Industrial Practices in Low-Power Robust Design

Increasing amount of electronics is being embedded into auto-motives. We are witnessing the conversion of the automotive from a purely mechanical device to an electrical/electronic/mechanical device. Purely electrical and hybrid-electrical vehicles are replacing the gasoline/diesel-driven vehicles. A variety of driver assistance systems are already available in modestly priced to high-end cars. Self-driven cars have been deployed in some cities on an experimental basis. The manufacturing sector is witnessing a similar revolution. Robots are being used in smart factories and warehouses. In a world where cyber-physical systems and life-forms will coexist, it is imperative that the electronics embedded into auto-motives and industrial systems has a long life and operates reliably in its environment. Reducing power and energy dissipation in these systems is important from many perspectives, including environmental impact, heating, and system reliability. In this paper, we survey the landscape of research and development towards the building of robust, low power semiconductor for automotive and industrial applications.