AV ‘Goiters’ Be Gone!

Magneti Marelli's ‘Smart Corner’ technology aims to reduce cost, complexity and mass by integrating key vehicle sensors seamlessly into a vehicle's lighting modules.

Warts. Bumps. Blisters. Protuberances. These and other less-flattering terms are used by vehicle designers and engineers to describe the bulging, non-integrated sensor placement that has become the unfortunate visual signature for automated vehicles (AVs).

“We actually call them ‘goiters,’” said Bill Grabowski, head of innovation and technology for Automotive Lighting division at Magneti Marelli. “While they're [sensors] primarily for function, the OEM and the end customer don't want to see these protrusions littering the vehicle exterior in production. Packaging up to 25 sensors that handle all levels of ADAS and autonomous driving has become a major problem for the automakers.”