Functional Safety – What and How

Functional Safety – What and How
by Daniel Payne on 05-26-2021 at 10:00 am

Accellera FSWG min

I’ve written before about how the automotive industry adheres to functional safety (FS) as defined in the ISO 26262 standard, along with other SemiWiki bloggers. That standard certainly defines the What part of FS, however it doesn’t mandate how you meet the standard, what tools you should be using, file formats … Read More


Safety Architecture Verification, ISO 26262

Safety Architecture Verification, ISO 26262
by Daniel Payne on 05-24-2021 at 10:00 am

fault injection state space min

I love to read articles about autonomous vehicles and the eventual goal of reaching level 5, Full Automation, mostly because of the daunting engineering challenges in achieving this feat and all of the technology used in the process. The auto industry already has a defined safety requirements standard called ISO 26262, and one… Read More


Chip Shortage, COVID-19 Unmasks Transit Gaps

Chip Shortage, COVID-19 Unmasks Transit Gaps
by Roger C. Lanctot on 04-28-2021 at 10:00 am

Chip Shortage COVID 19 Unmasks Transit Gaps

I haven’t traveled a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I have flown a few times around the U.S. As a former frequent flyer I pride myself on anticipating most travel circumstances and not being surprised or blindsided, but two recent visits to Austin, Texas, changed that when I couldn’t find a rental car.

It was just 12 months … Read More


Automakers to Blame for Semiconductor Shortage

Automakers to Blame for Semiconductor Shortage
by Bill Jewell on 04-23-2021 at 8:00 am

Top Automotive Semiconductor Suppliers

Automakers worldwide have scaled back production due to a shortage of semiconductors. Companies which have announced temporary halts on production include Volkswagen, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Daimler (Mercedes) and Stellantis (merger of Fiat-Chrysler and Peugot).

IHS Markit estimates… Read More


Apple’s Cook Paints Himself into an Autonomous Corner

Apple’s Cook Paints Himself into an Autonomous Corner
by Roger C. Lanctot on 04-11-2021 at 10:00 am

Apples Cook Paints Himself into an Autonomous Corner

These days tech journalists and analysts appear confident of one thing. Apple is working on an autonomous car.

There’s a “Garbo Talks” quality to the tea leaf reading around Apple’s autonomous vehicle development efforts. The latest chapter was written with the publication of Kara Swisher’s latest “Sway” podcast episode

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Honda Asserts Automated Driving Leadership

Honda Asserts Automated Driving Leadership
by Roger C. Lanctot on 03-14-2021 at 10:00 am

Honda Asserts Automated Driving Leadership

When Honda Motor Co. tied up with General Motors almost a year ago to collaborate on vehicle propulsion technology, connected car tech, and assisted driving, observers might have been forgiven for thinking Honda was surrendering its independence to catch up in the EV race. Honda reasserted its independence last week with the

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 5G Cars

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 5G Cars
by Roger C. Lanctot on 03-14-2021 at 8:00 am

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 5G Cars

Prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic car makers were inching toward putting their 5G connectivity plans into action.  There was a growing recognition, at the time, that no one wanted to miss the 5G car boat – and no car maker would want to be stuck selling 4G cars in a 5G world.

The onset of the pandemic was a shock to the system. 

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Chip Channel Check- Semi Shortage Spreading- Beyond autos-Will impact earnings

Chip Channel Check- Semi Shortage Spreading- Beyond autos-Will impact earnings
by Robert Maire on 03-07-2021 at 10:00 am

Robert Maire 2

– Semiconductor shortage is like toilet paper shortage in early Covid
– Panic buying, hoarding, double ordering will cause spike
– Could cause a year+ of dislocation in chip makers before ending
– Investors, Govt & Mgmt will get a wake up call from earnings hit

Auto industry is just a prominent tip Read More


Accelerating AI-Defined Cars

Accelerating AI-Defined Cars
by Manouchehr Rafie on 02-28-2021 at 10:00 am

Accelerating AI Defined Cars Figs

Convergence of Edge Computing, Machine Vision and 5G-Connected Vehicles

Today’s societies are becoming ever more multimedia-centric, data-dependent, and automated. Autonomous systems are hitting our roads, oceans, and air space. Automation, analysis, and intelligence is moving beyond humans to “machine-specific” … Read More


“For Want of a Chip, the Auto Industry was Lost”

“For Want of a Chip, the Auto Industry was Lost”
by Robert Maire on 02-11-2021 at 10:00 am

Auto Assembly Line

Semiconductor production can’t be turned on and off like a switch

Semiconductor fabs have to run 24/7 to make money. They have to be running full all the time to fully utilize the high running costs and in the case of new fabs, high capital costs.

Unlike a brake pad factory hat can hire and fire people at will and source readily … Read More