Mouser - White Papers

Mouser Electronics White Paper New technologies are redefining the automotive industry. Hybrid and electric vehicles are already common, and many manufacturers have committed to ending the production of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Battery power and even hydrogen fuel cells are seen as sustainable solutions for the future. Data and Connectivity The technology that has made smartphones so successful will change how drivers use their vehicles. Designers have combined touchscreen displays with new use methods to provide data to users, including head- up displays (HUD) and augmented reality (AR). The car of the future has been described as the "third living space," where drivers enjoy the same level of functionality that they might experience in the home or the workplace. Through other technological advancements, the rise of autonomous or self-driving cars will offer users the choice of how they use their vehicles. Autonomous vehicles will integrate data collected by onboard sensors with information provided by other road users to visualize the environment around them. Our cars will, therefore, need to be connected to a network that includes vehicles, pedestrians, and roadside infrastructure. Connectivity will need to be both high speed and high bandwidth to manage the amount of information being shared. This new standard of connectivity, in which information is shared with other road users in a network, is known as vehicle-to-everything (V2X). Using the latest 5G wireless communication network, vehicles will be able to transmit information about their location, road conditions, and intentions to other vehicles, smartphone-carrying pedestrians, and even the city infrastructure. This information will allow other road users to build a complete picture of their local environment, thus enhancing road safety. Safety Systems Automotive safety has evolved enormously. For decades, almost all safety measures were concerned with the physical protection of drivers and passengers. Developments such as three-point seatbelts and airbags were instrumental in improving survivability in the event of a collision. However, the introduction of microelectronics and the development of miniaturized sensors have allowed designers to move beyond the mitigation of damage. Modern automotive safety systems now play an invaluable role in accident prevention. Electronic vision systems, which began as simple cameras to help drivers back up, have evolved into complex integrated systems that receive information from an array of sensors. This information is collected and processed in real time, enhancing how cars travel through the environments around them. From lane-departure sensors to traffic- sensing light-detection and ranging (lidar), vehicles themselves can take action to avoid accidents. The latest onboard systems combine all these inputs to create a new level of safety. Advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS (discussed in more detail later in this paper), collect data from the constellation of sensors around the vehicle and employ artificial intelligence to analyze data, identify potential hazards, and then act accordingly. However, designers now recognize that safety is not simply the analysis of the outside environment but is also hugely influenced by conditions inside the vehicle. Therefore, automotive safety is not confined to traditional systems; instead, it requires a holistic approach Driver- and Occupant-Monitoring Systems One of the leading causes of traffic collisions is driver fatigue. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as one in twenty-five adult drivers confess to having fallen asleep while driving, and many more admit to driving when they are fatigued. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 91,000 crashes in the US in 2017 involved drowsy drivers, and 693 deaths in 2022 resulted from drowsy-driving-related crashes. To combat the problems associated with drowsy driving and inattentive drivers, many manufacturers are developing solutions such as driver- monitoring systems (DMSs) and occupant-monitoring systems (OMSs). DMSs focus on the driver and employ several technologies to monitor their status. Sensors provide the input for monitoring a driver to detect signs of drowsiness, distraction, or impairment. Cameras focused on the face can identify driver fatigue from involuntary head movement or eyes that close for too long. They can also track eye movements, facial expressions, and head position to assess the driver's level of attention and alertness. These are combined with other inputs from accelerometers, vibration sensors, and vision systems, which can detect changes in the position and movement of the car itself, such as erratic steering or lane deviation. From these inputs, the DMS can identify signs of fatigue or distraction and issue warnings to alert the driver. These warnings include audible alerts, visual warnings on the dashboard, or even haptic feedback such as seat vibration. OMSs monitor not just the driver but also all occupants to ensure safety. These systems use a range of sensors placed throughout the vehicle in seats, seatbelts, and door panels to detect the position and behavior of any occupants. OMSs can determine if passengers are properly seated and restrained, whether they are in danger from the deployment of airbags, or if they are at risk of injury in case of a collision. Using this information, an OMS can adjust vehicle settings such as airbag deployment force, seatbelt tension, or climate control to optimize safety and comfort. DMSs and OMSs are becoming increasingly common in modern vehicles, especially in ADASs and autonomous vehicles, where they play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of occupants. The widespread adoption of DMS and OMS will be influenced by new legislation. Many key automotive markets, including China, the United States, and the European Union, are introducing new standards and legislation to compel manufacturers to provide these systems. A recent EU act directly addresses the installation of DMS. Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 of the European Parliament recognizes that tiredness negatively affects the ability to drive safely, noting that an estimated 10 to 25 percent of all road crashes in Europe are caused by fatigue.3

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