Tech Talk is a series of interviews that introduce you to some inspiring personalities within and outside of MD and the world of technology, innovation, and more.
In this edition, we sat down with Gerd Mittermaier, Global Vice President Product Management – Markets – R&D at MD. We talk about his work at MD ELEKTRONIK, the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in modern vehicles, the automotive industry in general, and modern on-board networks as a technical requirement for these developments.
Gerd, please tell us a little about yourself. What inspires you most about your job?
After my apprenticeship as an electronics engineer and having completed my electrical engineering studies, I worked in more than eight different roles in the semi-conductor industry for baseband ICs*.
I have been at MD since 2008 and have been able, in various leading roles in different areas, to help actively shape the company’s future with new ideas and approaches. Since 2013, in the role of Global Vice President R&D, I have been continuously expanding the areas of product development (R&D), product management, project management, innovation management and patents, for which I am responsible. In these exciting times since the invention of the car, it’s a privilege to be able to actively shape the development of data communication.
What is understood by the term “IoT” (Internet of Things) in general, and in particular in the car?
The abbreviation IoT stands for Internet of Things. In general, this refers to a network of physical devices which are connected together via individual domains and which can exchange data.
In the automotive industry, IoT particularly refers to the networking of vehicle components and external systems. On the one hand, these devices are becoming cheaper and cheaper to produce, but at the same time, they are also becoming increasingly “intelligent” and powerful, which is leading to increased use and comprehensive networking across different application areas, resulting in a coherent ecosystem. In this way, vehicles can exchange data in real time which leads to greater efficiency, safety and usability.
IoT applications particularly contribute to the development of autonomous vehicles by enabling seamless communication between vehicles (vehicle-to-vehicle, V2V) and between vehicles and infrastructure (vehicle-to-infrastructure, V2I). All these developments are enabled by technologies such as the “Ethernet” protocol and Cloud solutions which ensure fast and autonomous communication and the implementation of actions.
What role does IoT play in the automotive industry?
IoT has many applications in the automotive industry. On the one hand, the technology is penetrating the entire value creation process, and on the other, specific IoT applications are already implemented in many modern vehicles. Examples in the automotive industry include Industry 4.0 production systems, in which machines and production systems are networked to optimize processes and increase efficiency. This enables precise control of production, improves quality assurance and reduces the risk of human error. In addition, detailed monitoring and analysis of production data is enabled in real time, which contributes to the early detection and correction of problems. IoT also influences logistics and supply chain management by enabling transparent follow-up and management of materials and products. Real-time data analyses help prevent bottlenecks and improve efficiency along the entire supply chain. Engineers use IoT data in the development phase to design and test new vehicle models. By analyzing data from networked vehicles, trends and patterns can be identified and used in the development of new technologies and systems.
IoT applications can be found in vehicles in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which increase the driver’s safety and comfort. In-vehicle infotainment systems (IVI) are also used which offer the driver and passengers enhanced entertainment and information possibilities.
Overall, the integration of the Internet of Things is leading to an extensive network and digitalization in the automotive industry which is revolutionizing both the production processes and the driving experience.
Let’s focus on the vehicle itself. What role does the on-board network, and in particular, the on-board data network, play?
The IoT is made up of many small “intelligent control units” which are networked together. These connections are implemented by the on-board data network in the vehicle. From a historical point of view, various protocols exist for exchanging information, each of which is used for different applications. For lower data rates up to 3-5 Mbit/s, the CAN bus is used as standard. For higher data rates, FlexRay is used, and for a few years now, the Ethernet protocol, the basis of the Internet, has also been finding its way into the car. These protocols are crucial for ensuring the extensive and rapid data transfers that are required for modern vehicle systems.
In addition, technologies such as Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) enable the necessary synchronization and short latency times in networked vehicle architectures. That is vital to the efficient and safe transfer of data in real time, which is essential for autonomous driving functions and networked vehicles.
Is it not tedious to use different protocols in the vehicle?
Yes, not only is it tedious, but transferring information is also expensive and time-consuming. But the different protocols are specialized and optimized for different applications. The disadvantage is that multi-protocol communication can only be achieved with gateways – i.e. electronic translators. These gateways increase both complexity and cost, and slow down the transfer of information. Therefore, in recent years, efforts have been intensified to reduce the number of different protocols and move increasingly towards Ethernet in order to enable more efficient and unified communication in the vehicle.
