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Automotive & transportation
From personal automobile to large commercial fleets, transportation is undergoing significant technological advances, especially in the areas of electrification and advanced driver assistance systems. Explore our resources to stay up to date with transportation trends and technology.
How V2G benefits drivers and electricity suppliers
By
Harvey Wilson
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05/10/2023
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) enables EVs to send power from their batteries back to the main electricity grid. This will be hugely helpful in dealing with the inconsistency of renewables. However, it brings with it new technical and commercial challenges.
The future of EV charging: revolutionary developments are closer than you think
By
Harvey Wilson
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04/10/2023
Electric vehicles (EVs) are big business. You only need to look at Tesla’s share price to see just how big. Imagine how much more valuable the market would be if EVs could charge in a few seconds, not minutes or hours.
Developing an IoT asset tracker: What are the key technical considerations?
By
Avnet Staff
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02/05/2023
Technology is making asset tracking more accessible. Connectivity options are increasing, including non-terrestrial networks. Any object can be located and monitored. This blog uncovers the design challenges, including power, protocols and precision.
Understand the sources of electromagnetic interference in electric vehicles
By
Avnet Staff
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24/04/2023
Electrical noise sources within vehicles fall into two types: electromagnetic inference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD). We explain these and the basic concepts of conducted and radiated EMI noise, with relevant examples.
Understand practical GaN and SiC differences for EV onboard chargers
By
Avnet Staff
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18/04/2023
Depending on the design, wide bandgap devices may provide efficiency gains in power conversion for onboard chargers. But which do you choose over silicon if any? We look at the options and offer some advice.
Digital interfaces are driving data in the automotive sector
By
Avnet Staff
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03/04/2023
High-speed automotive networks link independent control units. This article compares the role and specifications of Ethernet, CAN and SPE, and explores recent network innovations enabling zonal network architectures.
Solutions for transportation design pain points don’t have to be daunting
By
Jamie Pederson
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21/03/2023
Transportation engineers seeking solutions to overcome today’s most common design pain points can look to the industry’s long history of innovation for inspiration.
A primer: Understand the importance of EMI and EMC in EVs
By
Avnet Staff
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10/03/2023
A strong understanding of the basics of electromagnetic interference and of electromagnetic compatibility is vital for any automotive engineering team. This article introduces the concepts as well as some initial checklist items.
Do you need to know more about vehicle electrification?
By
Philip Ling
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04/01/2023
The POWER UP webinars from Avnet Silica dive deep into the world of electric vehicles. Watch this series of free webinars to learn more about what’s involved with vehicle electrification and charging.
New, free design books deliver inside story on EV charging
By
Philip Ling
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19/12/2022
EV charging infrastructure has the capacity to support many more suppliers at every stage in the supply chain. If you manufacture EV supply equipment, or are looking at the market opportunity, these new design resources are a must-read.
When your next tractor is a Tesla
By
Alessandro Mastellari
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05/12/2022
The promises of lower energy costs, increased productivity and greater reliability, and the pressures from emissions regulation, are driving rapid EV innovation in agricultural and other off-road equipment.
How engineers cut development time in half for an EV fire warning system
05/12/2022
Through rapid prototyping, Amphenol developed sensor modules that reliably detect carbon dioxide and hydrogen from cell decomposition venting for early warning of lithium cell thermal runaway.
Designing ultra-rapid DC EV chargers
13/07/2022
If electric drivetrains are to replace internal combustion, particularly in larger vehicles, we need more high-speed DC charging capacity. This article examines six of the main design considerations.
Defining security for the EV charging infrastructure
13/07/2022
Drivers are demanding easy access to public EV charging points. Providers must meet this demand without sacrificing security for simplicity. Cybercriminals will find any security weaknesses, but the latest standards are here to help.
Predicting the kW sweet spot in EV charge point variants
13/07/2022
Do you want AC or DC, fast or slow charging? Manufacturers of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment need to predict what will be demanded most by consumers, while responding to the requests coming from Charge Point Operators.
Load balancing in the EV charging infrastructure
08/07/2022
We all know what it’s like to wait in line to refuel, but what if you must continue waiting after you plug in your EV? Managing multiple charge points in one location is creating some interesting challenges for the EV charging infrastructure.
A closer look at SiC quality
27/06/2022
Silicon carbide builds on established manufacturing methodologies but requires entirely new manufacturing processes. Increasing yield and reducing costs relies on imposing the highest quality at every stage.
Why you should care about SiC figures of merit
10/06/2022
SiC semiconductors are becoming ubiquitous in power conversion equipment, particularly in the areas of EVs, solar and energy storage systems. This article reviews applications and explores the figures of merit that can be used to compare devices.
How robust testing forms part of the SiC supply chain
10/06/2022
In high reliability/availability applications, SiC semiconductors are seen as emerging technology. This article explains their benefits and how an end-to-end supply chain with robust testing makes SiC a safe design option.
Taking stock of the supply chain crisis: Lockdowns and shortages cost automotive manufacturers over $500 billion
12/05/2022
Avnet Silica analysed public financial records to reveal the impact of the pandemic on semiconductor stock levels, automotive factory closures and revenue.
What does the future of automotive technology look like?
By
Jamie Pederson
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09/05/2022
The automotive industry is becoming more technologically advanced at a fast pace from comfort and infotainment to advanced safety systems. This article explores the trends as vehicles become data centers on wheels.
How to use structured light and image sensors for range detection and identification
By
Philip Ling
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25/04/2022
Today’s most popular 3D imaging technologies are Time of Flight (ToF), stereo vision and structured light. This article overviews the basic operating principles and the relative strengths, weaknesses and trade-offs associated with each option.
What to consider when choosing a connector (interconnect solution)
By
Jamie Pederson
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21/04/2022
Selecting interconnect products for your project is a crucial step in the design process and there are several things to keep in mind when making those decisions. In this article we’ll discuss the most common considerations and how interconnect ma
What is polarization, keying and color coding for interconnect?
By
Jamie Pederson
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10/04/2022
Establishing a properly aligned connection quickly is key in any assembly or installation process. Polarization, keying and color coding are primary means to ensuring connections are made quickly and safely. In this article we’ll discuss each of
Understanding the impact of radar and lidar on autonomous technologies
31/03/2022
Many component makers are betting heavily on radar and lidar systems enjoying a golden period of growth in the next few years. Vision systems and the processors that go in them present an exciting opportunity, too.
The interdependence of safety and security in autonomous driving
24/02/2022
The quest for increased road safety is an important factor in the development of higher levels of driving automation. As in any industry, suitable standards help OEMs validate their work in the eyes of regulators and the marketplace.
Six cool new autonomous technologies
By
Cameron Coward
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31/01/2022
From planes, trains, and automobiles to farm equipment and Martian rovers, engineers are extending the capabilities of autonomous technologies to achieve simple productivity improvements and a better understanding of big issues like global warming.
Considerations when designing with wide bandgap devices
20/12/2021
SiC and GaN wide bandgap semiconductor switches can provide a step improvement in efficiency in power converters. Engineers should be aware that they have different secondary characteristics compared with Si-MOSFETS and IGBTs.
Selecting wide bandgap devices for motor control applications
By
Milan Ivkovic
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20/12/2021
When it comes to smart control applications, it’s worth taking a step back to consider when and if the switch to wide bandgap from MOSFET or IGBT makes sense. When the answer is yes, then the decision is whether SiC or GaN is the way to go.
How 6G networking will solve your city’s traffic problems
11/10/2021
6G networking and self-driving cars could make traffic congestion a thing of the past.