Infineon and Delta Electronics to collaborate on electromobility
Wialon Telematics Platform Reaches 3.5 Million Connected Vehicles Worldwide
First Automotive Gigabit Ethernet Switch with Optical Ports
Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together Explores AI-Based Driver Monitoring
Yanmar Introduces Carbon-Neutral Electrification Strategy at bauma 2022
ZEEKR Brings “New Attitude” in Major OTA Updates
Automotive Autonomy: A New Opportunity for Thermal Materials, Says IDTechEx
WAE showcases industry-leading high performance battery technology at The Battery Show Europe
Monolith AI Software Accelerates Development of World-Class Vehicles
Automotive Ethernet Congress: Optical Multi-gigabit in Vehicles
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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.
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Zero roadway deaths possible
Neural Propulsion Systems (NPS), a pioneer in autonomous sensing platforms, issued a paper today revealing that compelling new innovations enable vehicles with or without human supervision to see soon enough, clear enough and far enough to eliminate roadway deaths. Achieving zero roadway deaths is necessary for universal adoption of autonomous driving and is the objective of the recently released U.S. National Roadway Safety Strategy. The paper finds that zero deaths require sensing and processing a peak data rate on the order of 100 X 1012 bits per second (100 Terabits per second) for vehicles to safely operate under worst roadway conditions. This immense requirement is 10 million times greater than the sensory data rate from our eyes to our brains. The paper also shows that sensing and processing 100 Tb/s can be accomplished by combining breakthrough analytics, advanced multi-band radar, solid state LiDAR, and advanced system on a chip (SoC) technology. Such an approach will allow companies developing advanced human driver assistance systems (ADAS) and fully autonomous driving systems to accelerate progress. NPS achieved pilot scale proof-of-concept of the core sensor element required for zero roadway deaths at a Northern California airfield in December 2021. One reason for this successful historic event is the Atomic Norm, a recently discovered mathematical framework that radically changes how sensor data is processed and understood. Atomic Norm was developed at Caltech and MIT and further developed specifically for autonomous driving by NPS. “Based on principles from physics and information theory, it is possible for sensors to see well enough to enable zero roadway deaths. This is not wishful thinking — it’s possible today,” said Dr. Behrooz Rezvani, founder and CEO of NPS. “We are solely focused on rolling out this historic technology that sees everything sooner, clearer and farther to provide autonomous vehicles with the stopping distance and time needed to reach zero preventable accidents. Henry Ford said his goal was for every working family to own a car. Our goal is to have nobody lose a loved one in a car crash.” “The key question for companies developing autonomous driving systems should be ‘What must be true to get to zero roadway deaths?’” said Dr. Babak Hassibi, founder and CTO of NPS. “We have concluded that sensing and processing about 100 Tb/s is one of these necessary requirements and this is indeed possible.” “While roadway safety has improved over the past several decades, all countries continue to face formidable challenges,” said Dr. Lawrence Burns, Executive Advisor to NPS. “Today, roadway accidents account for over 1.3 million fatalities and 50 million injuries per year, with half being pedestrians and cyclists. We now have the vehicle sensing and processing technology to see well enough to enable an end this epidemic.” [About the Authors] ● Dr. Behrooz Rezvani is a serial entrepreneur and currently founder and CEO of NPS. Companies founded by Rezvani shipped billions of products and had a major influence on the telecommunications industry, including Ikanos (acquired by Qualcomm) and Quantenna (acquired by ON Semiconductor Corp). ● Dr. Babak Hassibi is co-founder and Chief Technologist at NPS. He is also the inaugural Mose and Lillian S. Bohn Professor of Electrical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he has been since 2001. ● Dr. Lawrence Burns is former Corporate Vice President of Research & Development and Planning at General Motors. He advises organizations on the future of mobility, logistics, innovation, manufacturing and energy – including Google Self-Driving Cars/Waymo for over a decade. His most recent book is Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car and How it Will Reshape Our World.
