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MIPI Alliance completes development of a new sensors standard for automotive applications

The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, recently announced that development has been completed on MIPI A-PHY v1.0, a long-reach serializer-deserializer (SerDes) physical layer interface for automotive applications. The specification is undergoing member review, with official adoption expected within the next 90 days. A-PHY will provide a physical layer for data transfers spanning an entire vehicle. As the first standard of its kind, it will help the automotive industry accelerate the availability of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving systems (ADS) and other surround-sensor applications, including cameras and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) displays.

MEMS maker Micro-Inertial announces high performance IMU and motion sensing systems

Micro-Inertial has announced the development of IMU and motion sensing systems that the company says deliver new levels of performance and reliability with broad temperature stability, high vibration immunity, scale factor, and bias drift. According to Micro-Inertial, the technology offers significantly improved cost, reliability, power, and operating performance characteristics over existing MEMS based IMU systems, particularly in applications where temperature and vibration stability, small form-factor, and light weight are important.

MEMS startup ACEINNA raises $50 million to develop IMUs for autonomous vehicles

ACEINNA has emerged from behind the curtains as one of the largest “spin out” companies in the MEMS and sensing technology sector. The company is developing new sensing solutions for high volume applications such as autonomous vehicles, high performance computing systems, and smart buildings. Over the last two years, the company has achieved more than 70% annual growth and expects this to continue in the future. ACEINNA’s main focus is its inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensing technology used to provide navigation and guidance to autonomous vehicles -- from self-driving cars and trucks to automated material handling solutions used in warehouses and factories. Currently, the sophisticated, highly accurate IMU navigation systems used by the top Level 4 autonomous car makers cost tens of thousands of dollars each. 

RoboSense equips Alibaba's unmanned logistics vehicle with MEMS based LIDAR

Alibaba Group's Cainiao Network and RoboSense jointly released this week the G Plus, which they claim to be the world's first solid-state LIDAR enabled unmanned logistics vehicle.  Announced at Alibaba Group's Cainiao Network 2018 Global Smart Logistics Summit held this week in Hangzhou, China, a key feature of the driverless delivery vehicle is the MEMS based LIDAR technology developed by a Chinese startup company RoboSense. The company has reached a strategic partnership with Alibaba to provide LIDAR sensors for all G Plus unmanned delivery vehicles.

MIPI Alliance forms automotive working group

The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, today announced the formation of the MIPI Automotive Working Group (AWG) to address the needs of the automotive ecosystem. The group is open to MIPI contributor members. As the number of sensors continues to increase in automobile applications to support passive and active safety, infotainment, ADAS, and autonomous driving systems, the need for interface specifications is apparent. Building upon the success of the MIPI Alliance Automotive Subgroup and Automotive Birds of a Feather (BoF) Group, the MIPI Board of Directors has approved the creation of the MIPI AWG.

MEMS based scanning laser HUDs and LIDAR sensors for ADAS applications

As advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications continue to evolve and become more complex, there is an increased need for effective methods to present the safety alerts and other important information to the driver.  Head-up displays (HUDs) is an emerging solution for consolidating ADAS data into one centralized screen that allows the driver to keep the eyes on the road, while viewing alerts and warnings that appear on the windshield at the same time.  MEMS technology plays a central role in one type of emerging HUDs, which uses laser beam scanning (LBS) technology.  We spoke with Jari Honkanen, Director of Technical Marketing and Applications Development at MicroVision, to learn more and get the latest developments.

Automotive sensors: emerging trends with security vulnerabilities and solutions

Connectivity is used to increase traffic safety and to provide motorists with infotainment content, but connectivity also creates vulnerability.  Increasingly connected vehicles are becoming targets for hackers that can access the vehicle’s electronic control units (ECUs), controller area network (CAN) bus systems, or even sensors through the cloud or other IT pathways.  This is causing very real concerns about cyber security in modern vehicles, and how to protect driver safety and privacy.  Irdeto is a security solutions provider for digital platforms and applications across multiple industries, including automotive.  Since its inception in 1969, Irdeto’s software security technology has protected over 5 billion connected devices and applications.  We spoke with Ben Gardiner, Principal Security Engineer at Irdeto and discussed the latest trends in automotive cyber security, and specifically focused our conversation on automotive sensors.

Automotive MEMS sensor unit shipments rose in 2015, even as revenue stalled

Although shipments of MEMS sensors used in automotive applications grew 8.4% in 2015, revenues were flat compared to the previous year, reaching $2.7 billion.  In contrast, the value of this market is expected to recover this year, rising 4.3% to reach $2.8 billion in 2016, according to IHS Markit.  The automotive MEMS market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% from 2015 to 2022, to reach $3.2 billion in 2022.  Global shipments will exceed two billion units for the first time at the end of this period.

MEMS suppliers ride automotive safety wave

Suppliers of MEMS based sensors rode a safety sensing wave in 2014 to reach record revenues from automotive applications, according to analysis from IHS.  Mandated safety systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), which attained full implementation in new vehicles in major automotive markets last year, are currently driving revenues for MEMS sensors.  MEMS makers with strong positions in gyroscopes, accelerometers and pressure sensors needed in these safety systems saw increased revenues, while companies in established areas like high-G accelerometers for frontal airbags and pressure sensors for side airbags also saw success.

Sensors for internal combustion engines: recent market trends and developments

The global market for sensors used in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is on the road of steady growth for the next few years, propelled by increasing utilization in engine management and exhaust aftertreatment, according to IHS.  Sensor shipments for ICEs will top 1.34 billion units in 2019, up from about 1.08 billion in 2013.  Overall, the projected six-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2013 to 2019 will equate to 3.6 percent.  "Shipments of ICE sensors are growing slightly faster than car shipments," said Richard Dixon, Ph.D., principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at IHS.  "The main reason is that new concepts in emissions mitigation in the engine and in exhaust aftertreatment systems require advanced sensors for their operation. Added to that, emission legislation in some major markets of the world, such as China, is beginning to catch up with that of mature markets like the US, Europe and Japan, at least in the larger cities."