The Core Driver Accelerating the SDV Era: KD Sets the Standard for Next-Generation Autonomous Driving and Infotainment with Automotive Optical Multi-giga Technology

KD's in-vehicle optical network architecture. Centered on the Domain Controller, the system connects IO Zone Concentrators, sensors, actuators, and ADAS components — each data link built on a three-element structure: transceiver, connector, and fiber. 

한글로보기




Background: The Automotive Industry Facing the Limits of Legacy Copper Cables

For decades, copper transceivers have served as the standard in automotive networks due to their balance of low cost and high robustness. However, these transceivers are now approaching their physical limits, as shielded twisted pair technology can support only up to 10Gb/s, while the growing bandwidth demands of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, and integrated vehicle connectivity increasingly require speeds far beyond 10Gb/s.
At higher speeds, copper inevitably encounters significant limitations in transmission distance, susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, and power consumption. These constraints become even more critical in electric vehicles (EVs), where energy efficiency and driving range are directly impacted by wiring harness weight and interconnection power consumption.
As autonomous driving advances toward SAE Level 3 and beyond, and high-resolution IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) systems continue to expand, in-vehicle data traffic is growing exponentially. Conventional copper-based multi-gigabit Ethernet solutions not only require thicker and heavier cables to support increasing bandwidth demands, but also face escalating challenges related to EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) in harsh automotive environments. Solving these issues requires substantial shielding costs while making future scalability increasingly difficult.



Technological Innovation: KD’s Optical Multi-giga Technology

According to estimates from the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and industry experts, vehicles equipped with advanced autonomous driving capabilities can generate more than 150Gb/s of raw real-time data, depending on the number and types of sensors installed. These architectures are expected to require internal communication links supporting up to 25Gb/s by 2030 and eventually 50Gb/s, far exceeding the practical limitations of current copper-based technologies (~10Gb/s over twisted pair).
Based on this technical & market trend, KD has developed a deeply integrated solution with all the electronics, optics and mechanics in one device, achieving similar or even lower costs than copper solutions. KD’s Optical Multi-giga Technology is a next-generation optical networking solution designed to fundamentally solve the challenges faced by global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.
Using Glass Optical Fiber (GOF) as its transmission medium, this technology enables stable transmission of tens of gigabits per second while overcoming the physical and environmental limitations that automotive engineers consider most challenging.


 

Signal attenuation comparison between copper cable (SDP1) and optical fiber (OM3) across frequency ranges. While copper shows steep attenuation at high frequencies and degrades with aging, optical transceivers require no compensation circuitry — enabling smaller silicon area, lower latency, reduced power consumption, and lower cost.






KD optical fiber cable demonstrating ultra-tight bending radius. Unlike copper coaxial cables, the optical cable maintains signal integrity under extreme bending and far exceeds copper in resistance to repeated flexing cycles(LEFT). 

3D rendering of KD's automotive optical connector. Designed in a duplex (dual-channel) configuration, the connector is engineered to withstand automotive-grade vibration, temperature, and humidity conditions while maintaining compatibility with existing vehicle networking architectures(CENTER). 

Close-up of the optical engine at the core of KD's automotive optical transceiver. Integrating electronic, optical, and mechanical technologies into a single package, this module delivers multi-gigabit in-vehicle optical communication at a cost comparable to — or lower than — copper-based solutions.  



Key Technology Advantages

1. Multi-Gbps Ultra-High-Speed Data Transmission 
Supports stable multi-gigabit-class bandwidth required for high-resolution cameras and sensor-rich environments, making it ideal for real-time data processing in ADAS and autonomous driving systems. 

2. Lower Weight 
Increased Overall Efficiency, Especially for EVsOptical cable-based architectures provide significant weight reduction compared to conventional copper harnesses, contributing to improved EV efficiency and optimized vehicle design. 

3. Enhanced Automotive Security
Supports next-generation automotive cybersecurity requirements with optical communication systems that are inherently more difficult to intercept or hack. 