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EPIcenter Presents Research to Advance EV Fleet Operations
The age of the electric vehicle (EV) is now. Wide adoption of EVs by fleet owners across the country is already happening. In its second white paper, EPIcenter, a nonprofit energy innovation hub, presents the advancement and analysis of how fleet owners and the utilities that supply their power can work together to manage costs, optimize charging operations and maintain grid stability. Charging Forward: How Fleet Owners, Utilities, and the Planet Can Benefit from Deliberate and Optimized EV Charging explores how EVs are not only gaining ground in the personal-vehicle market but progressing into the fleet markets of delivery services, school districts, public transit, construction firms, and governmental entities, among others. The paper introduces the benefits and challenges that the advancement of EV technology presents in commercial and rental fleet spaces. “The best-case scenario is where both the fleet-operating companies and their utilities begin talking long before the actual EV adoption process begins,” Kimberly M. Britton, CEO of EPIcenter, said. “This approach allows both to locate and size infrastructure appropriately and to efficiently deliver the power needed while enhancing grid stability. Such collaboration should lead to minimized battery and equipment degradation, maintenance cost savings, and enables EVs to draw electricity when it is most plentiful and least expensive.” The goals of the utilities are similar to those of the fleet owners - mission accomplishment with the least costly financial impact. For example, for fleet owners, the long-term benefits of optimized charging should outweigh the near-term costs of installing new EV charging infrastructure. And for utilities, carefully planning the scale of any new distribution infrastructure that delivers power to the fleet charging station can keep costs down. And when the utility comes out ahead financially, shareholders realize better returns. By intentionally aligning their goals and working together to achieve them, both fleet owners and utilities can surmount the challenges to EV fleet adoption. To learn more or to access Charging Forward: How Fleet Owners, Utilities, and the Planet Can Benefit from Deliberate and Optimized EV Charging, please visit www.epicenterus.org
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Continual Mobility Experience Analytics now available on Google Cloud Marketplace
Continual (TASE: CNTL), a leading provider of Connected Car and subscriber Mobility Experience Analytics, today announced that it is extending its collaboration with Google Cloud to make its cloud-native Mobility Experience Analytics available on Google Cloud Marketplace. The new collaboration with Google Cloud progresses a relationship that has been developing since the company was initially certified as a Google Cloud partner in 2021. Google Cloud Marketplace allows users to quickly access and deploy software solutions and services that run on Google Cloud. With the availability of Continual’s Mobility Experience Analytics on Google Cloud Marketplace, mobile operators can benefit by having their datasets integrated into Continual’s Mobility Experience Platform, allowing them to optimize connected experiences for all subscribers, and also Connected Car drivers and passengers. This collaboration further extends the benefits to automotive and transportation enterprises with smart mobility services based on Continual’s platform. “This collaboration will accelerate mobile operators’ endeavors to optimize the quality of their network for the benefit of travelers,” said Greg Snipper, CEO of Continual. “It will also empower automotive manufacturers and transportation providers as they offer smart mobility services such as quality alerts and connectivity-based route decisions, which are extremely important for autonomous driving.” See Continual at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, 28 February – 3 March 2022, in Hall 5, booth 5A83
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REE Commences Trials of All-New Electric P7 Modular Platform For Delivery Fleets
REE Automotive Ltd. (NASDAQ: REE), today announced it is commencing trials of its all-new P7 platform designed for commercial delivery vehicles and walk-in vans. The P7 platform, targeted to a U.S. based delivery van program, was designed based on functional and operational specifications from one of the world’s largest delivery companies. Fully flat from end-to-end, P7 offers greatest interior space and volumetric efficiency for vehicles in classes 3-5. Supporting up to 8,600 lbs. max payload, the P7 platform packs up to 35% more packages than comparable commercial vehicles or the equivalent and can comfortably carry up to 30 passengers, making it the optimal platform for target markets such as delivery and logistic fleet owners, transit authorities, school buses and mobility operators. REEcorner and X-by-Wire technology allows each wheel to move independently for enhanced driving dynamics and safety with all-wheel steer, drive and brake options. The P7 modular platform is designed to radically simplify development times of electric commercial models and is optimized for fleet owners looking to create their own commercial vehicle brand, unique design and market differentiation utilizing the REE configuration and lowest TCO due to Battery as a Service, Data-as-a-Service and fast REEcorner swap. On the path to production, last year REE nominated key suppliers American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) to supply high-performance electric drive units and Brembo to co-develop and supply the braking system. Daniel Barel, REE Automotive Co-Founder and CEO: “The P7 platform is paramount in commercial vehicle design, safety and functionality. True to our vision of providing complete modularity and versatility, this platform can be configured in different sizes and optimized to suit a particular application and use case. The P7 will utilize REE-Hitachi’s Data and Application as-a-service capabilities of injecting intelligence and actionable insight info fleet operations and affording fleet owners complete visibility over their operations allowing faster time to market, lower total ownership costs and suite of lifecycle services.” Core design commonalities in the innovative P7 architecture are designed to provide significant development synergies for additional future REEcorner models across vehicle classes. This architecture approach affords both cost and timing benefits through the development process, as well as further production efficiencies from the resultant economies of scale. Electric and autonomous