At Audi's first global brand summit held in Barcelona not long ago, the company officially launched its new A8 flagship sedan, marking the world's first L3-level autonomous driving production vehicle. This milestone signified the first time that autonomous driving technology took control of the steering wheel from human hands. Although Audi clarified that the new A8 can only achieve autonomous driving at speeds below 60 km/h, it still captured the attention of car enthusiasts worldwide. While consumers celebrated this technological leap, the new A8 also sparked deeper discussions about the reliability of autonomous systems—can people truly trust self-driving cars?
Audi’s A8 uses a variety of sensors for its autopilot technology, as shown in Figure 1. The essence of autonomous driving or ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) lies in the interaction between the car and its environment. It relies on sensors to collect data, memory to store it, processors to analyze it, and feedback mechanisms to act on it—all within a very short timeframe. Speed is essential, but more importantly, reliability must be guaranteed.
Feng Yixin, Director of the Product Management Department at Fujitsu Electronic Components (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., highlighted this during a recent Automotive Digital Cockpit Summit Forum. As a leading manufacturer of high-performance memory in the ICT industry, Fujitsu Semiconductor has expanded its FRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) products into markets such as three-meter devices, logistics, and medical equipment. In response to automotive industry demands, Fujitsu introduced two automotive-grade FRAM products, the MB85RS256TY and MB85RS128TY, in 2017. These were redesigned for improved reliability and extended operating temperature ranges, from -40°C to 125°C, and passed the AEC-Q100 standard certification.
In the TPMS segment of ADAS, Fujitsu has taken an early lead by partnering with Pirelli. According to reports, Fujitsu's FRAM memory has been integrated into Pirelli's tire pressure monitoring system, offering reliable low-power, high-speed writing and high endurance for data processing. Pirelli, a globally renowned tire brand with over a century of history, is known for its "reliable quality" and "excellent performance."
As part of the development, Pirelli will use Fujitsu's FRAM along with ASICs and sensors in SiP packaging for tire pressure monitoring. The tire is expected to enter mass production by the end of 2018, becoming the world's first FRAM-integrated high-performance tire. The key reasons for Pirelli’s choice include the difficulty of replacing the tire's battery after manufacturing, where FRAM's low power consumption provides a significant advantage. Additionally, tire pressure data needs frequent recording, and FRAM can support up to 10 trillion write cycles, making it ideal for high durability applications.
Meanwhile, the rise of new energy vehicles is also creating new opportunities for FRAM. With major automakers like Tesla, Toyota, and GAC investing heavily in self-developed batteries, and the Chinese government pushing for 5 million new energy vehicles by 2020, the market is set for rapid growth. BMS (Battery Management Systems) in electric vehicles are critical components, and they require reliable memory for real-time data monitoring. Fujitsu's FRAM has already been incorporated into the designs of several domestic automakers, including BYD and Kole.
Compared to E2PROM, FRAM offers significantly better endurance and faster write speeds. For instance, while E2PROM may only handle 1 million write cycles, FRAM can handle up to 10 trillion, reducing the need for larger memory capacities and minimizing software overhead. Moreover, FRAM can save data in just 0.00015 milliseconds during power failure, whereas E2PROM often requires additional capacitors, increasing costs.
Looking ahead, Feng Yixin believes that China's automotive industry is poised for a major transformation. As local Tier-1 suppliers grow stronger, there is a growing demand for high-performance components like FRAM. By aligning with international standards and using reliable electronic components, Chinese companies can compete globally. Fujitsu aims to support this transformation and expects the automotive application market to double its Asian revenue in the next one to two years, with China playing a significant role.
Fujitsu is also eager to collaborate with MCU and master control solution providers to integrate FRAM into in-vehicle applications, helping to expand and complete the entire memory market together.
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