Energy efficiency is another important benefit, as fiber-based systems consume lower power than copper options.The ZF has developed its proai high-demonstration computer to support optical multi-gigabit ethernet using automotive-grade fiber optics. This step is aligned with IEEE 802.3CZ-2023 standard, indicating the increasing readiness of fiber optic techniques for mainstream use in vehicles including passenger cars, buses and commercial trucks.
Traditionally used in home and office networks, fiber optics are long-ranked, lower-loss data transmission. However, their integration in motor vehicle systems is limited. The latest development of ZF marks a change in this trajectory. The company’s PREAI platform can now handle data rates up to 50 GBit/S at a distance of up to 40 meters, which is suitable for complex electrical architecture in modern vehicles.
“Ultra-Fast transmission is a major technique for future vehicle electrical systems of future vehicle-defined vehicles,” said Oliver Braimale, head of cross-domain computing at ZF. The company’s trials have confirmed the strength of optical systems under various vehicle types and environmental conditions, indicating its readiness for series production earlier next year.
Benefits on traditional copper systems
Adopting optical multi-gigabit Ethernet gives many benefits compared to traditional copper-based systems. These include significant weight savings, increase in transmission distance, and reduction in sensitivity to electromagnetic intervention. The use of OM3 optical fiber, conforming to the latest IEEE standard, contributes to both the reliability and longevity of the vehicle data system, even under the demand for operating conditions, the company said.
Fiber optics also support gallvanic isolation between voltage domains, improving system safety. Additionally, the new standard allows scalability for future upgradation without overhelling the existing infrastructure, allowing it to become a cost-effective and future-proof solution, the company said.
Energy efficiency is another important benefit, as fiber-based systems consume lower power than copper options. In addition, the technology widely takes advantage of components such as fiber and VCSELs and photodyode, contributes to the economies of the scale and reduces the cost of implementation.
The optical solution of ZF also has a low physical layer complication channels with low physical layer complexity and delay, which further enhance the performance by keeping the cost of operational and maintenance low.
