DuPont Delrin and Zytel HTN have been selected by the IEM (Ingénierie Électronique et Monétique) Group for the development of its PrestoSense smart parking sensors. Smart parking sensors are installed on on-street car parks and can detect a vehicle’s presence. Using smart parking sensors allows cars to drive less in towns as drivers need less time to find a parking spot by using available spot information sent directly to their smartphones.
PrestoSense parking sensors made of DuPont Delrin and Zytel HTN are installed in the city of Geneva. Tests are about to kick off in St. Gallen (Switzerland), Courtrai, Lommel, Saint-Trond (Belgium), and - in collaboration with the French Post - in Annemasse and Andrésy (France).
The use of Delrin and Zytel HTN helped the IEM Group to effectively overcome two key challenges: ensuring the radio communication necessary for IoT (Internet of Things) devices to function, and guaranteeing resistance against weather conditions and other ‘aggressive’ outdoor influences (e.g. heavy vehicles driving over the sensors). These challenges required a robust housing for the smart parking sensors, which DuPont’s products and hands-on expertise helped make happen.
Delrin was selected because it ensures that the outer ring of the sensor is resistant to UV light and strong impacts. This is particularly important as the outer ring acts as a shock absorbing cradle to the central puck, helping to avoid any deformations that can potentially damage the circuitry.
For the central ring, DuPont recommended the use of Zytel HTN - a 35% glass reinforced polyamide resin - as it offers stiffness and electrical component compatibility. This is important as it facilitates the wireless connectivity of the sensors. Zytel HTN also allows the housing of the sensor’s antennas, which need to be tuned to the assembly, to be unaffected by humidity.
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