MEMS Timing Enables New Wave of Autonomous Vehicles

Embedded Computing Design writes, engineering is always about tradeoffs, but autonomous vehicles are pushing that to the limit with conflicting requirements.

Engineering is always about tradeoffs, but autonomous vehicles are pushing that to the limit with conflicting requirements. To start, let’s explore some of these requirements.

• These vehicles will generate copious amounts of data, both from the various forms of vision sensor as well as environmental sensors detecting temperature, pressure, and other critical parameters.
• Communication will be constant, using automotive Ethernet internally and 5G to talk to the world.
• They operate in an unforgiving environment, with constant vibration and shock. Temperatures can be extreme, both due to external weather and the internal engine temperature. Temperature changes can be rapid, both externally, with quick weather changes, and internally, for example, when the engine warms up. Moisture can materialize at any time due to rain or to driving on wet pavement.
• Automobiles put lives at stake. A car should always work, but if something goes wrong, it has to be able to behave well as it moves into a safe state.
• Cars are a consumer item; manufacturers are extremely cost-conscious, even as they demand high performance from their electronics. Chip footprints must be small to save area, and electronics must be manufacturable with high yields to keep prices in range.

Read more...