Feature: Automotive


ASICs for optimised haptics in vehicles


By Richard Mount, Director of Sales, Swindon Silicon Systems


"T


ouch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language,” wrote poet and novelist Margaret Atwood. We’ve long interacted with electronic devices


using sound and visuals, but where’s touch in all this? In many industries, including automotive, haptic technology is used as a method to quickly and


safely convey information between car and driver.


Haptics through the decades Haptics may have been implemented as early as WW2, when haptic feedback systems were implemented into aeroplane controls, making the control stick vibrate when the plane was beginning to stall. Tese vibrations warned pilots, prompting them to adjust their flight path to avoid danger. Decades later, haptic feedback became dominant in another sector – gaming. Many controllers use haptic technology for that


16 October 2023 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


extra layer of immersion. And, with the ongoing evolution in the automotive sector, which includes electric and autonomous vehicles, haptic technology is next on the list. According to statistics from Exactitude, the global value of the automotive haptic technology market could exceed $5.7bn by 2029, up from $2.25bn in 2020, with advanced infotainment and improved driver assistance systems being its key adopters.


A complex process Driving is a task that requires a lot of concentration. Potential distractions are everywhere – pedestrians, cyclists, other road users, road obstacles, road signs, car notifications, passengers, and so on. Te sheer amount of auditory and visual information that we must continuously process as we drive can make the experience overwhelming. As a result, our eyes and attention can become diverted, impacting overall perceptiveness and reaction times. However, haptics offer a new two-way communication between


driver and vehicle. Early in-car infotainment systems oſten provided little to no haptic feedback, largely consisting of buttons that create more of a distraction – especially if a driver’s attention shiſts away from the road and onto a screen or the infotainment console. By offering tactile feedback, such as a vibration when, say, a button is pressed, the driver immediately knows if that action has been recognised by the car, whilst keeping their focus on the road. Rather than being yet another light on the dashboard, or panic-


inducing sound alarm, communicating through touch can effectively cut through the noise, making it much easier and quicker for the driver to understand the information the car is providing. For example, a car with haptic technology could vibrate its steering wheel to prompt a driver to brake, if it decides the car is getting too close to another vehicle on the road. Or, a sensor that registers the vehicle driſting away from its lane can shake the driver’s seat, if the driver’s attention is dwindling.


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