vehicles built on top of REE’s P7 platforms will be able to achieve driving ranges of up to 370 miles with max speeds of 80 mph and supporting gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) of up to 16,500 lbs. REE’s P7 platform offers unparalleled benefits in terms of virtually unlimited design freedom to meet customers’ exact business needs, highest driving and range performance, enhanced safety and stability and disruptive X-by-Wire technology that affords fail-safe and independent wheel control. [P7 Platform Highlights] Greatest interior space on smallest footprint due to end-to-end fully-flat chassis & low floor design Higher volumetric efficiency yields higher operational margins P7 provides minimal turning radiuses and enhanced driving reliability and stability due to REEcorner™ X-by-Wire tech P7 platforms will support Data-as-a-Service – affording fleet managers with complete visibility and actionable insights over their fleet operations The platform shown is 7.6m in length and 2.4m in width [P7 Platform Specifications] (Parameter - Specification) GVWR : 10,000 lbs – 16,500 lbs (4.5 Tonnes – 7.5 Tonnes) Drive : RWD, FWD or AWD Steer : FWS or AWS Length : 19.7 ft - 24.9 ft (6.2 m - 7.6 m) Width : 5.2 ft - 7.9 ft (1.6 m - 2.4 m) Height : 6.6 ft to 9.8 ft (2.0 m - 3.0 m) Battery Capacity : Up to 120 kWh Peak Motor Power : Up to 100 kW x 4 Max Speed : Up to 80 mph (130 kph) Turning Radius : Minimum 40.0 ft (12.2 m) Max Payload : Up to 8,820 lbs (4,000 kg) Load Floor Height : Minimum 20 in (50.8 cm) Cargo Volume : Up to 1,400 ft3 (39.6 m3)
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Phiar and Qualcomm to Transform Automotive Cockpits
Phiar Technologies, a leading platform for AI-powered Augmented Reality (AR) navigation for driving, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., an industry leader in connected car and digital cockpit experiences, today announced the companies’ work to transfigure how people navigate, interact, and experience the world through vehicles. Through the companies’ working relationship, Phiar will bring its powerful computer vision-based spatial artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to Snapdragon® Automotive Cockpit Platforms to support intelligent AR heads-up display (HUD) navigation and situational awareness for next-generation automotive in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) environments. Today, drivers are facing cognitive overload from having to interpret a multitude of information and notifications from the cockpit, while still trying to interpret directions on a 2D map, resulting in a non-optimal driving experience. Aiming to address this, Phiar is working with Qualcomm Technologies to transform navigation experiences by bringing seamless AI-powered road perception and AR navigation to video and HUD-based automotive IVI environments. Gene Karshenboym, CEO of Phiar Technologies, said: “At Phiar, we're dedicated to delivering drivers an AR navigation experience either on HUD or video screen that is unparalleled because they see intelligent navigation guidance in real-time for more intuitive driving, without the need to look at a map. Working with Qualcomm Technologies and the Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platforms has empowered us to continually innovate on our existing high standards in AR navigation design, and to deliver the first-rate infotainment services and digital cockpit solutions demanded by modern consumers.” Bill Pinnell, Vice President, Product Management, Automotive, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: “There is a growing expectation among consumers and automakers for sophisticated and truly connected digital cockpit solutions. Qualcomm Technologies is delighted that our next generation Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform is helping bring the future of driving navigation to consumers through Phiar's innovative platform.” To learn more about Phiar solutions and partners, visit www.phiar.net
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Hitachi and REE Automotive Agree on Collaboration to Advance and Simplify the Adoption of Sustainable Electric Vehicles Globally
Hitachi America, Ltd. ("Hitachi") and REE Automotive (NASDAQ: REE, “REE”) announced today a newly formed strategic agreement to ease and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) across the entire EV value chain, including enabling EV manufacturing at scale, delivering commercial vehicle charging infrastructure and energy management, and providing comprehensive digital fleet management and operations for full visibility across EV fleets as organizations transition over the next decade. Hitachi and REE will accelerate the development of advanced digital solutions for REE customers by co-creating a highly scalable Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Analytics-as-a-Service (AaaS) platform, which will enable next-generation connected commercial EVs. Leveraging Hitachi’s Lumada data platform and REE’s platform modularity and horizontal business strategy, the companies aim to bring to market a truly modular, smart EV solution to serve all segments, including delivery, logistics, and mobility-as-a-service. “We are excited to partner with REE to help accelerate the transition to EVs globally,” said Hicham Abdessamad, Chairman and CEO, Hitachi America, Ltd. “Hitachi is deeply committed to sustainability, and with our long history of innovation in energy, mobility, manufacturing and digital, together with REE’s transformative, innovative approach to EV and autonomous vehicles (AV), we are well positioned to accelerate and ease the transition to zero-emission commercial vehicles at scale, a mission that we both share.” Through this partnership, Hitachi and REE are committed to bring data-driven, scalable, sustainable electric vehicle, commercial mobility solutions to market that deliver value while helping to achieve carbon emissions goals and which will enable a complete, connected ecosystem of services for commercial mobility and transportation. “This alliance with Hitachi comes at an ideal time for REE as we value their best-in-class innovation and experience in data science and analytics, enabling us to provide a complete solution to our customers,” said REE Co-founder and CEO Daniel Barel. “With Hitachi’s innovation and invaluable expertise in EV and digital technologies, REE is primed to build on our early leadership position as the leading e-Mobility platform across the globe. In addition, Hitachi is a well-known and respected player in the automotive, energy and digital industry which can drive customer orders, and we are looking forward to benefiting from their extensive sales network and relationships.”
