New Press Release from Frost & Sullivan: Sensor Fusion Emerges as the Primary Means of Achieving Enhanced Functionalities in Automotive Applications
LONDON – February 12, 2007 – Recently, there has been growing potential in Europe for the use of sensor fusion in different automotive application domains, such as power train, chassis systems and safety systems, as well as in comfort and convenience features. Sensor fusion improves robustness and reliability, while also enhancing the existing functionalities of various in-vehicle systems. “Reliability and higher system performance are the main factors driving sensor fusion,” notes Frost & Sullivan (http://www.automotive.frost.com) Research Analyst Praveen Chandrasekar. “Sensor fusion is expected to gain maximum priority in driving phases, where the driver needs assistance from safety and comfort features to ensure riding comfort, stability and safety. Motorway driving, night driving and driving in adverse conditions therefore offer the maximum potential for making use of sensor fusion.” If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the Strategic Analysis of the Opportunities and Implications of Automotive Sensor Fusion, please send an e-mail to Michael Banks - Corporate Communications at michael.banks@frost.com with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information by e-mail upon receipt of the above information. Sensor fusion assists in meeting drivers’ lighting, object and obstacle detection requirements. This is particularly crucial in motorway and night driving due to the difficult driving conditions that such driving phases present. In the entry/exit phase, comfort features are likely to remain the key focus, and as a result vehicle access and security will offer growth opportunities for sensor fusion. In addition, the pre-crash, crash and post-crash scenarios that arise due to adverse driving conditions offer significant potential for active and passive safety systems that incorporate sensor fusion. Data fusion can also be used to achieve higher system performance and accuracy. For instance, while existing adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS) systems can function using information from sensors such as steering angle, vehicle speed and height sensors, fusing data from the navigation system can improve the accuracy and performance of the system in different driving conditions. While these factors offer tremendous scope for the uptake of sensor fusion, at present most sensors are stand-alone devices which do not facilitate open communication and data distribution to other vehicle systems. For example, using information from navigation systems in combination with steering angle sensors for adaptive lighting requires several interfaces and data conversions. In addition, the absence of easy data exchange acts as a significant restraint on the deployment of sensor fusion. “The lack of open communication ‘smart’ sensors is likely to be a major obstacle in sensor fusion,” explain Frost & Sullivan Research Analysts Vigneshwaran Chandran and Karthikeyan Vijayakumar. “This is because most sensors in the market are not open to communication from one or more systems.” As a result, vehicle manufacturers and associated suppliers will need to work on ‘smart’ sensors that can communicate with each other and distribute information with ease. This is critical, since sensor fusion increases the quality and reliability of the resultant application, thus enhancing performance accuracy. Tier I suppliers with expertise in radar applications will have an edge over new entrants in developing sensor fusion. Moreover, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) plan to offset the high costs involved in sensor fusion by maximising the use of sensors across a variety of applications. However, the commercial success of the various applications can pose a potential risk due to increased costs. “Packaging fusion and functional integration together will provide an opportunity for cost savings,” remarks Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Shyamsundar Anandhan. “This will offer suppliers several opportunities to package more features and functions into a single system.” Strategic Analysis of the Opportunities and Implications of Automotive Sensor Fusion is part of the Automotive and Transportation Subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: sensor fusion in entry/exit, urban driving, motorway driving, reversing, parking and adverse conditions driving phases. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available. Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com Strategic Analysis of the Opportunities and Implications of Automotive Sensor Fusion H059-18 Contact: Michael Banks Corporate Communications – Europe P: +44 (0)20 7915 7876 F: +44 (0)20 7730 3343 E: michael.banks@frost.com Vanessa Quezada Corporate Communications – North America P: 210.477.8427 F: 210.348.1003 E: vanessa.quezada@frost.com Alice Chia Corporate Communications – Southeast Asia & ANZ P: +603.6204.5899 F: +603.6201.7402 E: alice.chia@frost.com Ravinder Kaur Corporate Communications – South Asia, Middle East P: +91 44 42044515 F: +91 44 24314264 E: ravinder.kaur@frost.com Jorgelina Peciņa Corporate Communications – Latin America P: 54-11 4777-9951 F: 54-11 4777-0071 E: jorgelina.pecina@frost.com http://www.frost.com