Infineon is supplying Audi with the key components for the Audi A8, the world’s first series production car featuring Level 3 automated driving. The Infineon components that support safe automated driving in the Audi A8 consist of sensors, microcontrollers and power semiconductors. Radar sensor chips from the Infineon RASIC family are installed in the front and corner radar. They send and receive high-frequency 77 GHz signals and forward these on to the central driver assistance controller (zFAS).
A microcontroller from the AURIX family is a key component of the zFAS for reliable automated driving. AURIX enables to secure the connection to the vehicle data bus. It assesses and prioritizes data packets and initiates their processing in the fastest possible time. For example, it initiates emergency braking based on data from radar and other sensor systems. The AURIX family of microcontrollers is especially ideal for this purpose thanks to high processing power and extensive safety features.
These microcontrollers are used in several controllers in the Audi A8: On one hand, they control the functions for the engine, while on the other, they operate in the Audi AI active chassis and in the electronic chassis platform, which controls the shock absorption. The microcontrollers also support activation of the airbag.
In addition to the electronics for drive, driver assistance and chassis, other semiconductor solutions from Infineon are installed in the comfort and body electronics, such as for example LED drivers from the LITIX Basic family in the tail lights as well as bridge drivers from the Embedded Power family in the windscreen wipers.
The ability of cars to self-drive is split into a number of different levels: With Level 3, drivers can temporarily take their hands off the steering wheel under certain conditions. For example, the Audi A8 allows this when parking and exiting, in slow-moving traffic or in traffic congestion.
