It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that today’s cars are more technically complex than ever, and the future trajectory is decisively in the direction of greater sophistication and need for data transmission, both within the vehicle, and outside of it. Conventional wisdom would dictate that the need for greater data capacity and throughput would necessitate larger, bulkier wiring throughout the vehicle, a somewhat self-defeating endeavor in the quest for ever-lighter weight in the name of fuel and energy efficiency.

However, there’s a breakthrough on the horizon that promises to vastly simplify the in-car data network, providing powerful, high-throughput connectivity over a single twisted-pair cable, or known colloquially to tech enthusiasts as “Ethernet.” Yep, that same cable that connects your computer or router to your modem, or your office network.

Valens, the founder of the HDBaseT alliance, has developed systems that accommodate nearly all the connectivity needs of today’s and tomorrow’s cars over its vastly simplified network platform, accommodating Wi-Fi, 4G/5G, Bluetooth, AM/FM digital radio, and even video and TV signals. The standard can also accommodate up to 100W of power over the cable to obviate the need for a separate power source.

With Level 3 and higher autonomous vehicles on the horizon, the need for fast, reliable in-vehicle data connectivity will be greater than ever, and HDBaseT promises to be a practical solution to accommodate the growing data transmission needs in the car of the future in a simple, streamlined package.

Reports discussing the potential automotive applications of HDBaseT are available to subscribers of Strategy Analytics’ Autonomous Vehicles and Powertrain, Body, Chassis & Safety services. You can find out more about all of Strategy Analytics’ automotive services at https://www.strategyanalytics.com/access-services/automotive.