SENSORS & SENSING SYSTEMS FEATURE Protecting sensors down the road... Sensors are an integral part of vehicle


design today, with most cars featuring up to 100. Simon Vogt, CCO, P2i, examines the applications and explains why these sensors will need to be protected to prevent increased breakdown


require a multiplicity of sensors as part of a new approach to operation, maintenance and sustainability. Further down the road, once


M


anufacturing a car is both highly complex and expensive. It requires


thousands of parts, including between 60 and 100 high-quality sensors, with many built into the engine to ensure that the owner can identify and prevent possible issues before they result in breakdowns. Sensors are being deployed throughout the vehicle to meet evolving security and efficiency standards as well as to address environmental standards. Engine sensors measure voltage, fuel


temperature, oxygen levels and much more, ensuring that the vehicle is operating at peak efficiency. But while their use in today’s ‘connected car’ is already highly extensive, this is set to increase exponentially. In a report last year, consultants Deloitte believe that by 2030, half the cost of a car will be accounted for by its electronics – of which sensors with semiconductors will be a major part. Consequently, these sensors will need to be protected to prevent increased breakdown. Deloitte and Gartner predict the use of non-


optical sensors such as environmental sensors, fingerprint, inertia and magnetic sensors will increase at a compound annual rate of more than 7%. By next year, the semiconductor content of a car will on average be $600, Deloitte calculates (although not all related to sensors). The rise of advanced driver-assistance systems


(ADAS) has already vastly expanded the range of applications for sensors. ADAS technologies are totally reliant on sensors to automate or assist with a variety of driver functions such as parking, blind-spot monitoring, safe braking and collision-avoidance. The implementation of ADAS is growing at a rate of 24% per year.


THE INCREASED USE OF SENSORS This growth in the application of sensors will increase hugely with the switch to electric vehicles. Governments in developed economies are now actively promoting the changeover, with the UK government, for example, forbidding the sale of diesel or petrol cars by 2030. EVs will


autonomous vehicles have become part of our everyday reality, sensor technology will be as essential as the electricity in their batteries. Without camera, radar and lidar sensors, these vehicles are unable to function. Whatever the vehicle or its drive train, the problem remains that with many sensors necessarily exposed to the elements, something is bound to break, leak or need upgrading. The increase in sensors is also being driven


more recently by OEMs collecting data from their fleet on the road in order to report on malfunctions should they occur, as well as study the performance of their vehicles. The collected international data is then analysed by firms such as Tesla to understand how their products and systems are performing globally and to improve the design and manufacture of future cars.


PREVENTING FAILURE The failure of sensors brings multiple risks. The first is that it will result in damage to the car that will lead to the need for expensive repairs – and recent industry estimates indicate that some car parts can cost well over £1,000 to repair or replace. The second is that it will render the car unusable even if there is nothing mechanically wrong with the rest of the vehicle. Either eventuality is likely to cause brand damage. Failing sensors can also inflict significant environmental damage by causing an increase in emissions, alongside performance and drivability problems. In addition, there is the risk of reporting back ‘bad’, unclear or no data to OEMs who collect data of their fleet on the road; this could have adverse impact on influencing the design and functionality of future products. The level of impact sensor failure has on brand


image becomes even clearer when the likely impact on the motorist is considered. When an individual is alerted to a fault with their car by a sensor, they have two options: get it looked at or not. If the fault allows them to continue to drive and it is not convenient for them to get the car checked out, they will continue to drive the car,


/ DESIGNSOLUTIONS


not knowing what damage they are doing. Faulty sensors also raise stress levels. Consumers will either think repairs are going to be very expensive or worry about being stranded if their car breaks down on the road. While the growth of ADAS is steady in vehicles, its associated functional features are becoming the new normal in the automotive market. Consumers reliance and their expectations on these features to be fully functional have been growing. The latter makes it vital for sensors to be durable in order to avoid adverse consequences should they get damaged and, more importantly, to preserve consumer confidence. As vehicles become more dependent on


sensors through the expansion of ADAS and replacement of combustion with electric motors, manufacturers may seek to reassure consumers by offering extended warranty periods in a bid to extend their market share. This may give confidence to some potential buyers, but no warranty or guarantee will be as effective in the market as technology that prolongs the life of devices and systems within each vehicle. The ideal solution to the high cost of car repairs


is protection at sensor level, including liquid proof coatings as opposed to mechanical sealing or conformal coatings, which can degrade when exposed to heat or vibrations. Lasting protection can be provided using the latest nano coating technology that chemically bonds the coating onto the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) to give outstanding thermal durability. This solution trumps mechanical seals, which add extra weight and require more space, as well as lower the vehicle’s energy efficiency and prevent automotive innovation.


SUSTAINABILITY Advanced but practical solutions like liquid proof coatings can enable manufacturers to make sensors repairable so they no longer require replacement. This will increase vehicle reliability – a vital factor in the considerations of car-buyers. It will also ensure vehicles are sustainable and environmentally friendly. It will make manufacturers better understand the performance of their fleet on the road and improve future vehicle design at a time when the entire automotive market is under heavy scrutiny.


P2i www.p2i.com DESIGN SOLUTIONS | MAY 2021 13


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