcast, Modar Alaoui, Founder and CEO at Eyeris, joins host Raymond Yin, Director of Technical Content at Mouser Electronics, for a discussion about driver monitoring systems in vehicles, legislation around the technology and the hardware and software behind the systems. “I’m excited to discuss with Raymond and Mouser’s listeners the exciting growth of in-vehicle vision AI,” says Alaoui. “This pioneering technology has the potential to completely transform the ways we interact with our vehicles and the ways our vehicles keep us safe.” The Driver Monitoring Systems installment is sponsored by Analog Devices, Infineon Technologies, Molex, NXP Semiconductors, onsemi and TE Connectivity. Established in 2015, Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together program is one of the electronic component industry’s most recognized programs. To learn more, visit https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation and follow Mouser on Facebook and Twitter.
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Yanmar Introduces Carbon-Neutral Electrification Strategy at bauma 2022
Yanmar a world-leading provider of power solutions and industrial machinery, introduces its electrification strategy for off-road vehicles and equipment at bauma 2022, in Germany, the world’s biggest construction equipment exhibition. Yanmar (stand A4.425) will showcase its off-road product portfolio, commitment to customer lifecycle value and future vision for industrial equipment including the following highlights: · Electrification strategy for e-powertrains · Electric equipment demonstrator · Yanmar/ELEO modular, high-density battery system · Extended 5-year Warranty for TN Series engines All-in-one systems integrator of e-powertrains for off-road OEM equipment Yanmar will establish itself as the all-in-one systems integrator for smart electrified power solutions tailored to the application-specific needs of individual OEMs. In its capacity as a systems integrator, Yanmar will implement system engineering, design and manufacturing of e-powertrains, while also providing control development, system evaluation, procurement, manufacturing and quality assurance. As Yanmar transitions to an advanced supplier of electrified solutions, the company remains true to its core values of durability, reliability, quality and robustness, together with the commitment to be a reliable and trusted partner for customers - values the company has lived by for more than 110 years. Mr. Tomohisa Tao, President Yanmar Power Technology Co. Ltd.: “As Yanmar looks to meet the challenges of the coming century, our transformation will encompass new products with alternative fuel technologies. Our aim, together with our dealers and OEM partners, in this strategy is to build stronger relationships and create even greater customer value with new-energy technology. We will work hard to support our OEM partners and customers to achieve their environmental and performance goals.” Electric demonstrator At bauma 2022, Yanmar will show an electrified demonstration vehicle that shows the practical application of the company’s system integrator technologies. Powered by an efficient electric drive and hard working 48-volt batteries with fast charging capability, the electric excavator is a quiet, zero-emission machine designed to meet the most demanding emissions restrictions. The machine is an example of Yanmar’s system integrator applications technology, integrating power and control systems with advanced applications management in a versatile and easy to use machine. ELEO – modular battery systems acquisition An important milestone for realizing the urgent environmental challenges that we must overcome is Yanmar’s acquisition of battery-technology company ELEO, a fast-growing developer and manufacturer of high-performance modular battery systems. This acquisition will further Yanmar’s electrified powertrain capabilities with versatile, customized solutions for off-road applications. ELEO is building a new battery production plant, increasing its annual battery production capacity tenfold to 500MWh – equivalent of approximately 10,000 battery packs. Yanmar 5-Year Warranty benchmark for off-road vehicles underpins sustainability objectives The launch of the new 5-Year Warranty (or 5,000 hours) further enhances sustainability and extended ownership of the current line-up of clean diesel solutions during the transformation to carbon-neutral power solutions. This extended warranty is free of charge and valid for TN Series engines sold in Europe and operating on European territory. Carlo Giudici, Director Industrial EMEA at Yanmar Europe, says: “Yanmar sets a new benchmark by being the first to offer a complimentary 5-Year Warranty for off-road vehicles. It emphasizes the strong quality and reliability of our engines and is another important step to offering customers problem-free, sustainable ownership and higher resale value.” From the development of new energy sources for customers and industry, to working towards A Sustainable Future and zero emissions from its headquarters and facilities, Yanmar is undertaking a range of activities in pursuit of a sustainable society. The company has already embarked on several new-energy projects in various business lines, including hydrogen-powered cogeneration, research into hydrogen fuel marine engines, bio-gas cogeneration, dual-fuel power solutions with natural gas, fuel cell marine technology, smart agriculture, and resource recycling technologies.