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Live Trial of 5G Connected Car Concept To Launch in Turin, Italy
On 2 December, the City of Turin (Italy) will host a live trial of new driver and pedestrian safety technology allowing near-real-time notification of roadway hazards through 5G-Edge networks. This trial is one of a series conducted internationally by a historic public-private collaboration over the next few years, organized by the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) and eight member companies representing leading technology companies from around the globe. “This collaboration between the 5G Automotive Association and its member companies is the perfect example of how we can secure safety on roads and build the future of connected mobility,” said Maxime Flament, CTO of 5GAA. “This time, demonstrated use-cases take place in Europe through 5G and Edge networks—I look forward to seeing more in the future in the United States and other continents.” The promise of 5G and Edge technology has long been anticipated to deliver new connected services that will revolutionize daily life, with the estimated new economic opportunity stretching into the trillions USD over the next 10-years1. The global connected car market size alone is projected to reach USD 191.83 billion by 2028. [GJ1] 5G transmission speeds and so-called “Edge” servers—locally installed, high-powered computers capable of running Artificial Intelligence programs—open the door to smart city technologies like near real-time traffic management and innumerable other business applications. The connected car concept uses this high-speed and Edge computing technology to communicate with car sensors and pedestrian smartphones, via a user-authorized mobile app—about traffic hazards, like accidents and road construction—to Pedestrian and in-vehicle driver safety and efficient navigation.[MD2] "The connected car concept is an important validation of the combined value of Edge, of 5G and IOT," said Paolo Campoli, Head of Global Service Provider sector at Cisco, “We are so excited to take part in this event that creates a platform for innovation in 5G IOT. The integration of 5G mobility, applications and data processing at the Edge requires expertise from very different domains—expertise that Cisco and Partners can bring. It includes elements of automation, intelligent infrastructure and workloads control, cybersecurity protection and end-to-end application observability. The live trial in Turin is a great opportunity to show how the intersection of Edge, 5G and IOT based on Standards creates a platform to connect Service Providers and Industries." This live international trial attempts to solve one of the more technical challenges of making the connected car concept a daily reality. The 5G networks underpinning the concept are managed by communication service providers (CoSPs) according to geography, each with different edge solutions that must be able to communicate without interruption of the V2X applications as drivers cross borders. Roaming services—the ability to make a call regardless of the network—is one early success of multi-mobile network operators (MNO). Demonstrating the connected car concept can work in a roaming scenario is the core objective of the live trial and represents the first of any such attempt in Europe. “Telecom operators will have to play a major role by enabling applications and services for the connected car ecosystem,” says Shamik Mishra, CTO Connectivity, Capgemini Engineering. He further adds: “Capgemini is excited to bring its innovative federated MEC (Multi-Access Edge Computing) platform and applications to this 5GAA trial to demonstrate the true value of intelligent industry, leveraging data in the vehicles and edge-cloud. The trials serve as a stepping-stone for realizing the potential for automakers to provide services to their connected cars from the network”. The trial will demonstrate how the car manufacturers, MNOs and technology providers come together to help overcome the challenge of when a vehicle moves from one network boundary to another or Inter-MNO handover of MEC service. The Turin live trial addresses three objectives: Objective 1: Multi-MNO scenario: How can a vehicle, which has radio access to MNO A, use a MEC application, which is operated by MNO B -> Interworking between MNO‘s (by NOT losing the benefits of low latency) Objective 2: Global operational Availability: How can an OEM as the MEC application developer be sure, especially on a global basis, that a MEC application works in the same way if it’s operated by MNO A, or if it’s operated by MNO B Objective 3: Multi-MNO with roaming scenario: Where the two operators can seamlessly transfer the V2X service from one operator to the other as the car OEM moves from one geo to the other in a roaming scenario. Typically, when an in-vehicle driver does a cross-border travel that involves two operators. One of the key benefits of the trial is the value demonstrated by bringing in a large ecosystem to help develop not only the technology but also build the business case and model that will help drive the market adoption for 5G and C-V2X to help into the digital transformation of smart cities of the future. To succeed in this endeavor, it will need a village and investment from both public and private sectors to help adopt this new technology to provide a quality of life for all citizens. The city of Turin is delighted to facilitate the 5GAA Multi Operator MEC Trial with its Smart Road infrastructure and the technical support of 5T. We see - Chiara Foglietta, Deputy Mayor for Mobility, Ecological and Digital transition, Innovation says - C-V2X services as fundamental to develop a sustainable and safe mobility for all the citizens, whatever transport means they use. In the future, Turin wants to continue the collaboration with 5GAA and offer its Smart Road infrastructure for further scale in the live traffic within Torino City Lab and the new project “ Turin House of emerging Technologies – CTE NEXT” “As TIM, we are honored to be hosting in Turin such a challenging trial by leveraging our Innovation Lab competencies and our pre-commercial instances of Edge Cloud,” says Daniele Franceschini TIM VP Innovation, Standard and Portfolio. “The federation model implemented with our partners enables a ‘continuum’ between Edge Cloud instances allowing players from the automotive industry and beyond to benefit from a seamless cloud experience across country boundaries.” “Greater connectivity speeds, improved hardware and expanded software expertise have opened new opportunities for Stellantis with safety systems being one of the many areas we focus on,” said Mamatha Chamarthi, Head of Software Business and Product Management. “Through smart and strategic partnerships such as 5GAA, we will capitalize on next-generation systems and prove out the technology.” The demonstration brings new learnings for various players across the value chain and creates a testbed for trying out new 5G connected car services at the Edge in subsequent phases. The Turin Live Trial will run throughout the day on 2 December 2021. [BACKGROUND] In this live trial, Telecom Italia (TIM), Telefonica, BT/EE will demonstrate the NSA 5G networking capabilities and the Edge Cloud solution to deliver connected car use cases at the Edge of their networks for their customers. TIM makes its Innovation Lab facilities available and its commercial 5G network with pre-commercial Edge Cloud specific features such as Local