Why move towards Ethernet rather than towards another protocol?
As mentioned at the start, Ethernet is the protocol of the Internet. We know from our experience at home or in the office that computers or other devices are connected together by Ethernet and that this protocol is also used for connecting to the Internet. Millions of devices and semi-conductor components support Ethernet. For the automotive industry, the challenge consisted in reducing the number of copper wires in cables because eight individual wires had become too expensive. However, it was possible to implement a special variant with only two copper wires, known as the twisted pair, which is compatible with the standard. This solution offers the high data rates and reliability that modern vehicle networks require.
The different protocols now also have different bandwidths or data rates, don’t they? Is the Ethernet protocol able to cover all of these?
The Ethernet protocol was and is being specified and standardized for different data rates. The first of these was the 100-Mbit/s variant of the IEEE 100BASE-T1 standard. Then followed IEEE 1000BASE-T1 for the 1 Gbit/s variant. Multi-Gigabit standards are being developed. But standardization activities are also heading in the direction of lower data rates. IEEE 10BASE-T1S is defined for 10 Mbit/s. These developments show that Ethernet is in a position to cover a wide range of bandwidth requirements, and therefore to reduce the number of different protocols in the car, in order to lower complexity and costs.
What advantages does Ethernet have in the car compared to other protocols currently used in vehicles?
That’s a good question: what advantages does Ethernet have compared to other protocols? I will just mention a few here: For ADAS applications, very short latency times are important to keep the time delay between detection and action as short as possible. Ethernet offers advantages here with high data transfer rates and short latency times. The 100BASE-T1 standard is the industry standard which enables the use of the Internet protocol TCP/IP in different applications and therefore reduces complexity. In addition, Ethernet standards such as Audio Video Bridging (AVB) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) enable new applications which are reliant on precise time synchronization. Finally, costs can be saved in the on-board network through simplified cabling with (shielded or unshielded) twisted cables which leads to a cost-efficient implementation. Automotive Ethernet is flexible and scalable which facilitates integration with Cloud services and consumer products. Fewer cables and shorter cables can also be used to reduce weight and costs. And last but not least, Ethernet is able to support different physical layers which facilitates adaptation to different applications.
How concretely is MD contributing to the further establishment of the IoT in the automotive sector?
Already during initial discussions in the committees, we provided support in the development of new components through active high-frequency technical measurements and interpretation of results. At that time, we were also already able to contribute initial samples for enhanced measurements and discussions. Early technical coordination with semi-conductor and control device manufacturers enables faster provision and evaluation of new components. What’s more, the MD product portfolio includes all the necessary components as well as high-volume, highly automated series production. Therefore, from the idea to series production, MD is the ideal partner for all industry participants throughout the world.
Gerd, many thanks for this very interesting conversation!
IoT as the key to road traffic of the future, and much more.
The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a decisive role in the car of the future, for self-driving vehicles and communication between vehicles and infrastructures. At the same time, the IoT is an increasingly important element of the automotive industry’s entire value creation process. In the vehicle itself, developments are moving towards networked vehicle architectures with reduced complexity and higher cost efficiency. In the process, the Automotive Ethernet protocol, with its versatility, high data transfer rates and short latency times is increasingly becoming the defining protocol in the on-board network. MD ELEKTRONIK has been involved in this development since the very first committee discussions, and contributes its considerable volume of test capacities and know-how to the process
High-performance, extremely reliable data connections are the backbone of tomorrow’s mobility. MD ELEKTRONIK is at the forefront of these technologies and leading the way with an international network of experts. Contact us now and find out more about the latest innovations!
Gerd Mittermaier
Gerd Mittermaier, Global Vice President Product Management – Markets – R&D, is responsible for product development, innovation management, product management, and patents within the MD group. He is enthusiastic about the latest technologies in communication and networked driving in the automotive industry. His 15 years of experience in the sector and 12 years of managerial responsibility in the areas of technical customer support, sales and R&D, make him an expert in these fields. In addition to his close contact with car manufacturers, he also continues intensive dialog with semiconductor manufacturers from his previous work as a semiconductor developer.
Thanks to the MD Tech Offices that he has set up in San José, California, U.S.A. and Shenzhen, China, the MD group can maintain intensive contact with global technology centers.
* Baseband ICs (integrated circuits) process and control baseband signals in communication systems. These signals come directly from the source and are not yet modulated.