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2. Functional safety is a balance of risk and reward

Integrating AI components into modern vehicles can provide many advantages ¡ª such as park assist and real-time analysis of road situations ¡ª but it also comes with a cost.

• High-performance SoCs handling AI workloads consume more power, which impacts energy efficiency, especially in electric vehicles.
• 3D ICs present thermal management challenges, necessitating efficient cooling solutions to ensure reliability and longevity.
• This is particularly important for electric vehicles where battery life and thermal stability are dominant concerns.

Additional chips and safety features introduce more complexity, which brings increased risk of failure. Data security is another concern. And so is the material cost of new technologies, which can impact profit margins and affordability.

Functional safety is therefore a balancing act, where OEMs must weigh safety mechanisms against budget constraints, performance requirements ¡ª and security.

3. If the technology is not secure, it is not safe

To ensure tamper-proof data transfer among the many sensors and components in modern vehicles, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive security approach.

• First, in-vehicle networks must incorporate the security expertise gained over the past 30 years in the networking world. This means integrating security into the system architecture in the earliest stages of design rather than making it an afterthought. Encryption for data in transit and at rest, multi-factor authentication, secure communication protocols, and regular security audits are all recommended.
• Second, hardware-based security features such as secure enclaves, trusted execution environments (TEEs), and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) play a vital role in defending against threats. These features protect sensitive data and system integrity. Additionally, using hardware security modules (HSMs) and secure boot processes ensures only authenticated and untampered firmware and software can operate within the vehicle's electronic control units (ECUs).
• Finally, adhering to the ISO 21434 standard is vital for comprehensive vehicle security. This standard covers the entire vehicle lifecycle, emphasizing risk management, organizational and technical requirements, and continuous monitoring.

Data and transmission security help prevent tampering and ensure predictable vehicle operation ¡ª but components that govern security also use chips. We must practice predictive maintenance to ensure those chips are operating safely.

5. Silicon Lifecycle Management is intrinsic to automotive functional safety

SLM offers a comprehensive approach to managing the data and processes associated with the maintenance and service of vehicle components throughout their lifecycle. By integrating SLM with predictive maintenance, cybersecurity, and industry standards, manufacturers can ensure that maintenance activities are timely and aligned with the overall vehicle service strategy.

• ²ÝÁñÉçÇø provides the broadest portfolio of standards-based, automotive-grade IP, including interface, processor, security, and foundation IP. These components are compliant with industry standards, helping accelerate SoC-level design and qualification.
• We also offer a comprehensive set of integrated, standards-based Silicon Lifecycle Management (SLM) tools, IP, and methodologies that provide observability, analytics, and automation at the silicon level. Our Process, Voltage, and Temperature (PVT) Monitor IP, for example, is certified as ASIL-B ready and meets the AEC-Q100 Grade 2 standard.
• Gathering data at every phase of the product lifecycle, our SLM solutions provide continuous analysis and actionable insights. Not only does this improve design efficiency and quality, but it also helps predict in-field chip degradation or failure.

These automotive-grade IP solutions and the continuous insights from SLM are essential for ensuring the long-term functional safety of modern vehicles.

Making cars safer with a silicon-to-systems approach

According to the World Health Organization, human errors account for the vast . With myriad sensors and safety features, modern cars can help reduce these errors by alerting us to dangerous conditions or even taking corrective actions.

But those same sensors and safety features also introduce complexity and risk.

To ensure functional safety, we need to continue to promote and enhance essential industry standards. We need to ensure the security of the data flowing into, out of, and within each vehicle. And we need to leverage solutions that provide end-to-end monitoring, verification, and predictability ¡ª from silicon to systems.