4. EMC-Free Communication
Optical communication is inherently immune to electromagnetic interference. KD’s Optical Multi-giga Technology maintains highly stable data transmission quality even in high-voltage EV environments while significantly reducing EMC engineering burdens. 

5. Galvanic Isolation
Optical cables provide complete electrical isolation between connected systems, fundamentally blocking unexpected surge currents and abnormal electrical signals. 

6. Small Bending Radius & Superior Durability
GOF optical cables offer exceptional flexibility with minimal bending limitations and dramatically higher bending-cycle endurance compared to copper cables. 

7. IEEE 802.3cz Standard Compliance
Fully compliant with the global IEEE automotive optical Ethernet standard, ensuring openness, interoperability, and long-term stability. 

8. Longer Transmission Range
As centralized and zonal vehicle architecture continue to expand, long-distance in-vehicle communication becomes increasingly important. Optical solutions support up to 40 meters with four inline connectors. 

9. Future Scalability
The same harness infrastructure can scale up to 100Gb/s, enabling future-proof vehicle networking architectures. 


KD Key Specifications
- Physical Layer Bandwidth: Minimum 10Gbps to 50Gbps+, scalable up to 100Gbps 
- Electromagnetic Noise: Full EMI/EMC integrity (Zero EMI) 
- Weight Reduction: Up to 60% lighter than conventional copper coaxial cables 
- Supported Maximum Channel Length: >40m for at least up to 50Gbps 
- Latency: 10BASE-AU: 1.1㎲ 
                 25BASE-AU: 0.45㎲ 
                 50BASE-AU: 0.23㎲ 



B2B Core Value Proposition (Why Optics?)

1. “Physical Perfection” Trusted by Engineers (Perfect EMC-Free Architecture)
Optical technology neither emits nor receives electromagnetic interference during signal transmission. Even when routed near high-voltage batteries and inverters, it experiences virtually zero signal distortion or packet loss. This allows hardware engineers to significantly reduce development time and Time-to-Market by minimizing the need for complex EMC filters and shielding structures.
2. “Business Economics” Trusted by Decision Makers (Lower TCO & Lightweight Design)
Vehicle lightweighting is directly connected to EV driving range. KD’s optical cable harnesses are up to 60% lighter and more flexible than traditional wiring harnesses, simplifying assembly processes while enabling more competitive vehicle platforms. In addition, optical solutions are less exposed to rapidly increasing raw material risks associated with copper, ensuring long-term Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reduction and improved supply chain stability.
3. Global Standards & Proven Automotive Reliability
KD’s solutions satisfy the harsh durability requirements demanded by the automotive industry. The technology has passed reliability evaluations for high-temperature, high-humidity, and vibration-intensive automotive environments, while complying with global IEEE automotive optical standards for seamless compatibility with existing vehicle networking architectures.



  Value mapping of optical cable characteristics to automotive network benefits: lightweight and rugged build enables flexible harness routing; high bandwidth supports 200Gbps future-proof capacity; EMI/EMS robustness eliminates noise-related costs; non-conducting properties remove grounding and fire hazards; and sustainability translates to a carbon footprint six times lower than twisted-pair copper.



Conclusion: An Essential Choice for Future Mobility Architectures

The automotive industry is rapidly evolving beyond conventional electrical and electronic systems into fully data-centric mobility platforms. As in-vehicle data traffic continues to surge, legacy network architecture alone will no longer be sufficient to meet future requirements.
Optical ultra-high-speed networking is emerging as one of the most promising alternatives capable of overcoming these limitations and is increasingly recognized by major global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers as a core infrastructure technology for the SDV and autonomous driving era.
KD’s Optical Multi-giga Technology goes beyond simply increasing data transmission speeds. It represents a complete engineering solution that enables automakers to implement increasingly complex SDV architectures in the safest, most reliable, and most cost-efficient way possible.


 

AEM(오토모티브일렉트로닉스매거진)

---