What are the major trends in electronics for the coming year?
Jake Holmes reviews the key takeaways from 2024 for the electronics industry and highlights major trends for the coming year
2024’s conclusion brings us to the middle of the decade, with many technological advances, promises, and realities being realised. Looking back at 2024, we can gauge what is realistic to see in terms of electronics innovation across 2025 and potentially further, as we assess what came to fruition and what fizzled out.
LESSONS LEARNT FROM 2024
The rise in electrification, automated driving, and connectivity are all having a major impact on the way vehicles, and their electronics systems, are being designed. Designing safe, reliable and user-friendly digital systems has never been more important regarding drivetrain control, autonomous braking and steering, navigation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
Technology outsourcing services firm Inclusion Cloud highlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI), security, and the ‘future of work’ as being forefront issues in 2024. AI-Driven workflow integration was a big factor for OEMs, as integrating workflows by using predictive analytics and automation could boost efficiency.
The transport sector also saw hyper-personalisation come into play. Implementing AI allowed real-time data and AI-driven personalised interfaces for both engineers and consumers. This was possible due partly to advances in platform engineering, allowing developers to streamline workflows on self-service platforms. As such, automotive consoles grew in both consumer and industrial uses. End users are continuing to benefit from in-car ‘entertainment systems’, a trend worth noting as self-driving technology accelerates.
Despite the rise in AI seen in 2024, there is reason to believe it may not take over the world in the manner we all believe it will. Apple’s AI researchers have found limitations in large language models (LLMs) regarding mathematical reasoning, discovering they are highly sensitive to context, even minor wording changes can significantly impact outcomes. The company also found irrelevant information can impact the end result, even if the additional information has no bearing on the solution. This suggests LLMs can not differentiate between important and irrelevant details.
But 2024 did see success stories regarding the implementation of AI into transport electronics applications. In a previous issue, we looked at how autonomous driving software provider Imagry is using computer learning to create self-driving technologies in public transport. The AI-based technology works by feeding a range of driving videos to a computer, with a human instructor telling the machine what good and bad practices are. After months of training, the computer can start to recognise the patterns. The self-driving bus then imitates other drivers based on the training it has received.
And in electric vehicles (EVs) more generally, new innovations in electronics enabled improvements to battery technologies and systems, too. One example is Vicor’s new high-density power modules, which provide more power-to-weight ratio to help reduce the overall weight of a vehicle. This takes some pressure off the battery, allowing it to provide more range. Further to this, the three variants of models, the BCM6135-A06, DCM3735-AN5, and PRM3735S-AB4, allow for different voltages to be used throughout the vehicle, reducing waste and making a more efficient system.
WHAT DOES 2025 HOLD FOR ELECTRONICS?
If there is one thing humans are historically terrible at, it’s predicting the future. Fans of ‘Back to the Future’ would be disappointed in the lack of floating cars but perhaps surprised by the advance of self-driving technologies.
Forbes looks to offer some more reasonable forecasts than Hollywood’s sci-fi blockbusters. Sarwant Singh, a contributor for Forbes, notes anxiety surrounding range and recharging on EVs still remains prevalent, especially with the lack of charging infrastructure currently available. These issues do have a remedy, but nothing with promise of instant impact.
Additive manufacturing has been working its way into production sites, and innovation intelligence platform developer StartUs Insights predicts the technology is here to stay. 3D printers are now capable of creating fully functional electronics which need no assembly, which could prove a huge win on the cost front for manufacturers. Automotive OEMs such as Seat and Cupra have already integrated additive manufacturing into their production processes, and more are likely to follow suit in 2025.
Voice assistant features will also become more prominent. These features are already integrated into smartphones, and some cars. Car manufacturers are interested in ensuring users can operate their consoles without taking their eyes off the road as high-resolution screens become more common in vehicles. Nils Schanz, executive vice president of product and technology at Cerence AI, believes users are overwhelmed by consoles, and need a simple, easy-to-use interface whilst driving. Schanz says automotive companies are recognising the importance of reducing distractions for end-users, and a personalised voice assistant will be more beneficial than historical button operated consoles.
Elsewhere, StartUs Insights predicts an advancement in electronic materials. The electronics industry has been dependent on silicon for decades, but the material’s limitations are now being found. Integrated circuits require innovation in the form of new materials and architectures to continue to advance, and alternative options such as Graphene and nanomaterials are currently being explored by startups for their high performance and efficiency. Meanwhile, Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor material is currently being manufactured by Odyssey Semiconductor, a US-based startup. GaN allows for vertical current conduction, with voltage application ranging from 1,000V to 10,000V.
With vehicle electronics being largely constrained to the size of a vehicle, could miniaturised electronics solve this problem? StartUs Insights believes so, despite miniaturised electronics having previously been limited by practical handling, display, and battery capabilities. These problems should be solvable in automotive applications, the intelligence firm suggests.
There are existing examples of these coming technologies already on the market, but most forecasts see these technologies being advanced upon and taken further. The increase in potential applications of these technologies could change how the automotive industry manufactures and designs electronic components and systems.
