Just as cellphones can now do much more than making calls, cars can do much more than drive and park. Companies in the automotive space are delivering the most advanced, safest, and most comfortable vehicles. Cars are becoming smart devices with a variety of sensors being used in vehicles to monitor aspects such as engine speed, tire pressure, air temperature, amount of exhaust gases, the air entering the engine, and more.
With the use of sensors in automobiles growing in recent years, the market is witnessing a significant boom. Major factors driving the market are increased demand for safety, comfort, reliability, and energy efficiency, favorable legislation for use of automotive sensors, and consumer concerns about vehicle security and environmental safety. Moreover, advanced technologies such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), lane departure warning (LDW) systems and more are providing impetus to the growth of the industry. As per the report by Allied Market Research, the market is expected to grow to $37 billion by 2022 from $22 billion in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period, 2016 – 2022. The high development cost of sensors is a factor that impedes the growth of the market.
To cater to the growing demand in the automotive sensors industry, new developments are taking place in the space. Some of the recent developments that took place in the market include a new line of sensors launched by InvenSense, a TDK Group company. Another is the launch of an autonomous automotive imaging radar sensor in January 2019.
TDK Group Develops New Automotive Sensors to Improve Navigation
The innovative sensors developed by InvenSense of TDK Group, include IAM-20680, IAM-20680HP, IAM-20380, and IAM-20381. They enhance the improve the navigation of vehicles in places where GNSS or GPS is not available, such as tunnels, parking garages, etc. The IAM-20680 comes with 16-bit accelerometers, 16-bit gyroscopes, and an operating range of 40° C to 85° C. The IAM-20680HP comes with enhanced features such as an operating range of -40°C to 105°C, high gyroscope and offset thermal stability, and pin, package, and register compatible with its high-performance version IAM-20680. The IAM-20380 features an operating range of -40°C to 85°C, the only automotive-qualified gyroscope fully compatible (pin, package, register, and software) with a 3-axis automotive accelerometer (IAM-20381), and an automotive-qualified 6-axis device (IAM-20680).#
Ainstein Introduces K-79 Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Radar Sensor
Ainstein, a maker of intelligent radar systems, announced the launch of K-79 autonomous automotive imaging radar sensor. The new solution serves the purpose of autonomous operation of vehicles in hazardous conditions such as low light and extreme dust. It works by producing a high-resolution point cloud of a vehicle’s surroundings for moving objects such as other vehicles as well as stationary objects such as railings, idled equipment, and buildings. The sensor identifies the location of objects and delivers information regarding range, speed, and elevation. It creates a 2D point cloud mapping of surroundings and 3D shapes of spotted objects. The features of the sensor open many possibilities for all kinds of autonomous vehicles such as snow removers, self-driving excavators, sweepers, forklifts, agricultural equipment, and more.