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ZEEKR Brings “New Attitude” in Major OTA Updates
Premium electric mobility brand ZEEKR, has today announced a vast array of upgrades to its 001 vehicle, signaling a bold vision for the future of luxury drive and autonomy. At its first ZEEKR Experience Day, and less than one year after the first products were delivered to customers in China, ZEEKR confirmed that 001 models will be subject to an extensive OTA update which covers driver comfort, cockpit interface, and smart driving technologies. ZEEKR has also announced a host of hardware improvements to the body and chassis of 001 for the 2022 model year. ZEEKR 001 is now the world’s first production car equipped with two 7nm autonomous driving chips, which is embedded within a complete visual fusion sensing system and enables a 001 to self-adapt autonomously at speeds of up to 130kph. In testing environments, a 001 will automatically slow when it detects pedestrians or non-motor vehicles approaching. The 001 will also automatically detect a car door open on the side of the road or a truck approaching on the side, turning wheels slightly to avoid a possible side collision. The latest upgrades also include a high performance 8155 Snapdragon microchip which has optimized over 200 key items of user control functions within the cockpit. ZEEKR’s brand-new intelligent driving system enables users to switch among different driving modes and has a distributed traction control system, designed only for pure electric vehicles. This new system includes signal transmission and a processing rate 10 times faster than most existing systems, bringing computing down to milliseconds. This improves acceleration performance by 31% on harsh road surfaces, or in snow and ice conditions, whilst increasing the maximum controllable concerning speed. This newly updated driving system will give user the option to switch between rear wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and real time adaptive four-wheel drive systems based on the road conditions. // ZEEKR Business Update In August 2021, ZEEKR completed the Pre-A round of external funding from five partners with Intel Capital as the lead investor. The $500 million funding also attracted investments from CATL, Bilibili, Cathay Fortune Group, and Boyu Capital. In December 2021, ZEEKR announced a collaboration with Waymo on the development of a new pure electric vehicle for deployment in the Waymo One autonomous ride-hailing fleet in the United States. A new purpose-built commercial mobility vehicle is being designed and developed at ZEEKR’s R&D facility in Gothenburg, Sweden. Earlier this year, ZEEKR confirmed a collaboration with Mobileye, an Intel company, to expand their strategic technology partnership with a goal to deliver the world’s first consumer autonomous consumer vehicles with L4 capabilities by 2024. ZEEKR continues to prioritize and fulfill local market customer orders ahead of a planned European roll-out from 2023, where it will ramp up capacity at the ZEEKR Intelligent Factory - one of the world’s most advanced vehicle facilities - to deal with unprecedented demand for the 001. It has already delivered its 20,000th vehicle in May of 2022, 217 days from its first delivery in October of 2021, making it the fastest EV company in China to achieve such a target.