Break Out, that together with the federation of edge platforms in TIM, BT/EE and Telefonica make the use cases available for roaming users from BT/EE and Telefonica. The three companies are hosting Capgemini’s ENSCONCE MEC platform, built upon the Intel Smart Edge Open toolkit, the Intel® Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit, and Intel hardware to enable connected car use cases at the Edge on 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor equipped Cisco Servers. Intel Smart Edge Open (formerly known as OpenNESS) is a royalty-free edge computing software toolkit for building optimized and performant edge platforms. “The international live trial of building and provisioning Connected Car edge services in a multi-operator scenario is a transformative 5G and Edge use case,” said Renu Navale, Vice President and General Manager of Smart Edge Platforms Division at Intel. “This trial demonstrates the possibilities that 5G connectivity and edge computing can bring to connected car solutions, when the broad ecosystem collaborates and uses Intel technologies such as Xeon processors, Smart Edge Open and OpenVINO.” Capgemini’s ENSCONCE MEC Platform provides multi-tenancy and multi-MNO MEC federation capabilities. The visual compute applications for pedestrian detection and tracking supported by Capgemini’s Orbital Car Situational Awareness V2X platform. To realize the Active and Passive Vulnerable Road User (VRU) use cases, Cisco provides the Edge infrastructure based on CISCO UCS Servers (the Unified Computing Systems that combines computing, network and management in a cohesive architecture) hosting the ESCONCE platform, used to demonstrate Virtual-RSU and host V2X applications that are based on the Intel Xeon Scalable Processors and Intel HDDL-R Visual Accelerators. Harman International and Capgemini provide the Virtual-RSU and RSE solutions respectively to realize various V2X use cases with location-aware and AI inferencing technologies. Harman also offers V2X Application Server and a 5G enabled TCU that integrates seamlessly with Stellantis/FCA car and hosts V2X applications. “It is key that operators and industry partners collaborate to explore the technical feasibility and benefits to unlock the new business opportunities and services to our customers. In this project, we are jointly evaluating the potential to federate edge cloud compute capabilities across multiple geographies to support low latency use cases, including key connected car use cases being delivered as 5G edge services in a multi-MNO, multi-OEM environment,” said Sunil Joshi, Senior Manager, Global Roaming Products at BT/EE. “Telecom operators will have a key role in supporting V2X services and this trial demonstrates the value of leveraging mobile architecture, federating edge platforms and allowing local break out in visited network. Such an approach as defined in the GSMA Operator Platform Group allows customers and developers to deploy their applications across multiple operator domains, and our end users to have the best latency and customer experience when accessing their services,” saidJuan Carlos Garcia, Senior Vice-President of technology innovation and ecosystems, Telefonica. “At Harman, we are focused on building connectivity solutions at the intersection of 5G, V2X and Edge Computing that will build more equity on the road for all users,” said Mahsa Nakhjiri, Director, Product Management. “While these technologies can unlock many new use cases and experiences, the most important element of any solution in this space is safety. As programs such as this one fueled by the collaboration of industry leaders and organizations like 5GAA bring a new degree of safety to users, they will also lead to a higher level of confidence in autonomous vehicles.” ### Source: Harbor Research1.
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In-Mold Electronics: Short Term Pain - Long Term Gain, IDTechEx Discusses
In-mold electronics (IME) is often touted as a forthcoming revolution in how automotive touch-sensitive interfaces are manufactured. However, while smooth capacitive touch sensors are increasingly common in many recently launched vehicles, especially on the steering wheels and parts of the center console, they are not currently produced by IME. Instead, other methods such as applying functional films to existing 3D parts are employed. This apparent discrepancy poses an important question: Will the capacitive human-machine interface (HMI) components of the future be produced using IME, or will the simpler currently utilized manufacturing methodologies persist? - Competing HMI manufacturing methods HMI components that offer backlit capacitive touch sensing are increasingly utilized in multiple applications, including automotive interiors and household appliances control panels. Relative to traditional mechanical switches, the fewer parts used in backlit capacitive touch sensors make them both lighter and simpler to assemble, while the lack of discrete buttons means that they can be wiped clean. Despite their visual similarity, backlit capacitive touch sensors can be produced with a wide range of different methods. One common approach, deployed in some recently launched cars, is to first produce a decorative, often curved part via high pressure thermoforming and subsequent injection molding. A functional film comprising a printed conductive pattern of capacitive switches and interconnects is then attached to the back side. Conductive regions can be transparent (either via conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS or metal mesh) to enable backlighting with separately produced waveguides. In contrast, the manufacturing process for IME places more challenging requirements on the materials. Firstly, conductive ink is printed onto a plastic, commonly polycarbonate, substrate. Electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) are then used to attach electrical components such as LEDs. The substrate with conductive traces and mounted components is then thermoformed to produce the desired curvature, followed by injection molding to produce the complete part. - The comparative advantage of IME to improve with time Due to the less stringent material requirements and lower adoption barriers relative to IME, applying functional foils to slightly curved parts to make capacitive touch switches has already reached commercialization in the automotive sector. Given that the two manufacturing methods result in parts with very similar functionalities and hence consumer experience, how can IME compete? The answer lies in considering the parts and assembly processes that IME renders unnecessary. For example, providing capacitive touch sensing by applying functional foils means that lighting and hence waveguides need to be produced and installed separately, whereas with IME they are integral to the component. This greater integration means that IME will enable reduced fewer parts/materials and fewer assembly processes overall. IME parts will thus be lighter, benefitting both electric vehicle range and sustainability. Crucially, as IME technology develops a wider range of functionalities will be integrated. These include haptics, energy harvesting, heating, and even the control electronics (i.e., PCBs)., removing the need for many separate parts and thus enhancing IMEs value proposition relative to competing manufacturing methods. With functional foils, such extensive integration of electronics is challenging and slow since components would need to be mounted on a 3D surface – in contrast, with IME electronic components can be mounted before thermoforming via comparatively rapid conventional 2D pick-and-place. In summary, commercial adoption of IME currently lags behind some of the alternative methods to produce capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces. However, IME offers much greater potential for integration of additional electronic functionality, enabling smaller, lighter, simpler to produce components, leading to a lower all-in cost (see graphic). As such, IDTechEx believe that its comparative advantage relative to methods such as applying functional foils will increase over time, leading to widespread adoption. - Market Research Report This article is based on the recently released IDTechEx report “In-Mold Electronics 2022-2032: Technology, Market Forecasts, Players” which covers both IME and competing technologies for producing decorative capacitive interfaces. It discusses the manufacturing methodologies, material requirements, applications, and challenges in considerable detail. 