Automotive IMU embeds machine learning

STMicroelectronics has claimed the first automotive inertial measurement unit (IMU) with embedded machine learning (ML). The new ASM330LHHX automotive IMU with its ML core enables fast real-time response and high-performance functions with low power consumption.

Leveraging ST’s microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology that ensures high sensor stability and low noise, the automotive-qualified ASM330LHHX packages a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope in a 2.5 × 3 × 0.83-mm footprint. The 6-axis module provides movement and attitude sensing for functions including vehicle positioning and digital stabilization.

“The ML core, a hardwired processing engine, runs AI algorithms directly on the sensor, ensuring extremely low latency between sensing an event and the vehicle’s response,” said ST. “This enables sophisticated real-time performance that demands far lower system energy and computing power than a solution embedded on an application processor or cloud-based AI.”

Machine learning core in the ASM330LHHX automotive IMU (Source: STMicroelectronics)

The ASM330LHHX provides two operating modes including low-power mode for running always-on applications like telematics, anti-theft systems, motion-activated functions, and vibration monitoring and compensation. ST said in low-power mode, the current is less than 800 µA with both the accelerometer and gyroscope running.

There is also a high-performance mode for applications that demand high accuracy and low latency, including precise positioning, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and impact detection. and crash reconstruction.

The ASM330LHHX offers a full-scale acceleration range of ±2/±4/±8/±16 g and an extended angular rate range of up to ±4000 dps  (±125/±250/±500/±1000/±2000/±4000 dps). The module is said to maintain consistent high accuracy over the extended operating temperature range of -40°C to 105°C.

The AEC-Q100 qualified ASM330LHHX, housed in a 14-lead land-grid array (LGA-14L) package, is in production. Pricing starts from $10.44 for orders of 1,000 pieces. Demo boards and free software example libraries are available, including functions for vehicle-stationary detection, attitude and heading reference, altitude estimation, car-tow detection, and crash detection.