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Automotive Autonomy: A New Opportunity for Thermal Materials, Says IDTechEx
The automotive market is trending towards greater levels of autonomy with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) becoming increasingly adopted to improve the safety of drivers and pedestrians or even just to make driving a more convenient experience. ADAS encompasses a huge variety of functions from automatic emergency braking all the way to fully autonomous driving. Something that all ADAS features have in common is the need for high-quality sensors and the associated processing of their data. The quantity of sensors per vehicle also increases rapidly with greater levels of autonomy. These sensors and their evolution provide new markets for thermal management materials within the automotive industry. In fact, IDTechEx’s new report, “Thermal Management for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) 2023-2033” finds that the yearly market value for thermal interface materials (TIMs) in ADAS will increase 11-fold over the next 10 years. Each sensor in the ADAS system has its own thermal material opportunities. Source: IDTechEx - “Thermal Management for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) 2023-2033” - What’s Changing with ADAS Components? Cameras and radars are already ubiquitous in vehicles, but greater levels of autonomy will require larger sensor suites with greater capabilities in each sensor. IDTechEx is predicting that there will be more than a 6-fold increase in the yearly demand for automotive sensors including cameras, radars, and LiDARs by 2033. A key factor is integration, to fit more sensors to vehicles in an aesthetically pleasing fashion, the units will require smaller form factors leading to densification of components and hence thermal management challenges. ADAS sensors are also often used in non-ideal environments for electronics requiring resistance to shock and vibration and, in certain cases, having to withstand heat from a combustion engine. For many sensor locations, active cooling will not be viable and in hot climates the temperatures of sensors could increase significantly whilst the vehicle is stationary. Another factor to consider is data processing. More sensors and sensors with greater fidelity will generate more data that needs processing by the vehicle. Some parts of this will be done within the sensor units themselves, but a central computer or electronic control unit (ECU) will be required to communicate this information to the relevant vehicle controls. The greater data requirements lead to using more power-dense ICs (integrated circuits) and hence a greater thermal management requirement. We have already seen this with Tesla’s adoption of a liquid cooling circuit for their computer highlighting the heat generated. - What are the Material Trends? Like any modern electronics component, ADAS sensors and computers require thermal interface materials (TIMs) to help spread heat from the heat generating element to a heat sink or unit enclosure. Cameras, radars, LiDARs, and ECUs all have their own TIM requirements and as their designs evolve, so too do their TIM needs. Whilst the average ECU now may use a fairly typical TIM with 3-4 W/m×K thermal conductivity, the increased processing power required for autonomous functions could see this rise significantly. Many of the sensors spread throughout the vehicle will be relatively small and low power, hence not necessarily needing a high-performance TIM. However, the rapidly growing market for ADAS features means that the volume demands for TIMs will increase significantly. IDTechEx is forecasting an increase in TIM demand of 3 times in just the next 5 years for ADAS sensors. - Concluding Thoughts The rapid adoption of ADAS features and autonomy in the automotive market presents great opportunities for thermal management material suppliers with sensor design evolving and a growing market for ADAS components. IDTechEx’s report, “Thermal Management for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) 2023-2033”, uses both primary and secondary research to cover these trends for ADAS sensor and computer evolution with a focus on thermal interface materials and die attach with additional chapters on combined EMI and thermal materials and radar radome materials. Company profiles/interviews are also included along with 10-year market forecasts in terms of material area, tonnage, and market value.
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WAE showcases industry-leading high performance battery technology at The Battery Show Europe
Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) will showcase its industry-leading high performance battery technology at The Battery Show Europe from 28-30 June, in Stuttgart. Visitors to the WAE stand in Hall 8, stand F50, will have the opportunity to examine an example of the company’s innovative Adaptive Multi-Chem advanced battery pack, together with the Triumph Motorcycles TE-1 prototype demonstrator. Combining power and energy in one advanced battery system, Adaptive Multi-Chem sets new standards for performance and efficiency, with the advantage of being totally customisable for individual customer requirements. Triumph’s first zero emission prototype demonstrator motorcycle – the battery pack for which delivers a peak power of 130kW and continuous power of 90kW, with a capacity of 15kWh – will also be on display. With the optimum balance of power and energy, TE-1’s battery gives the rider access to greater electric power for longer, regardless of battery charge, and matches exhilarating acceleration with exceptional range. The 360-volt system also enables a fast-charging time of under 20mins (0-80%). WAE developed the technology to support the TE-1 prototype demonstrator, a unique collaboration between Triumph Motorcycles, Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG at the University of Warwick funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK. In addition, the stunning 2200 horsepower Deus Vayanne electric hypercar, brought to life by WAE's collaboration with Deus Automobiles