Need for electronics that anticipates and automates: IESA Vision Summit 2020

At the ongoing IESA Vision Summit 2020, Lars Reger, EVP and CTO, NXP Semiconductors, presented that Connected Mobility Vision. There is a need to have electronics that actually anticipates and automates! Every bold step forward faces barriers. We are looking at the India activity that has grown exponentially.

In the semiconductor market, mass applications are driving growth. We are now entering the secure edge processing segment. There is re-verticalization, from global to local, and focus on sustainability. There is pressure on the very globalized semiconductor market. There is data collection, processing and decisions taken at the edge. Edge devices are also securely connected to the cloud.

Devices may misbehave at some times.We need secure connections for a smarter world, with foundational technologies. We need devices that sense, think, connect and act. Today, things are secure and safe.

An example of an ultimate edge devices is the electric and autonomous vehicles. Radar and safe processing provide autonomy. Powertrain management and battery management provide electrification. NXP has a smart vehicles domain-based architecture. You have clusters for powertrain and vehicle dynamics, connectivity, infotainment and in-vehicle experience, ADAS and highly automated driving, etc.

Industry 4.0 can provide connectivity, autonomy, energy management, information management, human-machine interaction, etc. An example is the cleaning robot with domain-based architecture. Functional safety and cryptology levels are also increasing. You can differentiate by creating value system solutions and functional clusters. There are five steps of solutions. These include hardware, enablement, reference design, feature complete, and product ready. Customization increases as you move from the hardware to the product ready solution.

NXP is the leader in automotive radars. These provide proven performance with system solutions. These include high-performance radars, as well. We also provide complete connected infotainment solution. You get safe display, camera, reception, audio and user monitoring.

NXP is also offering the full end-to-end secure smart access system. Secure and precise localization is provided by UWB. There is driving standardization, such as IEEE, NFC-Forum, CCC, etc. NXP also provides the Alexa Voice Service box. It is the world's first MCU-based AVS development kit. Turnkey design shortens the time-to-market.

NXP has Hovergames II for fighting pandemics. There is an interactive coding competition that inspires developers to think about using drones to solve real-world problems. We are also empowering startups to innovate. There is the Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) competition. The platform connects innovators with investors, corporations, and mentors to increase the potential to raise capital, etc.

Fab vision
KC Ang, SVP and GM, Globalfoundries, gave the Fab Vision Talk. He said that Covid-19 has been accelerating digital transformation. There has been pandemic resulting in lockdowns, travel restrictions and logistics.

We have seen accelerated remote work, smart manufacturing and contactless payments. There has been severe impact on industries dependent on labor, such as manufacturing, construction, etc. We have seen the adoption of automation, AI/ML, AR/VR to replace labor.

The Indian government has policies supporting growth. It has been successful as a key automotive manufacturing hub. Electronics is the second largest import item.

The path for India into semiconductor manufacturing involves enhancing the IP protection in India. There should continuous thrust to build integrated infrastructure, large ports and highways, etc. Electronics ecosystem needs to be enhanced with materials suppliers, equipment suppliers, etc.

Global and glocal!
Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Executive Chairman, Cyient, presented the Global and Glocal Vision Talk. He said that these are interesting and challenging times. There is volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The emerging outcome of all this is digital is the new normal. Travel has come down. Even that travel has become contactless! Various businesses have also migrated to being digital. Things are moving fast in logistics, healthcare, agriculture, medical devices, public safety, education, banking, etc.

Today, there is ease of doing business. This includes resolving insolvency, dealing with construction permits, trading across borders, and starting a business. Digital infrastructure has grown, in form of telecom infrastructure, telephone networks, cellular networks, broadband networks, and Wi-Fi services. We need to have networks up to the last mile. We need to have the right infrastructure.

There should be targeted incentives to accelerate the R&D investments and accelerate ER&D (engineering and R&D) exports. There is need to make India as competitive destination for services exports. There is need to make India more attractive for MNC R&D centers and GCCs (global capability centers).

There should be defense imports, reduction in customs duty on components to zero percent, and increase duty in subsystems and products to 40-50% to drive cost competitiveness. There should also be preferential market access. We also need to create clusters for testing, certification and prototyping. Clusters should be based on an evolving ecosystem. These should be across advance manufacturing, sustainable energy and mobility, affordable health, and smart cities.

Recovery from Covid-19 will be led by the new technologies. This should be led by online meetings, food delivery, online learning and shopping, online healthcare, and video streaming service. In times like these, our ability to survive will depend upon how well we process reality. Atmanirbhar Bharat will be possible when we start focusing.