Cars have become quite important in day-to-day life; and thus it does not augur well for the automobile industry as it is facing shortages due to semiconductor supply crunch or otherwise known as chip shortage. Take a look at the importance of semiconductors in cars, and what sort of functions they accomplish for us.
What is a Semiconductor?
A semiconductor exhibits features between that of a conductor (material that conducts electricity) and that of an insulator (material, which does not conduct electricity). A semiconductor essentially regulates the flow of electrical current. Manufacturers typically make semiconductors from pure elements like silicon or compounds such as gallium arsenide or silicon carbide. Introducing impurities through doping alters properties like conductivity. Engineers modify semiconductors through doping to meet the specific requirements of the components they design. They primarily use crystalline solids, while employing liquid and amorphous semiconductors in significantly lower volumes.
Need in Cars
Cars have become increasingly computerized in that they now include heads-up displays, autonomous driving aids, sensors, cell phone and communication integration, and high-performance elements in their engines. This is because of semiconductors which are innovative in vehicle development. Automakers use a small percentage of the semiconductors manufactured overall, but these semiconductors meet several specific criteria related to technology and quality. Engineers define the suitability of a particular semiconductor for motor vehicle applications based on application-specific system definitions and manufacturing reproducibility. The quality requirements are necessarily stringent.
Advantages
Safety and driver assistance- The increasing demand for improved safety and assistance in the car has opened a field for semiconductor technologies. A few of them are; backup cameras, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, airbag deployment, and emergency braking functions. But they are all activated through semiconductor integration.
Vehicle electrification: Using the semiconductors, which replace physical devices with electronic, electrification has engendered key systems improvement in vehicles. Hence improving efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and reducing oil dependency.
Connectivity- Technologies that enhance a car’s current connectivity are available in most new models. Today’s new vehicles boast some of the coolest telematics (long-distance data transmission) and infotainment capabilities that feed information into the driver regarding road closures, collision avoidance, and even free parking spaces at destination points. On-board computers that handle that information have to process millions of code lines every second. Semiconductors keep the car current and refined connectivity with the real time.
Future
In recent decades, semiconductors have found their way into almost every nook and cranny of day-to-day life. The more demanding automation and sophistication are in vehicles, the more it will be embedded in onboard systems. As these will be used for a myriad of applications. With autonomous driving around the corner, increasingly sophisticated semiconductor devices will be the linchpin of the technological advances that make them possible. That shift may propel away from the driving experience. But towards the rider experience, and become more about interiors, comfort, and productivity.
This is just the starting point it permits safer driving while it’s giving a superior experience at a reasonable price. Are you really looking forward to seeing how semiconductors in cars will further evolve at the cutting edge of automotive technology in revolutionizing the entire driving experience.