and Italdesign, is on display on the Deus Automobiles stand Hall 8, Stand D-30. This customer project demonstrates WAE’s sector-leading partnership with ItalDesign, which sees WAE provide a highly sophisticated composite EV platform and powertrain, with ItalDesign contributing the body design, safety systems and electric architecture. The partnership provides a unique offering for established car companies and start-ups who want a luxury, high-performance EV, without having to spend many years – and billions of dollars – developing a proprietary EV skateboard and associated technology. Taking place from 28 - 30 June 2022 in Stuttgart, Germany, The Battery Show Europe is Europe’s largest battery technology showcase and conference. With more than 480 suppliers in attendance, The Battery Show Europe provides an ideal opportunity for WAE to showcase its motorsport-derived, zero-emission mobility solutions. On day one of the conference, Tim Engstrom, WAE Manager - Advanced Battery Technologies, will also deliver the keynote presentation, ‘Examining the Role of Motorsport as a Platform to Accelerate Battery Technology, And Why It Matters’. Dyrr Ardash, Head of Strategic Partnerships, WAE said: “The Battery Show Europe is an ideal event for WAE to showcase its high-performance battery and EV platform technology. As the world electrifies, motorsport developments act as a springboard to bring world-class technical innovation for a decarbonised and sustainable future. WAE’s role in electric motorsport has significantly accelerated the development of the lightweight battery and e-powertrain technology we can offer our customers today. We continue to learn valuable lessons from our motorsport involvement that will deliver further transformative benefits to the users of EVs in terms of power, performance, efficiency, and sustainability.”
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Monolith AI Software Accelerates Development of World-Class Vehicles
Monolith, an AI software platform used by the world’s leading automotive, aerospace and industrial engineering teams from Siemens to Honeywell, announced today that engineering teams at the BMW Group, the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, are using its software to accelerate the development of their world-class vehicles. By training Monolith self-learning models with the company’s valuable engineering test data, engineers can now use AI to solve previously impossible physics challenges and instantly predict the performance of highly complex systems like crash and aerodynamics tests. The BMW Group crash test engineering team began working with Monolith in 2019 via the BMW Startup Garage to explore the potential of using AI to predict the force on a passenger’s tibia during a crash. Current crash development uses 1000s of simulations as well as physical tests to capture performance. Even with sophisticated modelling, owing to the complexity of the physics underpinning crash dynamics, results require substantial engineering know-how to calibrate for real world behaviour. Moreover, physical crash tests can only be conducted in later stages of development when the design is mature enough to create physical prototypes. Exploring a more efficient solution, the BMW Group collaborated with Monolith to see if AI could predict crash performance and importantly, substantially earlier in the vehicle development process. The BMW Startup Garage, BMW Group’s venture client unit, facilitated this collaboration and helped Monolith grow its business relations with the premium automotive manufacturer. Using Monolith, BMW Group engineers built self-learning models using the wealth of their existing crash data and were able to accurately predict the force on the tibia for a range of different crash types without doing physical crashes. Moreover, the accuracy of the self-learning models will continue to improve as more data becomes available and the platform is further embedded into the engineering workflow. This game-changing approach now means engineers can optimise crash performance earlier in the design process and reduce dependence on time-intensive, costly testing whilst making historical data infinitely more valuable. “When the intractable physics of a complex vehicle system means it can’t be truly solved via simulation, AI and self-learning models can fill the gap to instantly understand and predict vehicle performance. This offers engineers a tremendous new tool to do less testing and more learning from their data by reducing the number of required simulations and physical tests while critically making existing data more valuable,” said Dr Richard Ahlfeld, CEO and Founder, Monolith. “We are excited to see how BMW Group engineers are using pioneering technologies like Monolith to reduce the cost and time of product development as they develop the next generation of premium vehicles.” The Monolith platform has been developed with a laser focus on user experience by automotive experts and data scientists to ensure seamless integration with existing engineering processes. As a result, as soon as the software is implemented, domain experts quickly begin gaining valuable insights and time back, as well as the chance to explore an even wider design space. “What’s perhaps even more exciting than the promise of accelerating the vehicle development process is the opportunity for engineers to explore more design parameters and find new relationships between operating conditions without the need for data science support. Suddenly the combination of engineering expertise and machine learning becomes a competitive game-changer and gives our customers the means to create world-class products more efficiently." Dr Richard Ahlfeld continued. The BMW Group is expanding its use of Monolith into more engineering functions across R&D that generate vast amounts of data from crash testing to aerodynamics, motorsports and advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). Monolith is poised to swiftly scale, propelled by more globally renowned engineering teams adopting Monolith, an expert team, network of industry partners and an extensive portfolio of IP.
