Episode Details

Guests: 

Sara Sargent, AutoSens Automotive Technology Specialist

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarasargent17/

Rob Stead, Managing Director and Founder, Sense Media Group

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjstead/

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Hosts: 

Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society and Technology Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/marco-ciappelli

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Episode Notes

The episode kicks off with a playful exchange between Sean and Marco, setting the tone for an engaging discussion about the future of automotive tech. Marco points out the rapid advancements in the industry, comparing it to the evolution from the Flintstones' manually-powered car to today's sophisticated autonomous vehicles. Sean highlights the significance of these advancements and the pivotal role conferences like AutoSens and InCabin play in shaping the industry's future.

A Brief History of AutoSens and InCabin

Rob Stead, the managing director and founder of SenseMedia, provides a historical overview of the AutoSens conference. Established in 2015, AutoSens was born out of a need to bring together experts from various sectors of the automotive industry to foster collaboration and innovation. The event has grown exponentially, and in 2016, the first AutoSens conference was held. Today, AutoSens and its sister event, InCabin, attract a diverse audience, including engineers, regulators, and manufacturers.

Key Themes and Discussions

The conversation dives into the core themes of the upcoming conferences. Sara Sargent, an Automotive Technology Specialist at SenseMedia, explains her dual role in ensuring technical integrity and leading the InCabin event. She emphasizes the importance of addressing current safety concerns, such as child presence detection and airbag deployment accuracy. These technologies not only enhance safety but also pave the way for future innovations in autonomous driving.

The Complexity of Autonomous Vehicles

Rob elaborates on the challenges faced by the industry, emphasizing the difficulty of achieving full autonomy (L4) in consumer vehicles. He notes that while L4 technology is feasible, it is costly and likely to be limited to fleet operators rather than individual consumers. The transition to higher levels of automation will be gradual, with most vehicles remaining at Level 2 (L2) for the foreseeable future.

The Importance of Redundancy and Collaboration

Sean questions the need for various sensor modalities in vehicles, to which Rob responds by explaining the concept of redundancy. Multiple sensors, including cameras, radar, and LiDAR, work together to create a comprehensive and reliable system. This redundancy is crucial for ensuring safety and reliability in autonomous driving systems. Additionally, the conversation touches upon the importance of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) technology and its potential to enhance transportation systems.

InCabin: Advanci