indie Semiconductor ,a leading innovator in automotive solutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) to accelerate the development and deployment of its high-performance radar system-on-chip (SoC) solutions. The collaboration leverages GF’s 22FDX® platform to manufacture these SoCs, which will support 77 GHz and 120 GHz radar applications for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and industrial applications. This initiative aims to enhance automotive radar adoption, driven by global vehicle safety regulations, new car assessment programs, and increasing consumer demand for safety and convenience features.
The Growing Importance of Automotive Radar
As automotive safety regulations and industry standards evolve, the adoption of radar sensors in vehicles is expanding rapidly. Currently, new vehicles are expected to feature at least four radar sensors, with next-generation platforms projected to double that number. The increasing use of radar is crucial for improving driver assistance features such as forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot detection (BSD), and cross-traffic alert. Additionally, radar plays a vital role in automated parking systems, enhancing both safety and convenience.
indie’s Radar Solutions and Market Applications
indie Semiconductor’s 77 GHz SoCs are designed for both long-range and short-range detection systems. These radar solutions help monitor vehicle surroundings, detect obstacles, and enable critical safety features. The technology is currently at an advanced design-in stage with a Tier 1 customer, supporting multiple automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These SoCs are engineered to enhance the reliability and precision of ADAS, ensuring a safer driving experience.
In addition to the 77 GHz radar solutions, indie is also developing 120 GHz SoCs tailored for in-cabin applications. These solutions are designed for precise short-range detection tasks, including occupant monitoring and the detection of vital signs such as heartbeat and respiration. The 120 GHz radar technology supports antenna-in-package designs, allowing for the creation of compact, high-performance systems that integrate seamlessly into modern vehicle interiors without compromising aesthetics or cost efficiency. First customer samples of the 120 GHz radar solution have already been made available, marking a significant milestone in indie’s radar technology roadmap.
Addressing Key Industry Challenges
A significant challenge in automotive radar development is balancing high performance with cost efficiency and system integration. For Tier 1 integrators and OEMs, reducing the total cost of ownership while maintaining the highest performance standards is critical. indie Semiconductor has successfully addressed these challenges by delivering class-leading performance, reducing solution costs, and minimizing the overall footprint of its radar SoCs. By making radar technology more affordable, indie is helping drive widespread adoption across mass-market vehicle segments, ensuring that safety-critical ADAS features become standard in future automotive platforms.
GlobalFoundries’ Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities
indie’s radar innovations are made possible by GF’s automotive-qualified 22nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process technology. This advanced process enables the seamless integration of analog, digital, RF, power management, and memory functions within a single chip. For automotive ADAS applications that require always-on, highly responsive connectivity, GF’s 22FDX platform offers FinFET-class performance and energy efficiency in a planar technology. This combination delivers state-of-the-art power, performance, and area (PPA) efficiency, as well as superior RF performance, making it ideal for radar applications.
Statements from Industry Leaders
“indie has been working closely with GlobalFoundries for several years, and this strategic collaboration for our high-performance radar portfolio builds on the success of an established relationship,” said Michael Wittmann, Chief Operating Officer at indie Semiconductor. “Our goal is to keep our customers at the forefront of technology in the increasingly competitive automotive sector. The combination of indie’s design innovation and GF’s manufacturing leadership will enable safety-critical radar-based ADAS technologies to be deployed cost-effectively across automotive and industrial mobility applications.”
Ed Kaste, Senior Vice President of GF’s ultra-low power CMOS product line, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our strategic collaboration with indie is bringing exciting and innovative product solutions to the automotive and industrial mobility markets. As GF continues to invest in capacity and technology differentiation in our 22FDX platform and build on this partnership for indie’s next-generation solutions, customers will mutually benefit from GF’s purpose-built, automotive-grade technologies and indie’s best-in-class radar design innovation. Ultimately, this partnership will deliver highly integrated silicon solutions that drive down the total system cost and power consumption, facilitating faster and more widespread market deployment.”
Future of Radar-Based ADAS Technologies
The rapid evolution of ADAS and autonomous driving technologies is creating new opportunities for semiconductor manufacturers and automotive suppliers. Radar technology is at the forefront of these advancements, offering superior performance in adverse weather conditions and low-visibility environments compared to traditional vision-based systems. By integrating radar sensors into vehicles at a greater scale, automakers can significantly enhance safety, reduce accident rates, and improve overall driving experiences.
Looking ahead, the collaboration between indie Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries is expected to yield even more sophisticated radar solutions, further pushing the boundaries of automotive safety technology. With continued advancements in semiconductor manufacturing, radar sensors will become even more efficient, compact, and cost-effective, making them an essential component of next-generation mobility solutions.