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Automotive Ethernet Congress: Optical Multi-gigabit in Vehicles
KDPOF, leading supplier for gigabit connectivity over fiber optics, proudly announced that their well-proven KD1053 PHY IC and integrated KD9351 FOT (Fiber Optic Transceiver) have been implemented by Renesas, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, into the new next generation automotive vehicle computer VC4. This comprehensive communication gateway ECU from Renesas features the newest automotive network technologies and sufficient computing power to host the ever-increasing number of user applications. “With the VC4, we have integrated an optical Ethernet interface into our automotive evaluation boards for the first time,” stated Tobias Belitz, Principal Engineer at Renesas. “KDPOF shared their 1000BASE-RH transceiver KD1053 and KD9351 FOT according to IEEE 802.3bv with us, which also covers the wide temperature range we are looking at.” The four megatrends of autonomous driving, connected cars, electric vehicles, and shared mobility move the E/E architecture from domain based into a zonal architecture in order to meet the increasing complexity and computation demands of the next generation vehicles. With the VC4 communication gateway ECU, Renesas provides a universal development platform for automotive customers based on their R-Car-S4 system-on-module. KDPOF Chipset for Safe Backbone and ADAS Sensor Connection Optical connectivity perfectly solves the challenges posed by electrical interference in vehicles thanks to its low weight, low cost, and electromagnetic compatibility due to inherent galvanic isolation. “We are proud that Renesas has chosen our compact automotive Ethernet chipset for their future-ready vehicle computer VC4,” stated Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “With the integrated KD9351 FOT in combination with the KD1053 PHY IC, we deliver a complete automotive 1000BASE-RHC physical layer.“ Applications include safe Ethernet backbones, smart antenna modules, and sensor connections for ADAS and audio/video. Incorporating the transmission and reception optoelectronics – such as transimpedance amplifier, photodiode, LED driver, and LED – into one single component, the KD9351 is an optical transceiver for 100 Mb/s up to 1 Gb/s with a small footprint. Additional benefits are a shorter supply chain and no test duplication with the final test at the Tier1. Furthermore, the assembly is simplified and the connector offers snap-fit without soldering. The KD9351 reuses low-cost MEMs encapsulation and allows SMD reflow assembly with 8 by 7 mm LGA components. It is fully shielded against electromagnetic radiation. The temperature range, from -40 °C to +105 °C, conforms with harsh automotive environmental requirements. Presentation “Automotive Optical Ethernet Reaching for 50 Gb/s” at Automotive Ethernet Congress 2022 KDPOF will present latest highlights of their optical in-vehicle network technology at the Automotive Ethernet Congress from June 1 to 2, 2022 in Munich, Germany. On June 2 at 10:00 CEST, Carlos Pardo will give the presentation “Automotive Optical Ethernet Reaching for 50 Gb/s”.
