Five Frontier Technologies Accelerating the Collaboration of Vehicles

50 years ago, GordonE. Moore is keenly aware that "In integrated circuits, the number of transistors will double every two years." Moore's law has always led the future development of the entire semiconductor industry.

Today, within the die space that Moore thinks can hold thousands of transistors, it can already hold up to 2 billion transistors. After more than 50 years of exponential growth in chip technology, this industry is about to usher in another major change. With the advent of the Internet of Things era, we are expected to live in a world dominated by hyperlinks.

In the broad area of ​​the Internet of Things, car networking is one of the fastest growing market segments. The impact of this pioneering change on the design of automobiles has been particularly concerned by the Chinese market.

One, connected cars all the way east

Description: In 2010, China surpassed the United States as the world's leading new car sales market. By 2020, China is expected to occupy nearly 35% of the global new car market demand. Today, people's attention to the integration of car connectivity is also rapidly heating up.

The core idea of ​​connected cars is to use semiconductor chips to achieve connectivity. As technology continues to evolve, analysts predict that the number of chips per vehicle by 2020 will approach 1,000. Let's take a closer look at various leading technologies that promote the development of car networking.

Second, Wi-Fi wireless connection

Car Wi-Fi is like a game changer. Analysts predict that by 2019, the number of automotive applications that support Wi-Fi functionality will increase by 8 times. Integrating 5G Wi-Fi technology based on the latest wireless 802.11ac standard will enable drivers and passengers to synchronize the contents of mobile devices to the vehicle's infotainment system and rear-seat display screens via a smooth 5 GHz channel.

Automakers can use in-vehicle Wi-Fi to implement software upgrades and new features. Drivers can use mobile devices to remotely view their vehicle position, fuel volume, and mileage, as well as receive early warning information on vehicle performance and diagnostics on the same mobile device. In addition, the on-vehicle Wi-Fi technology can also build mobile hotspots to achieve connection with the network without relying on cellular devices and moving. Wi-Fi is also expected to play a key role in V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communications and the realization of unmanned driving. Wi-Fi's advantages are even more evident in the continuous development of related standards that support gigabit speeds and above.

The 5G WiFi technology based on the latest 802.11ac standard enables drivers and passengers to easily synchronize the contents of mobile devices in the vehicle and transmit them to the vehicle's infotainment system and rear-seat display.

Third, Bluetooth® and smart Bluetooth

For many years, Bluetooth has become synonymous with the use of car-free hands-free mobile phones. The so-called "smart bluetooth" or "low-power bluetooth" (BLE) energy-saving technology is one of the important technologies for the continuous development and growth of car Bluetooth. With BLE, Bluetooth can work with minimal power. After a single charge, the battery can last for months or even years.

Smart watches, sphygmomanometers, pulse monitors, alcohol monitors, or blood glucose monitors will become the first wave of wearable devices that connect to vehicles. Currently, Apple and Android have already supported low-power Bluetooth (BLE) technology, and low-power ecosystems have gradually taken shape. As Broadcom and other companies introduce semiconductor chips that support Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) capabilities, this ecosystem will expand into the vehicle sector in the near future.

Bluetooth SmartReady technology will play a crucial role in the realization of the connection between vehicles and wearable technology, including the connection of biometric indicators such as monitoring of fatigue driving, blood alcohol content, and blood glucose level.

Fourth, near field communication (NFC)

The development of near field communication technology (NFC) related to mobile payment or contactless transactions has also been driven by the development of the automotive industry. By using NFC technology, the driver can pair the mobile device with the control panel with only a touch, eliminating the need to browse the menu on two separate screens.

In addition, the integration of NFC technology into the windshield allows NFC to support data exchange capabilities such as digital key exchange authentication, user profiles, and vehicle information, which will greatly simplify the car rental process. NFC-enabled digital key applications can also be extended to other tasks such as mobile payments and access to restricted buildings or parking lots.

With NFC, the driver can tap and connect the mobile device to the control panel. Wireless charging will become the standard configuration of the vehicle, enabling a truly multi-device, ready-to-charge experience.

Fifth, wireless charging

Imagine scenarios where multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smart watches are charged on a single platform such as a central console without using multiple chargers and sockets. Wireless charging technology truly implements a free, "play-and-charge" new experience and is compatible with a variety of smart devices. The resonant wireless charging technology has a single-transmitting antenna design supporting multiple receivers and an integrated wireless power control system, and can transmit power through a non-metal surface.

In the IoT world, users will hold multiple Internet access devices, so it is imperative to introduce a single end-to-end wireless power solution. Automakers have begun to incorporate this feature into future models. Design plan.

Ethernet security

What are the most needed for vehicles equipped with networking and terminals? The answer is the backbone of the network. For decades, Ethernet has been the most popular and most reliable network technology in the world. The global Ethernet standard has long been successfully and safely deployed in a dynamic and evolving environment (such as a corporate network). Based on the characteristics of high bandwidth, cost-effectiveness, universality, and inherent network security, the application of automotive Ethernet is increasing.

Car Ethernet is fully optimized for car networking applications, providing proven standards and maximum car network security.

Car Ethernet integrates professional, independent systems into a centralized, secure platform. Multiple sites can use a single data transfer protocol and access and exchange information simultaneously. From the device's seamless connectivity to advanced driver assistance features, the cost-effectiveness of Ethernet can bring the safety and recreational features of luxury cars to mid-range economic models. These inherent characteristics are just one of many reasons why Ethernet can play a key role in the future of the connected automotive industry.

The road to the future

The continuous innovation over the past 50 years has created a world that almost nobody could have imagined in 1965. Looking ahead, analysts predict that by 2025, all new cars will all be "interconnected." With the evolution of the traffic development prospects, the continued acceleration of technology development will fully assist developers in fully satisfying the driver's need for truly interconnected experience while driving.