highsides

Highsides is a term used in multiple technical domains to describe phenomena, components, or measurements associated with the high side of a system, i.e., the part closer to the supply or upper boundary. The meaning is domain-specific and context-dependent.

In motorsport and motorcycle riding, a highsider refers to a type of crash in which the rear wheel suddenly regains traction while the rider is leaned over, causing the motorcycle to flip upward and the rider to be ejected over the top side. Causes include abrupt throttle changes, loss of traction, wet or loose surfaces, and misapplied braking or steering. Highsides are relatively dangerous and can cause severe injuries; prevention relies on protective gear, training, traction control systems, and careful cornering technique.

In electronics, a high-side switch or driver is a device placed on the supply side of a load to control power delivery. High-side switches are typically P-channel MOSFETs or N-channel MOSFETs with gate drive circuitry that can reference above the supply. They are used for battery-powered devices, load isolation, and safe power sequencing. Challenges include gate drive relative to supply, voltage ratings, and thermal management.

High-side current sensing refers to measuring current in the supply line, where the sense resistor is between the supply and the load. Benefits include monitoring the true input current and compatibility with high common-mode voltages, while requirements include isolation, accurate common-mode rejection, and appropriate sense amplifiers.

In other contexts, “high side” may appear in control theory or electrical engineering literature; “highsides” as a plural is rarely used outside these domains.