A proven range of motion detection: inertial sensor in vehicle engineering

Comprehensive sensing is crucial to support many purposes like motion detection, positioning, sensor fusion, and inclination detection.

For these purposes, Panasonic Industry Europe developed – and continuously evolves – a 6-axis inertial sensor series that provides installation freedom, additional functionalities to onboard systems with this one-chip-solution, and – being ASIL-B(D)-compliant – a high level of functional safety.

The benefits – in a nutshell

The new 6-axis Gyro & Accelerometer 6DoF sensor series from Panasonic Industry, also called "6in1 sensor", is available in a wettable flank QFN package. This housing benefits from a special edge that forms a step. The solder creates a reliable connection in the throat of this step. This allows high-quality soldering and thus error-free assembly, which is essential for automotive safety (electronic stability control, ABS brakes, traction control), comfort (navigation, head-up display, driver-assist & comfort), and industrial applications (off-highway industry, AGV, robotics). As well as shock- and vibration-resistant.

Proven and established – for more automotive safety, convenience and control

A key purpose of the 6DoF sensor is the possibility to detect motion of a vehicle in harsh vibration circumstances, for example when a car suddenly leaves the road. Then the sensor uses data to adjust the torque of motor and the braking force to achieve a safe vehicle status.

The 6DoF sensor has already been successfully implemented to support Radar/Lidar applications, that are relevant for the safety of cars. It detects the motion of the vehicle and Radar/LiDAR system uses the motion data to compare the obstacles detected in previous and current scan.

Also, the 6DoF sensor supports the calculation of the position of a vehicle, if GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals are blocked, e.g. in tunnels.

Besides these safety-related applications, the 6DoF sensor was successfully implemented in comfort applications like AR-HUD systems. Here the sensor detects the movement of the car and can adjust the position of the AR-HUD beam with AR.markers, in order for the driver to read it in an optimal way.

Another comfort-related feature is the possibility to adjust the suspension of the car, using the 6-axis output, that can detect the state of the vehicle and cabin.

Several applications like road cars, motorcycles and scooters from different manufacturers are already relying on the manifold benefits that are offered by this single sensor.

Ready for autonomous machinery operation …

Several inquiries in different states of implementation are ongoing at the moment, to use the 6in1 sensor also in the field of commercial applications. For example, autonomous driving buses can use the 6-axis output to calculate, if the vehicle is on the predefined path. Autonomous forklift applications will benefit from the safety and comfort features that the 6DoF sensor provides – for example to prevent goods from falling off the forklift truck. This also applies for other machinery being on ‘the doorstep of autonomy’ – such as lawn mowers, railway trains or compactors.

… and heavy-duty jobs

In wood cutters, excavators or agricultural machinery, the sensor system can detect ego-vehicle motion, detect and calculate positions, initiate next operations – and thus contribute to increase precision, productivity and safety. That is why the 6in1 one sensor currently is becoming more and more subject of industry enquiries, also in those industries.

Ryosuke Toda from Panasonc Industry Europe concludes: “Customers, who are already using the 6DoF sensor benefit from the features, the system is providing: not only the compact design, but also the reliable data generation and supply to connected systems. This enables our customers in various industries to provide safer and more comfortable products – from autonomous driving applications and commercial vehicles to personal mobility concepts or industrial machinery”