10-year market forecasts by application sector, expressed as both revenue and IME panel area, are provided, along with the associated material opportunities. Also included are multiple application prototype examples, life cycle analysis of typical IME components, and multiple company profiles based on interviews with early-stage and established companies. Further details and downloadable sample pages can be found at www.IDTechEx.com/IME
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Foresight's Technology to be Evaluated by a Leading Japanese Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Manufacturer
Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq and TASE: FRSX), an innovator in automotive vision systems, announced today the sale of a prototype of its QuadSight® four-camera vision system to a leading Japanese manufacturer of agricultural and heavy equipment for testing. The equipment manufacturer will examine Foresight’s stereoscopic capabilities for use in fully autonomous tractors as an alternative to the leading sensors that are currently being evaluated. The use of thermal stereo addresses detection challenges that are caused by dust and fertilizer particles, harsh weather, sun glare and complete darkness, potentially bringing added value to precision automated agricultural machines. The interest shown by the equipment manufacturer indicates a growing need of the industry to find cost-effective solutions to increase productivity and accuracy of autonomous operations which may ultimately result in superior crop quality and higher profits. A July 2021 market research and forecast by Accuracy Research projects that the autonomous tractor market, estimated at $1.5 billion in 2020, will reach $7.5 billion by 2028. Major trends in the market include the growing adoption of advanced farming technologies, increasing commercialization of agriculture, and rising acceptance of autonomous technologies. In addition, auto-steering enables highly reliable farming, which is likely to increase the adoption of autonomous tractors and move the market forward. [Forward-Looking Statements] This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, Foresight is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses the examination of Foresight’s stereoscopic capabilities for use in fully autonomous tractors by the Japanese agricultural and heavy equipment manufacturer, the needs of the agricultural equipment industry and trends in the market. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Foresight’s current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance or achievements of Foresight could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Foresight's annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 30, 2021, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, Foresight undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. Foresight is not responsible for the contents of third party websites.
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ELIV 2021: Multi-gigabit System for Optical Communications in Vehicles
Together with several industry leaders, KDPOF – leading supplier for gigabit connectivity over fiber optics – is working on an optical automotive multi-gigabit system that will fulfill the needs of future connected and automated vehicles. Instead of various port components, the new solution provides a single, complete package. “As the auto industry approaches the 50 Gb/s*m speed-length threshold, the move from copper to optical physical data transmission media is becoming mandatory,” stated Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “Optical is the engineering-wise path for higher data rates.” The new connector systems are very small, lightweight and extremely inexpensive compared to the previous ones. With the comprehensive EVK9351AUT evaluation kit, automotive manufacturers and suppliers can already test the new configuration at 1 Gbit/s today. KDPOF thus supports easy project entry into optical gigabit connectivity for a secure Ethernet backbone and ADAS sensor connections in vehicles. KDPOF will present their optical Multi-gigabit Ethernet Connectivity System at ELIV (Electronics In Vehicles) International VDI Congress on October 20 to 21, 2021 at stand 38 in Bonn, Germany, and online. [Off-the-shelf System Solution for In-vehicle Networking] The key advantages of the optical solution, among others, are superior Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) thanks to the inherent galvanic isolation, low weight, and low cost. The optical cables are absolutely reliable and at least as flexible as copper cables in the same bandwidth range. They allow fast, dynamic and tight bending as well as immersion in dark liquids. In addition, optical connectivity guarantees easy engineering for seamless implementation. The ecosystem already exists since the system leverages well-proven technologies, such as VCSELs (Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser), multimode fibers and photodiodes already developed for the data centers industry. The technology will be scalable in order to enable even higher data rates, such as 50 and 100 Gb/s, in the future. Standardization processes are ongoing with IEEE 802.3 Automotive Ethernet and ISO PWI 24581 in progress. The robust and reliable system solution provided by KDPOF and industry leaders thus offers the future-proven path to high speeds. [Reliable, Robust and Cost-efficient] The proposed Multi-gigabit system supports Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE) tailored for automotive applications and wakes up in less than 100 ms. The target BER is better than 10-12 with ambient operating temp from -40ºC up to 105ºC (AEC-Q100 grade 2) in harsh automotive environments. High reliability (15 years operation, less than 10 FIT) and outstanding EMC compliance are also fulfilled. The technology in development is based on advanced digital signal processing, using high-speed DAC and ADC to implement all needed algorithms such as equalization or pre-coding. A new optical automotive IVN communication standard IEEE 802.3cz is currently in the task force phase and is targeting data rates of 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Gb/s. It is supported by several industry-leading companies. First engineering samples of the new automotive, single-chip, fully integrated Fiber Optic Transceiver package solution for 10 Gb/s will be available from KDPOF in fall 2022.
