SanDisk Introduces New Automotive Grade Flash Storage Solutions

[btarunr]

SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash storage solutions, today introduced a new suite of robust, automotive grade NAND flash solutions designed for next-generation 'connected cars' and automotive infotainment systems. SanDisk Automotive storage solutions are optimized to bring reliable, high-performance storage to a wide range of in-vehicle applications, including 3D mapping and advanced augmented reality in navigation systems, entertainment systems, intuitive driver assist technology, data event recorders, and more. By providing the responsiveness and capacity of SanDisk flash storage technology, SanDisk Automotive solutions offer the potential for car manufacturers to continue to push the boundaries of connected car application experience.

Today's vehicles are rapidly becoming more technologically sophisticated, with many featuring advanced connected applications that were once only possible on a smartphone. A recent Gartner Research report forecasted that "about one in five vehicles on the road worldwide will have some form of wireless network connection by 2020, amounting to more than 250 million connected vehicles in service".



"Flash is enabling dramatic innovation in the auto industry and is expected to transform the car into one of the most connected devices we own," said Drew Henry, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile and Connected Solutions, SanDisk. "Our vertical integration and deep flash expertise uniquely enables us to architect our automotive grade storage solutions to provide the responsiveness needed to support new and emerging connected applications, as well as offer the reliability and trusted performance that's absolutely critical for the automotive market."

The SanDisk Automotive portfolio of storage solutions includes an automotive grade SanDisk SD card and iNAND embedded flash drive (EFD), which are available to automotive manufacturers in capacities up to 64GB2. Leveraging SanDisk's innovative proprietary flash storage architectures, these solutions bring superior experiences to data-intensive automotive infotainment and connected car applications, enabling maps to load fast, improving touch-screen responsiveness, and reducing potential interference from driving on uneven or rough roadways.

SanDisk Flash Technology Means Trusted Performance
SanDisk Automotive storage solutions are built to meet the intense reliability, endurance, quality and temperature demands of the automotive market, and are AEC-Q100 certified.

SanDisk's end-to-end vertical integration heightens quality control, from flash memory wafer manufacturing to product assembly, test and analysis, to customer implementation. In addition, SanDisk is working closely with leading automotive chipset vendors to optimize the new automotive grade storage solutions for use with the latest application processors, further streamlining the implementation process for auto makers.

"It is increasingly becoming clear that tier 1 auto makers will no longer just compete on the road-performance, comfort and gas mileage they offer, but also the infotainment and connected car experiences they deliver to drivers. For these types of applications, the responsiveness and capacity of flash makes it the ideal storage medium," said Richard Robinson, Director of the Global Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics.

SanDisk Storage Solutions for the Mobile and Connected World
SanDisk Automotive storage solutions are the latest additions to SanDisk's full portfolio of flash storage solutions for mobile and connected devices, including SanDisk's iNAND EFD, microSD card and SD card product families. These products offer trusted flash storage to smartphones, tablets, e-readers, digital living room, automotive and other connected devices.

SanDisk Automotive Storage Solutions Features and Specifications:

• Up to 64GB
• Works in temperatures from -40oC to 85oC
• Enhanced power immunity
• Up to 2 boot/2 user partitions
• Meets AEC-Q100 specifications

SanDisk Automotive iNAND EFD only:

• eMMC 4.51 HS200 specification
• Up to 30 sequential write/ up to 120 MB/s sequential read

Availability
Samples of SanDisk Automotive storage solutions are currently available to leading automotive manufacturers worldwide.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[xorbe]

Automotive grade? So basically, it's obsolete by the time it's on the showroom floor? But seriously, I wonder if these auto-grade flash parts are worth using for daily usage for high reliability needs. (Or if there is any difference at all.)

 

[THE_EGG]

But seriously, I wonder if these auto-grade flash parts are worth using for daily usage for high reliability needs. (Or if there is any difference at all.)

My thoughts as well. I go to a lot of rallies (motorsport ones lol) and I'd say they are around 90% gravel meaning that dust is a HUGE problem and I find that it kills camera lenses along with storage cards pretty quickly. I'm hoping these 'automotive grade' ones will be more tolerant of dust and constant vibrations.

 

[Caring1]

I'm hoping these 'automotive grade' ones will be more tolerant of dust and constant vibrations.

And heat, I think that's what killed my last SD card in the dash cam, it lasted about 12 months then failed.

 

[xorbe]

I never thought about that, but the GoPro on my motorcycle runs pretty hot.

 

[MikeMurphy]

And heat, I think that's what killed my last SD card in the dash cam, it lasted about 12 months then failed.

"Automotive Grade" certainly means a higher heat tolerance. I suspect this is the big/only difference.

 

[VIPER]

"Automotive Grade" certainly means a higher heat tolerance. I suspect this is the big/only difference.

Well, it says in the document above...

"Works in temperatures from -40oC to 85oC"