siliconindia | | September 20189tinent automotive systems. Those systems need to be able to take this data in, weed-out redundant or irrelevant infor-mation, process it, and make quick & flawless decisions. Finally, they all need to seamlessly work together without failure. Each component of every system needs to be test-ed and validated from an electrical, as well as communica-tion protocol point of view.It is also important to remember that autonomous ve-hicles are basically moving data centers cruising down the road at highway speeds. Automotive Ethernet systems tie all these systems together, acting as the data backbone for these computer networks on wheels.Rigorous Testing Never StopsRigorous testing of new autonomous vehicle technologies using a variety of testing tools can validate components from the physical layer (including electrical, timing, and many others.) to the application layer. For example, mak-ing sure an optical image can be extracted off a camera and converted into actionable data; whether firmware can be debugged separately from the electrical system, or wheth-er a Lidar sensor can capture incoming data without error, are also being tested.Specialized equipment can test whether two end points are communicating effectively through an automotive Ethernet link, tracking data as it moves along a digital bus. Test engineers are also looking to the future--mak-ing sure automotive systems can handle forward-looking technologies and protocols - more than the current 1-2 GHz spectrum in use today, as we move to 5G. Testers can simulate and emulate power failures, corrupt data, security breaches--even false signals or alerts--to protect autono-mous drivers and make it error proof before vehicles are generally available.Consider Power TooAlso, it is not just autonomous driving technology that is tested. New power sources have the capability to change the way we move from Point A to Point B. Engineers are also testing batteries, electrical components, electric ve-hicle charging stations, and supply equipment. Tests are being implemented to identify whether power is flowing from the charging station into the vehicle's battery and de-bug any conflicts. Powerful analytics software can monitor various control signals from charge conditions, tempera-tures, and voltage--monitoring for unexpected behavior before running diagnostics to troubleshoot the issues.In addition, the batteries themselves are undergoing rigorous testing by characterizing cells, modules, and packs which enable manufacturers to collect valuable data to design higher-quality devices and optimize parameters such as long-distance driving, i.e. drive duration, endur-ance, longevity) as well as for driving profiles, which im-pacts the distance a battery can be used with one charge.Due to the higher content of electronics within hybrid and/or electrical vehicles, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) considerations are critical, as interferences be-tween systems can be a significant safety concern requir-ing extraordinary care during product development and final testing.Autonomous vehicle development has been super-charged over the past several years, making it critical to test every component in every vehicle to ensure it per-forms properly. Testing those components and systems are not optional, because it is not just about performance and availability. Autonomous vehicles make thousands of critical safety decisions every second. Even one failure can mean serious injury or the loss of life. Engineers un-derstand the consequences and take every possible step to eliminate risks and safety issues. The public's trust is in their hands. Michael Reser
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