Volvo solves the problem of weak components – New Technology

The bad components is a risk of self-driving cars. Volvo’s experts know the problem, but knowing it was not going to compromise on functionality.

– We are aware of the problems with new electronic components and we have ways to solve it, says Christian Grante, technical specialist in autonomous systems and safety in the Volvo Group.

Researchers: Inexpensive electronics threats to self-driving cars

Research Institute, Swerea struck last week warned that new electronic components used in the automotive industry threatens the development of self-driving cars. Components are actually developed for consumer electronics and mobile phones, where it is primarily a matter of depressing the price and get out many functions on the same circuit. Reliability and durability have been subordinate.

– This could be a ticking time bomb. If these components are for ten years instead of fifteen, and you discover the problem only after ten years, so has meanwhile built several million faulty cars. Refer to the scandal of Takatas airbags, which discovered an age-related defects after 8-10 years. Meanwhile installed 285 million faulty airbags, says Per-Erik Tegehall.

He is a researcher at Swerea IVF, which in 2013 completed a study of components with lead-free solder joints. The study is the basis for a new EU project where even the automobile industry will participate.

The components were previously tested and approved according to industry standard methods, but when Swereaforskarna subjected them to more realistic samples were not up to standard.

– It included samples with temperature cycling which led to the fatigue failure of the solder joints. This shows that either the components or the standardized test methods measure up, says Per-Erik Tegehall.

Components of this kind are used according Swerea of ​​automotive in vehicle radar and camera equipment and the communication between the vehicle and the outside world, thus functions necessary in self-driving cars.

– we know the performance of the hardware we use. It is about building smart systems, where some parts have extremely high integrity, for example, to meet functional safety. Then you can demote certain areas and solve certain functionality with redundancy and service, says Christian Grante, technical specialist in autonomous systems and safety at Volvo AB.

There are several reasons why the automotive industry not only uses components with better sustainability. Partly they are considerably more expensive, in some cases, they do not buy on the market. For component manufacturers, the automotive industry is too small, compared to mobile phones and consumer electronics.

– Features that have to do with security is a boundary condition for us. There, the components must have high integrity. For example, the self-propelled mining truck as New Technology test rode the lidarsensorn such a component. It is the one that keeps an eye on the surroundings and if something is in the way hit it right on the brake. The function must last as long as the truck, said Christian Grante.

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