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KDPOF Complements Renesas' New Vehicle Computer VC4
KDPOF, leading supplier for gigabit connectivity over fiber optics, proudly announced that their well-proven KD1053 PHY IC and integrated KD9351 FOT (Fiber Optic Transceiver) have been implemented by Renesas, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, into the new next generation automotive vehicle computer VC4. This comprehensive communication gateway ECU from Renesas features the newest automotive network technologies and sufficient computing power to host the ever-increasing number of user applications. “With the VC4, we have integrated an optical Ethernet interface into our automotive evaluation boards for the first time,” stated Tobias Belitz, Principal Engineer at Renesas. “KDPOF shared their 1000BASE-RH transceiver KD1053 and KD9351 FOT according to IEEE 802.3bv with us, which also covers the wide temperature range we are looking at.” The four megatrends of autonomous driving, connected cars, electric vehicles, and shared mobility move the E/E architecture from domain based into a zonal architecture in order to meet the increasing complexity and computation demands of the next generation vehicles. With the VC4 communication gateway ECU, Renesas provides a universal development platform for automotive customers based on their R-Car-S4 system-on-module. - KDPOF Chipset for Safe Backbone and ADAS Sensor Connection Optical connectivity perfectly solves the challenges posed by electrical interference in vehicles thanks to its low weight, low cost, and electromagnetic compatibility due to inherent galvanic isolation. “We are proud that Renesas has chosen our compact automotive Ethernet chipset for their future-ready vehicle computer VC4,” stated Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “With the integrated KD9351 FOT in combination with the KD1053 PHY IC, we deliver a complete automotive 1000BASE-RHC physical layer.“ Applications include safe Ethernet backbones, smart antenna modules, and sensor connections for ADAS and audio/video. Incorporating the transmission and reception optoelectronics – such as transimpedance amplifier, photodiode, LED driver, and LED – into one single component, the KD9351 is an optical transceiver for 100 Mb/s up to 1 Gb/s with a small footprint. Additional benefits are a shorter supply chain and no test duplication with the final test at the Tier1. Furthermore, the assembly is simplified and the connector offers snap-fit without soldering. The KD9351 reuses low-cost MEMs encapsulation and allows SMD reflow assembly with 8 by 7 mm LGA components. It is fully shielded against electromagnetic radiation. The temperature range, from -40 °C to +105 °C, conforms with harsh automotive environmental requirements. - Presentation “Automotive Optical Ethernet Reaching for 50 Gb/s” at Automotive Ethernet Congress 2022 KDPOF will present latest highlights of their optical in-vehicle network technology at the Automotive Ethernet Congress from June 1 to 2, 2022 in Munich, Germany. On June 2 at 10:00 CEST, Carlos Pardo will give the presentation “Automotive Optical Ethernet Reaching for 50 Gb/s”.
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WARWICK ACOUSTICS SET TO DISRUPT AUTOMOTIVE AUDIO MARKET WITH REVOLUTIONARY ELECTROSTATIC TECHNOLOGY
UK-based audio technology company, Warwick Acoustics Ltd, is primed to disrupt the $8 billion automotive in-car audio market with its revolutionary ‘ElectroAcoustic Panels’ based on its patented Electrostatic Loudspeaker technology. With the company’s innovative solutions continuing to be proven in high-end headphone systems and intense automotive R&D having taken place over the last five years, Warwick Acoustics is now exiting ‘stealth mode’ as the world’s first audio technology company to engineer Electrostatic based audio systems for automotive applications. The exceptional audio quality of Warwick Acoustics’ Electrostatic technology has been critically acclaimed in the premium headphone market, where the company has earned over 30 global awards. With a rapidly growing portfolio of fundamental patents on Electrostatic Transducer design characteristics and manufacturing processes, Warwick Acoustics becomes the first organisation worldwide that is capable of delivering the same unrivalled, remarkable and immersive listening experiences to the premium in-car audio sector. Proven Benefits in Automotive Applications Warwick Acoustics’ ElectroAcoustic Panels bring significant whole vehicle system benefits compared to the use of conventional audio technology. Like-for-like, ElectroAcoustic Panels are up to 75% lighter, consume up to 75% less power and offer significant interior design and packaging freedom. As automotive manufacturers (OEMs) set key sustainability objectives, including the decarbonisation of their supply bases to become carbon-neutral, Warwick Acoustics’ ElectroAcoustic Panels deliver breakthrough speaker solutions for OEMs in achieving such targets with the use of 100% by mass upcycled and recyclable materials. Additionally, ElectroAcoustic Panels do not use any unsustainable rare earth elements whatsoever – something that conventional