ATS develops connection concept for robot vehicle computers
In the search for the pioneers in the field of autonomous driving, one finds a solution in an industry that many would not think of first: mining. Autonomously driving monster trucks have long been used in this sector. The robot vehicles significantly increase productivity, safety and efficiency. All this happens under the most difficult environmental conditions with large temperature fluctuations, dust and humidity. The demands on all components used are correspondingly high.
Finding solutions to these challenges is the aim of the CHARM (Challenging Environments Tolerant Smart Systems for IoT and AI) research project, in which AT&S is involved. Hannes Stahr, Group Technology Manager at AT&S, explains: “Together with companies and research institutes from ten different countries, we are working on the development of powerful computer modules that could be used in fully autonomous mining vehicles in the future. AT&S’s contribution is to develop a robust and resistant interconnection concept for a high-performance computer chip”.
In the concept development phase a measurement chip is used to check and validate system stability and reliability. In a later phase, this chip will be replaced by a high-performance processor embedded in a substrate as a “translator” between the micro-world of the circuit board and the nanostructures of the microchip, thus enabling miniaturisation and highest data processing speeds at the same time. This interposer is necessary so that the machines used can carry out complex activities autonomously and at the same time guarantee the highest level of operational reliability due to their stable construction.
The development work in this project focuses on the mining sector, but the results of the work can also be used for other segments: “Of course we can also transfer the findings from this project to areas of automated driving for cars and trucks,” says Stahr. Here, there are already cooperations with the automotive supplier industry.
The three-year “CHARM” project is being implemented as part of the ECSEL (Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership) initiative. It involves 37 partners from ten European countries and has a total budget of €29 million. Co-financing is provided by ECSEL, EU Horizon 2020, the national funding agencies of the participating countries and the consortium partners. The partners come from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.
More information: www.ats.net
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