AutomotiveSensorik

AutomotiveSensorik is the field of sensors and sensing systems used in motor vehicles to perceive the surroundings, monitor vehicle state, and support control systems. It encompasses passive and active sensing technologies and their integration into vehicle electronics to enable features from basic safety to automated driving.

Common sensor types include radar (usually 76–94 GHz mmWave for long-range detection), LiDAR (light-based ranging), cameras (2D/3D vision), and ultrasonic sensors (short-range obstacle detection). In addition, wheel speed sensors, tire pressure sensors, temperature and pressure transducers, and inertial measurement units provide vehicle state data. Sensor suites are often designed with redundancy and fail-safety in mind.

Sensor fusion combines data from multiple sources in software on automotive-grade ECUs or domain controllers. This enables ADAS features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and parking assistance, and supports higher levels of automation as perception stacks mature.

Challenges include environmental conditions (rain, fog, glare), occlusions, calibration drift, and sensor aging. Reliability and safety are governed by standards such as ISO 26262; functional safety, as well as cybersecurity and software integrity, are addressed by AUTOSAR and related processes.

The automotive sensor market is characterized by increasing sensor density, sensor fusion algorithms, edge processing, and cost/power constraints. Development emphasizes robust perception, real-time processing, and validation with real-world testing and datasets.