speakers rely upon in the manufacturing process. ElectroAcoustic Panels offer automotive designers and engineers significant freedom over speaker location and cabin integration. Unlike conventional speakers, ElectroAcoustic Panels can be moulded into diverse form factors and incorporated into almost all interior surface designs. This creates additional space within vehicle interiors for passengers, as well as freedom for automotive manufacturers to innovate visual interior designs, creating new and distinctive in-cabin experiences. With Warwick Acoustics’ ElectroAcoustic Panels now automotive-grade ready, the development of this new technology is well-timed with OEMs’ rapid transition to electrification and life cycle sustainability. Mike Grant, CEO of Warwick Acoustics, commented: “We believe that our revolutionary technology is capable of transforming premium audio within the automotive sector through both the extraordinary acoustic quality our solutions deliver to consumers, and the multifarious and significant benefits our solutions deliver to OEMs. “It is exciting to finally exit ‘stealth mode’ after many years of intense R&D. While we have proven our Electrostatic Loudspeaker technology in the high-end headphone market – securing widespread critical acclaim for unequalled, immersive and precise sound quality – it was always clear that it was in the automotive sector where the initial significant opportunity for the company lies. “The relevance and value of our technology have only increased as the transition of the sector to sustainable technology quickly accelerates. The substantial improvements we have made in terms of weight saving and power reduction become even more compelling with EVs than ICE-powered vehicles. In addition, the sustainable benefits of our speakers in terms of the use of upcycled and recyclable materials is a game-changer for OEMs who are all rapidly seeking to decarbonise their supply bases. “Our business is primed for expansion. Our ElectroAcoustic Panels are automotive-application ready. We have assembled a world-class team with an exceptional depth of industry experience. With strong financial backing, the company is now scaling the business rapidly to capitalise fully on the opportunity in front of us to be a global leader in our field.”
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Monolith brings game-changing Artificial Intelligence to automotive industry, cutting product development time and cost by up to 50%
Monolith, a rapidly scaling Artificial Intelligence (AI) software company, is poised to radically reshape the development time of new cars. Its game-changing AI platform can substantially reduce testing and associated costs that automakers currently require to bring new vehicles to market. Monolith software uses self-learning models to instantly predict the results of complex vehicle dynamics systems, reducing the need for physical tests or simulations. This game-changing approach will dramatically accelerate every stage of the automotive development process from initial design, design iterations, validation and production which currently require repetitive, time-intensive and costly tests and simulations. Using Monolith also results in fewer physical prototypes, travel to specialist test sites and on-road testing, making latter stages of validation safer and more sustainable. - The Current Gap between Virtual and Physical Testing To date, automotive companies use a combination of life-like virtual simulations and physical testing during vehicle development. For each design iteration, a simulation solves the physics that underpins the system’s modelling; a notoriously difficult and computationally intensive process. Virtual simulations help reduce the number of physical tests required, but the accuracy and fidelity of the results can be limited. Numerous physical tests are therefore still needed to calibrate and validate the virtual results, as well as to understand performance in operating conditions that cannot be simulated. For example, aerodynamics optimises air flow over a vehicle to reduce drag and is notoriously difficult to solve mathematically which reduces the accuracy of simulated models. Owing to the highly iterative nature of the automotive design process, engineers supplement virtual aerodynamics testing with hundreds of hours of wind tunnel tests in facilities that can cost thousands per hour. - Monolith is Transforming Automotive Product Development Monolith offers an alternative and radical solution to reduce the time and cost of vehicle testing. Virtual and physical tests create significant volumes of valuable data that is presently underutilised. Now, with Monolith, this data can be leveraged to train highly accurate AI self-learning models to instantly predict the performance of systems by understanding their behaviour from data, instead of solving the complex physics of the system, or performing a physical test. Using this approach, engineers can rapidly predict performance in more operating conditions and for areas of the car that were previously impossible to simulate, further reducing the amount of testing required. Monolith is already being used to