When autonomous-vehicle design in mentioned amongst a group of engineers and designers who are intimately involved with that market, the conversation will most likely turn towards the challenges of safety issues, optical sensitivity in detecting objects, vehicles and beings on the road, and mechanical reliability. Along with those will follow cost concerns such as material prices and design budgets. Timelines and deadlines are somewhat grudgingly acknowledged, a bit.
On the consumer side, end users are definitely concerned about safety in the autonomous vehicle arena. However, the top three most talked about topics in this group tends to be fashion, function, and finances. What does the car look like, how many features does it have, and what’s it going to cost?
What this fries down to is, everyone involved with the design of the vehicle, from the sensor and other component makers through the chassis/body artists, needs to be able to balance sleek, visually appealing designs, mechanical/electrical performance and functions, power consumption, and drive power with cost. The entire design team must work together and be on the same page when it comes to maintaining that balance. And striking that balance is no easy accomplishment.
One way to make achieving that balance a lot easier is to get some idea from an expert in the field. At Sensors Midwest 2018, at 1 PM on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, Cepton Technologies’ Director of Business Development will present an educational session titled, “Driving Forward: Enabling Smart Machines of Tomorrow” in Theater 2.
The challenges of designing sensors for the expanding autonomous driving market consist of the ability to balance sleek design, with performance and power at an affordable price point. This session explores the design process in developing LiDAR sensors that are precision optical mechanical devices capable of extremely high-resolution imaging at distances of up to 300 meters. Specifically, it addresses the key advantages of Cepton’s LiDAR technology including high resolution imaging, long range, energy-efficiency, low cost, and small form factor.
Mitch Hourtienne, Director of Business Development for Cepton, has over 20 years of experience launching sensor products within the automotive industry for mission-critical safety applications. Prior to joining Cepton, Mitch worked for Infineon on their 24-GHz SiGe radar development, helped launch Freescale’s first integrated wireless MEMs tire pressure sensor, and most recently led Sensata’s global sales team taking care of Ford Motor company. Mitch has a B.S.E.E. from Kettering University and an MBA from the College of William & Mary.
All that’s left for you to do is:
- Register for Sensors Midwest 2018.
- Attend the “Driving Forward: Enabling Smart Machines of Tomorrow” session, Wednesday October 17, 2018 at 1:00 pm.
And while you’re at it, checkout the conference schedule for related sessions and the exhibitor lineup for presentations of the latest sensors and sensor-related products plus a plethora of other technologies.
