Development problems
According to various estimates, the market of self-driving cars in the next few yearsCan
In 2018, the Russian Venture Company andconsulting company Frost & Sullivan estimated the potential share of unmanned vehicles in the global market at 40%. According to their assumption, this share corresponds to 36 million cars sold. In general, given the coronavirus pandemic that has overtaken the world, such estimates should be considered overestimated, however, plans for the development and implementation of unmanned vehicles in many countries remain.
States play an active role in creatinginfrastructure for drones, as evidenced by the KPMG Countries' Autonomous Transport Readiness Index - 2020. The company's experts considered that Russia is among the thirty leaders in the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, according to a study by Arthur D. Little, only 53% of respondents on average around the world and 36% of respondents from Russia are ready to try or regularly use self-driving cars. The main concerns of future passengers are related to the safety and reliability of such equipment. And this is confirmed by the increased resonance associated with several drone accidents. Each such case is thoroughly investigated, and the developers put in the maximum possible security measures during the design.
Helping electronic eyes
Black occupies 18% of the automotive marketcolors, second only to white. No wonder. It is extremely versatile, is loved by designers and is regarded by buyers as a sign of solidity. So it is unlikely that buyers in the future will begin to abandon it en masse. But this popularity presents engineers with a number of safety challenges.
Self-driving cars to determine yourlocations and assessments of the situation on the road use a set of instruments and sensors that scan the area around. They are called lidars (from the English acronym LIDAR). These devices use infrared radiation for optical and light detection and range measurement to nearby and distant objects. The devices emit infrared rays and, based on the reflection data of the vehicle system, make a conclusion about what is on the road around.
The problem is that dark colors are active.absorb infrared radiation. A number of tests showed that the surface of a black car reflects only 6% of the radiation directed at it (if we count the indicators of a white car as 100%). In other words, for a drone, the darker the car (or other object), the worse it is “visible”.
We managed to solve this problem with the help of specialpaints and varnishes (LKM). Their peculiarity is that they can transmit rays deep into the paint layer, through the upper decorative layers to the reflective surface. From it, the beam bounces back to the lidar, and the object becomes visible to the unmanned vehicle. For the first time, such a coating was developed by PPG based on technologies used in the aerospace industry. The company later acquired the manufacturer of equipment and paints and varnishes for the production of markings and road signs for unmanned vehicles Ennis-Flint, and now a similar coating is applied to road infrastructure. In the future, they can also be used to paint objects such as walls, fences or bridge supports, as well as markings, which will allow drone surveillance systems to easily recognize them.
Equally important is the development of easy-to-clean coatings that effectively wash away dust and water from the sensor lenses, thereby eliminating interference from snow, ice or dirt.
Protecting electronics
For the correct operation of unmanned systemsthe vehicle needs to achieve perfect reception and transmission of radio signals. The abundance of electronics in modern cars results in a significant amount of electromagnetic interference and radio frequency leaks. As a result, signals can “drift” and “mix”, creating cross-talk that can degrade equipment performance. The latest coating technology comes to the rescue here, protecting systems from interference and ensuring that everything works as it should.
Choosing the right paint can even lead toreduced fuel or battery consumption. The fact is that maintaining the desired temperature depends, among other things, on the materials used for trimming the interior, body and engine compartment. For example, the high ability of the car body to reflect solar energy will reduce the use of climate control systems and eliminate the need to open windows, thereby reducing the vehicle's energy consumption.
Work of paint and varnish coating manufacturers inThe field of battery electric vehicles has enabled the development of cost-effective products that eliminate harmful n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone during the cathode coating process while maintaining battery performance. These new bonding materials will reduce toxicity and improve formulation and application processes while providing equal or improved element performance.
Manufacturers of paint and varnish materials strive to determine the besttechnologies to meet specific functional requirements, as well as align each solution with the overall design of the battery system and the unique technological capabilities of each customer. Reliable, large-scale, automated production of battery cells, modules and blocks is being successfully introduced. As a result, there is a wide variety of solutions on the market for the design, construction and manufacture of cells, modules and lithium-ion battery packs. In particular, we are talking about the following tasks:
- Dielectric protection... Dielectric coatings are used instead offilm and / or tape solutions for sealing gaps, voids, seam breaks and edge protection, as well as high productivity and automated application.
- Fire protection... A growing range of highly efficient solutionsto protect the vehicle battery from fire and to mitigate the effects of thermal shock. In particular, we are talking about the time-tested technologies for the application of intumescent fire retardant coatings. These high-volume solutions cover three battery fire protection classes (BFP-X, BFP-S and BFP-E) to suit different battery applications and requirements.
- Thermoregulation.Coatings can support and enhance everythingPossible options for battery thermal control systems. Common solutions and applications include fill and thermally conductive coatings between plates and battery modules, as well as thermally conductive coatings between cooling coils and plates.
- Construction and sealing... Proven adhesives and sealing materialsideal for a variety of EV battery applications. It is about sealing enclosures and components, fixing elements and modules in blocks, strengthening the structure and protecting against impacts.
- Corrosion and shock protection... Complexa combination of proven solutions including electro coatings, powder coatings and polyureas for lithium-ion battery housings. Each can be applied using cost effective automated high volume processes.
- Protection against electromagnetic radiation and radio-electronic interference... Shielding in electric vehicles is used forhousings of electronic assemblies, programmable terminals, telemetry systems, sensors of the on-board data collection system, systems for combining readings of audiovisual sensors, plastic / composite housings / battery covers, housings of battery management systems, as well as chargers and inverters. Silver-plated nickel and copper sprayed conductive coatings do this job.
Coating for comfort
The emergence of self-driving cars will require newsolutions not only to ensure safety, but also to improve comfort. For example, an increasing number of passengers are expected to drive more and more frequently. This will require an increase in the strength and cleanliness of the interior surfaces. In addition, such surfaces will become smart, that is, control displays will be integrated into them.
In this regard, manufacturers were forced torethink your approach to car design, focusing on the interior. It should be easier to clean, resist contamination from previous passengers, and come with built-in technology. Paint and varnish manufacturers can supply functional, conductive and tactile coatings for vehicle interiors that enhance the appearance, comfort and usefulness of all interior surfaces, including touch screens. Transparent protective, anti-reflective and oleophobic coatings, as well as soft touch paints, also known as “soft plastics,” have already entered the market. All of these materials can be combined into a multi-layer coating that is easier to apply and use.
The active growth of the automotive industry in general andunmanned vehicles in particular reveals problems where, it would seem, you would not expect them. And the more actively new technologies penetrate into our lives, the more unexpected are the challenges facing manufacturers. This forces the developers of both the machines themselves and their components to look for new solutions and work at the intersection of various fields of science and technology.
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