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5G Automotive Association Strives for Digtalizrd, Sustatinable and Safer Roads in the Digital Age
The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) organized a conference bringing together EU representatives, public authorities, and the connected automotive ecosystem to the heart of Europe at its latest event, 5G: Connected Mobility in the Digital Age. Main objective? Discuss the ongoing challenges and opportunities brought about by the digitalization of road transport on the continent. From the latest state-of-play and capabilities of Cellular-Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) to the EU regulatory framework and the importance of the 5G roll-out, the 5GAA-branded conference emphasized the ongoing momentum of the technology in Europe as it supports more and more advanced use cases to ensure safer roads and achieve lower emissions globally. “When applied to the automotive field, 5G will have the most revolutionary impact by saving millions of lives and reducing accidents on European roads”, 5GAA CTO Maxime Flament said. “The combination of long-range and short-range connectivity C-V2X offers, delivers the optimal setup for safety and efficiency of traffic, in addition to improving environmental footprints. We believe the European Union can achieve its Green Deal climate targets for 2050, if only it boosts the digitalization of its roads – landing a rapid and efficient deployment of 5G along road networks.” Starting today with LTE-V2X technology, 5G-V2X is paving the way for fully connected and automated mobility. Vehicles and infrastructure can exchange relevant information via LTE-V2X through direct communication mode (not requiring network coverage) or mobile network communications mode, creating a real-time connection between all road users. Many automotive services can be supported by the current global cellular standard LTE-4G, seen as an essential foundation for further progress. As a combination of LTE-V2X and 5G NR, 5G-V2X will enable more advanced connected mobility services and offer a clear path to automated driving – while maintaining service-level interoperability with pre-existing LTE-V2X vehicles. It is thus of utmost importance that the revised Intelligent Transport Systems framework encompasses this tech evolution for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) for Europe. Connected vehicles must reach a critical mass to impact emissions reduction significantly. The Association reiterated that establishing an innovative and investment-friendly regulatory framework that remains technology-neutral will boost Europe’s competitiveness and the number of connected vehicles on the road. As such, a seamless interaction among all stakeholders involved will be pivotal for road operators and public authorities across Europe to meet their policy objectives and enable a smooth service experience across all value-chains – to ensure a smooth 5G roll-out and robust ecosystem cooperation in the global evolving transport ecosystem. “Our Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy sets out milestones for the transformation of our transport system – and Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility will play a key role: by 2030, we expect automation to be deployed at a large scale” stated Commissioner Vălean. “Automation will be a driver to help make 100 European cities climate-neutral by the same date. And we have another important milestone to reach: by 2050, the fatalities for all modes of transport in the EU should be close to zero. Automated mobility is expected to contribute immensely here. My expectations are high, but so is the potential!” Indeed, the Association had the pleasure to have European Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Vălean open the conference and address the attendees. The event welcomed high-level representatives such as Daniel Mes, Cabinet of Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, Charlotte Nørlund-Matthiessen, Cabinet of Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Vălean, Member of European Parliament Henna Virkkunen, Peter Stuckmann, DG CONNECT Head of Unit Future Connectivity Systems, the European Cyclists’ Federation (Jill Warren, Chief Executive Office), Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (Ana Isabel Blanco Bergareche, Associated Deputy Director), the City of Turin (Nicola Farronato, Head of Innovation) and the Swedish Transport Administration (Hamid Zarghampour, Chief Strategist Connected and Automated Transports). It also witnessed a strong ecosystem presence, with speakers from 5GAA members BMW, Stellantis, Volvo Cars, Ford, HERE Technologies, Telefonica, TIM and Huawei.
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EV Power Electronics: Driving Semiconductor Demand in a Chip Shortage, Reports IDTechEx
Semiconductors are the lifeblood of the modern age. From your watch to a washing machine, everything these days seems to be ‘smart’, ‘connected’ and therefore enabled by semiconductors. Unsurprisingly then, a massive shortage of chips present 'across all categories', according to some industry executives, is having a profound impact. Recent research from IDTechEx in their brand new market research report, “Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles 2022-2032”, explores the importance of inverters in achieving ever greater EV range and market differentiation. However, fundamentally, the power electronics industry is underpinned by a transition towards fancy new semiconductor technology, and even without this, drives demand for semiconductor content per electric vehicle roughly 2.3x that of internal-combustion engined ones. Is electrification sustainable amid a semiconductor shortage? [The root of the shortages (and why the auto sector is particularly sensitive)] The auto market was one of the big industry losers of the pandemic. In 2020, demand for new cars tumbled: sales were down ~15% YoY, driven by changing consumer needs around travel, job uncertainty, and factory closures during lockdowns. The problem is semiconductor foundries need to operate as continuously as possible due to the fallout from interruptions and long start-up times, which last weeks to months and eat into profits. Inevitably, while automotive demand waned in 2020 and automakers postponed or canceled orders, the slack was quickly redirected to other sectors and has not been so easy to channel back. In 2021, demand from other sectors (covid-induced or otherwise) such as smartphones, cloud computing, or data mining, still has not slacked off, and the crisis has been deepening with lead times for key parts like microcontrollers reaching as high as 44 weeks. In April, Ford estimated it would sell 1.1 million fewer vehicles due to the shortages, and last month, Toyota, which had been coasting on reserves, also reduced production. The issue is also exacerbated by a concentrated supply chain, creating a single point of failure. Many companies spring to mind when thinking about computer chips - Intel, Apple, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, AMD – but few of these companies manufacture them. In fact, most production is outsourced to foundries in Asia, where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has close to 60% market share, based on revenue. The lack of companies capable of manufacturing chips, and long lead times to switch between suppliers, means automakers are stuck. [Impact of semiconductor shortages on EVs] It is difficult to predict the impact of the chip shortages on electric vehicle markets. Unlike the global auto market, electric vehicle sales grew consistently throughout 2020 with ~40% year-on-year growth; the surge is continuing this year with sales on track to reach ~5 million in 2021. What is remarkable is that electric vehicles require more semiconductor content than internal combustion-engined ones. By 2022, with current trajectories and assuming no supply constraints, we estimate electrification in the automotive sector (BEV, PHEV, FCEV, HEV, 48V) will demand an additional $7.4 billion worth of semiconductor material compared to a scenario without electrification. However, while electric vehicles are a massive growth sector for the semiconductor industry, growth is driven by power electronics, while current shortages are mainly affecting microcontrollers (MCUs). Moreover, the continued growth of electric vehicle markets through 2020 means it is less likely automakers canceled EV parts, at least to the same degree as internal combustion cars, and electric vehicles were able to sidestep some of the brunt of the impact. Tesla claims it has largely managed the crisis in 2021 by building new microcontroller designs and changing microcontroller suppliers – its sales have remained strong. Less established EV start-ups are having a harder time but tend to operate in premium or other low-volume sectors. For example, Nikola has delayed the release of its FCEV vehicles, but this is a loss of under 100 units in 2021. Electric vehicles markets will be impacted, but IDTechEx do not think they will stop growing. Light is at the end of the tunnel, with Ford saying, ‘we see Q2 [2021] as the trough’. Indeed, IDTechEx thinks gradual improvements will occur through 2022, which largely depends on demand from phone/laptop/home-office tech sectors cooling off rather than long-term capacity expansion plans from foundries.
