Proof that autonomous vehicles are safe to put on the road begins with rigorous models of the sensors that guide them. Holger Krumm | dSPACE GmbH Onboard sensors are critical for autonomous vehicles to navigate the open road, but the real environment is full of obstacles. Everyday interferences such reflective surfaces, whiteout conditions, fog, rain, […]
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Bluetooth and the road to a keyless future
Efforts are underway to let smartphones double as car keys. Erik Peters, Dialog Semiconductor From hands-free calling to tire pressure monitoring systems, Bluetooth has revolutionized the way we interact with our vehicles and how the vehicle itself communicates with other technology systems and services. So, what’s next? Improved internet connectivity and other technological advancements have […]
First implementations of Bluetooth-enabled keyless cars reveal a few bugs
The first production vehicle to employ a Bluetooth (actually a BLE) digital key is Tesla’s Model 3. When the owner approaches carrying his or her smartphone equipped with Bluetooth, Model 3s can be set to unlock their doors and trunk automatically, and starting the Model 3 is as simple as shifting out of Park. Nevertheless, […]
Spectrum co-existence challenges in the fully connected car
High-performance RF bandpass filters may hold the key to autonomous vehicle communication without interference. Ali Bawangaonwala | Qorvo, Inc. Continuing advances in technology are making the autonomous vehicle a practical reality, and there is frequent discussion among technologists about Wi-Fi and 5G as enablers of the connected car. Equally important, but less talked about, are […]
How GMR wheel speed sensors help advance vehicle control and braking systems
Giant magnetoresistance sensors are strong candidates for the high-accuracy wheel-speed sensing necessary in autonomous vehicle systems. Christine Graham | Allegro MicroSystems The purpose of a braking system has evolved from simplistic stopping to critical functions in vehicle safety through highly accurate feedback to traction control (TCS) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These advances have […]
Validating correct behavior in ADAS and AV systems
Autonomous vehicles must operate in a world of uncertainties. Validation platforms are now capable of determining whether behavior is correct given complex contextual attributes. David Fritz, Mentor, A Siemens Business There is an interesting dashcam video circulating in the autonomous vehicle (AV) development community of a Tesla-paid test driver coming up on what the driver […]
Want a new perspective on battery management? Buy a plug-in EV.
One facet of EV ownership: Thinking of your daily commute power consumption as equivalent to the sunlight hitting 20 ft2 of your lawn. Rudye McGlothlin, Silicon Labs Earlier this year I took my first step into the EV future by buying a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) – a Chevrolet Volt. A unique car in […]
Engineering the atomic submarine, Part 2: One man’s audacity, determination, dedication revolutionized naval reality
Part 1 looked at the origin and results of the Nautilus program; Part 2 looks at the broader issues and lessons. Leadership across multiple disciplines Until the atomic sub, all subs were basically watertight surface ships designed to submerge and stay underwater for brief periods. No navy had never produced a sub hull designed and […]
5 things you need to know about 5G filters
by Robert Hammond, Resonant CTO, and Mike Eddy, Resonant VP Product Marketing & Business Development 5G networks operate in new and higher frequency bands, requiring new underlying technology and performance standards for RF filters. The industry must develop new resonating structures in order to filter at these high frequencies, and large bandwidths, with enough power […]
Engineering the atomic submarine, Part 1: One man’s audacity, determination, dedication revolutionized naval reality
The development of the first nuclear-powered submarine, driven by Admiral Hyman Rickover, in many ways foreshadowed the Apollo program, but there were distinct differences as well. The traditional diesel-electric submarine was really not a “submarine” vessel” — it was a watertight, submersible pressure vessel and boat, capable of staying underwater for a few hours at […]