reduce wind tunnel, track, wheel and tyre, and vehicle dynamics, durability, crash and powertrain testing. Dr Richard Ahlfield, CEO and Founder of Monolith, “Monolith was founded to empower engineers with AI to instantly solve even their most intractable physics problems. We know this resonates especially with automotive engineers who struggle to optimise hundreds of often conflicting criteria with hundreds of complex simulations. Requiring hours or days to solve, engineers have grown frustrated by the considerable amount of physical testing still required to make up for the limitations of the virtual tests. At the same time, the data that is created in the process represents an enormous opportunity when used with AI. By predicting results with self-learning models we can radically accelerate the development process. Today, automotive companies are spending billions developing electrical architectures and software capabilities as they strive to win the race for electric, shared and autonomous mobility. This squeezes R&D budgets and product timelines in other areas, creating enormous pressure on the engineering teams working to develop higher quality vehicle hardware systems in less time and with fewer resources. As Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota put it, “data is the new gold” but the “[vehicle] platform will be the backbone for mobility as a service for autonomy, for car sharing, for any number of services that we want to make possible”. Data to make better vehicles whilst cutting costs and saving time - this is at the heart of how Monolith is uniquely transforming vehicle development. The Monolith platform empowers automotive R&D teams to use AI to learn the best possible insights from years of existing test data, or instantly predict results from a small sample of current tests. Ultimately this means OEMs can bring new vehicles to market faster, which isn’t just vital to reach EV ambitions, but allows automotive engineers to do what they love best - engineering incredible new vehicles." - Mature and Proven Technology, Ready to Scale Monolith has spent the past six years developing its platform and working closely with some of the world’s top engineering teams to stress test it. Today it boasts a mature and proven technology that is being seamlessly integrated into customers’ day to day activities. Engineering teams at leading automotive OEM and tier 1 suppliers around the world are already realising substantial reductions in physical testing after working with Monolith: 1) Sensor and instrument company Kistler achieved a 72% reduction in sensor based testing 2) Honda recorded an 83% faster design cycle 3) JOTA Sports Endurance Racing Team reduced the number of simulations and tests by 50%, and associated costs by 66% Dr Joel Henry, Principal Engineer at Monolith, said, “Optimising a system, or finding a new solution based on a decade of historical data, is like instantly offering an engineer a decade of experience. That’s the power of AI - it supercharges an individual’s subject matter expertise by unlocking the expertise stored within a company’s data. Monolith really is the engineer’s perfect partner.” Built from the ground up by engineers for engineers, the no-code platform offers a seamless user experience with powerful interactive dashboards. The Monolith team is made up of industry and software experts who work with customers to identify their most effective use cases that can rapidly realise the value of AI. Use cases are dependent on the needs of the business and the type of data. For example, an OEM can use its legacy data to find new insights hidden within its decades of expertise and unique data. Alternatively, data captured from a handful of tests using a physical prototype can be used to teach Monolith self-learning models to predict behaviour over more operating conditions; including under non-steady states, when variables of interest have not settled and are still changing over time. Monolith self-learning models predict behaviour under these typically difficult-to-capture non-steady states in a matter of seconds, instead of weeks or months capturing behaviour in all driving and operating conditions. This enables engineers to explore even more parameters and requirements to make products that are even more fit for purpose whilst substantially reducing development time. - The $46 billion Opportunity The business is currently focused on automotive customers but has ambitions and applications in innumerate industries. Monolith can be used for any system which requires data, repetitive testing or Digital Twins for design development, validation, production or data evaluation. Digital Twins, which are real-time virtual representations of a physical object or process, are increasingly used in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, supply chain and retail. The digital twin market is estimated to be worth $46.08 billion by 2026. Monolith is already working in this space with global brands such as L’Oreal and pharmaceutical company Nanopharm. Monolith is poised to swiftly scale with an expert team, network of industry partners, extensive portfolio of IP and £10.6M of funding.