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KDPOF Presents Reliable and Cost-efficient Multi-gigabit Connectivity System at ELIV VDI Congress
Together with several industry leaders, KDPOF – leading supplier for gigabit connectivity over fiber optics – is working on an optical automotive multi-gigabit system that will fulfill the needs of future connected and automated vehicles. Instead of various port components, the new solution provides a single, complete package. “As the auto industry approaches the 50 Gb/s*m speed-length threshold, the move from copper to optical physical data transmission media is becoming mandatory,” stated Carlos Pardo, CEO and Co-founder of KDPOF. “Optical is the engineering-wise path for higher data rates.” The new connector systems are very small, lightweight and extremely inexpensive compared to the previous ones. With the comprehensive EVK9351AUT evaluation kit, automotive manufacturers and suppliers can already test the new configuration at 1 Gbit/s today. KDPOF thus supports easy project entry into optical gigabit connectivity for a secure Ethernet backbone and ADAS sensor connections in vehicles. KDPOF will present their optical Multi-gigabit Ethernet Connectivity System at ELIV (Electronics In Vehicles) International VDI Congress on October 20 to 21, 2021 at stand 38 in Bonn, Germany, and online. [Off-the-shelf System Solution for In-vehicle Networking] The key advantages of the optical solution, among others, are superior Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) thanks to the inherent galvanic isolation, low weight, and low cost. The optical cables are absolutely reliable and at least as flexible as copper cables in the same bandwidth range. They allow fast, dynamic and tight bending as well as immersion in dark liquids. In addition, optical connectivity guarantees easy engineering for seamless implementation. The ecosystem already exists since the system leverages well-proven technologies, such as VCSELs (Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser), multimode fibers and photodiodes already developed for the data centers industry. The technology will be scalable in order to enable even higher data rates, such as 50 and 100 Gb/s, in the future. Standardization processes are ongoing with IEEE 802.3 Automotive Ethernet and ISO PWI 24581 in progress. The robust and reliable system solution provided by KDPOF and industry leaders thus offers the future-proven path to high speeds. [Reliable, Robust and Cost-efficient] The proposed Multi-gigabit system supports Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE) tailored for automotive applications and wakes up in less than 100 ms. The target BER is better than 10-12 with ambient operating temp from -40ºC up to 105ºC (AEC-Q100 grade 2) in harsh automotive environments. High reliability (15 years operation, less than 10 FIT) and outstanding EMC compliance are also fulfilled. The technology in development is based on advanced digital signal processing, using high-speed DAC and ADC to implement all needed algorithms such as equalization or pre-coding. A new optical automotive IVN communication standard IEEE 802.3cz is currently in the task force phase and is targeting data rates of 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Gb/s. It is supported by several industry-leading companies. First engineering samples of the new automotive, single-chip, fully integrated Fiber Optic Transceiver package solution for 10 Gb/s will be available from KDPOF in fall 2022.
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Foresight Successfully Completes First Milestone of POC Project With a Leading European Vehicle Manufacturer
Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq and TASE: FRSX), an innovator in automotive vision systems, announced today the successful completion of a feasibility testing phase with a leading European passenger car manufacturer. This marks the first phase of the joint proof of concept (POC) project that was reported by the Company on May 28, 2021. Revenue from the completion of the first phase amounts to $40,000 out of a total expected revenue of $120,000. The POC project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021. The POC project is meant to test the ability of Foresight’s stereoscopic technology to enhance the European vehicle manufacturer’s existing mono camera-based safety systems without requiring additional sensors and infrastructure. This may allow the European vehicle manufacturer to take existing safety systems to the next level of autonomy. The second phase of the project will consist of real-life testing. Following successful completion of the project and subject to the satisfactory outcome, the European vehicle manufacturer may consider integrating Foresight’s solutions into its vehicle safety applications. The POC project is made possible with Foresight’s patented automatic calibration solution which is designed to create a stereo system using two mono cameras with overlapping fields-of-view in order to enhance the performance of a vehicle’s advanced driver assistance system in terms of detection quality, distance accuracy and robustness.
