SanDisk Strengthens Storage Portfolio for Internet of Things Applications
New Smart Features Added to SanDisk Industrial SD Cards

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to an era in which connected devices and the resulting amount of data produced are rapidly increasing.

Projections suggest that by 2020, 44 trillion gigabytes of digital data will be generated, with 26 billion connected devices and connected cars accounting for 75% of all new vehicles. The inevitable question then becomes: how will all this data be stored?

SanDisk, a pioneer in flash memory storage, is one company that has consistently answered this question. Having supplied flash memory to major smartphones, tablets, and PCs, it seems only natural that the company would expand into the automotive and industrial markets in the IoT era.

Russell Rubin, Managing Director, SanDisk Product Marketing (Automotive, Industrial)

SanDisk recently announced the expansion of its smart solutions designed to handle the massive amounts of data generated by connected applications in the automotive and industrial markets.

In the case of automobiles, as electrification accelerates, more and more storage is required. Infotainment, telematics gateways, digital clusters, V2V/V2I communications essential for ADAS and autonomous driving, and precise maps require more reliable and high-capacity storage. For example, running the latest maps requires 4GB to 1TB of storage for 3D/HD maps, an advanced OS, new apps/voice recognition/4K video, caching/data collection, security/backup, and more.

To address the unique storage demands of connected cars, SanDisk has announced its Automotive Flash Storage Solution, an automotive-grade SD card optimized for the market. The company emphasized that the card features "smart" features to enhance reliability, enabling OEMs to better manage storage in data-intensive automotive environments.

The 'smart' features highlighted by the company include ▲device health monitoring ▲enhanced power problem prevention ▲read refresh ▲programmable string ▲host lock ▲security FFU, etc.

Device health monitoring maximizes card usability by alerting you when flash replacement is needed, enabling efficient storage media usage by proactively checking the end of life. An automatic memory refresh algorithm maximizes read endurance, preventing overload caused by repeatedly reading the same portion of data. It also provides the convenience of authenticating original (or certified) cards through manufacturer name, project, date, etc.

“Among the smart features, the power failure prevention feature in particular can protect data in the event of an unexpected power failure using algorithmic technology based on SanDisk’s unique software and hardware optimization,” said Russell Ruben, director of product marketing (automotive and industrial) at SanDisk. “In terms of security, support for host passwords protects the privacy of card data and allows for firmware security upgrades that can be applied immediately in the field.”


▲ SanDisk Automotive Flash Storage Solutions and Industrial XT SD Solutions.


AEC-Q100-qualified automotive SD cards are ideal for applications such as 3D and HD navigation, mapping systems, event recording, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and telematics. Automotive-grade SD cards are designed to meet the extremely high reliability, quality, and temperature requirements (-40°C to +85°C) demanded by the automotive market.

SanDisk also announced that it is bringing these new OEM-optimized features to its SanDisk Industrial SD cards and SanDisk Industrial XT SD cards. These industrial-grade cards are designed for OEM customers who require high levels of reliability and endurance under extreme temperature conditions. This is expected to be applied in a wide range of fields, including factory applications, industrial computers, utilities, medical devices, robotics, point-of-sale solutions, and large-scale printing. The company explained that the new features will enable OEMs to better manage the massive data demands generated in industrial markets, from commercial drones to industrial gateway systems and security cameras.

Use of advanced processes beyond 15nm

“Following the first-generation automotive SD card released last year, the second-generation product we announced this time has added many smart features such as convenience and security, reflecting customer feedback,” said Seung-Bo Cho, Managing Director of SanDisk Korea. “We expect that SanDisk’s solutions, which are recognized as consumer products, will expand into the IoT field, including automotive and industrial products, through this opportunity.”

Director Cho only said that this product is based on a more advanced process than the existing 15nm process products, but did not disclose the exact process.

SanDisk Automotive, SanDisk Industrial, and SanDisk Industrial XT SD solutions with new smart features will be available for sampling in 64GB4 capacities starting in March, starting in the U.S. and Europe. For more information, contact Seung-Bo Cho, Managing Director of Domestic Channel Sales (direct line: 02-6718-4651, magic.jo@sandisk.com).