Dallas-based semiconductor giant Texas Instruments has launched new integrated automotive chips aimed at enabling “safer, more immersive driving experiences.”

The company said its AWRL6844 60GHz mmWave radar sensor supports occupancy monitoring for seat belt reminder systems, child presence detection, and intrusion detection with a single chip running edge AI algorithms.

TI also said its next-generation audio DSP core, AM275x-Q1 microcontroller units, and AM62D-Q1 processors make premium audio features more affordable. Engineers can take advantage of a complete audio amplifier system when paired with the company’s latest analog products, including the TAS6754-Q1 Class-D audio amplifier.

“Today’s drivers expect any car—entry-level to luxury, combustion to electric—to have enhanced in-cabin experiences,” Amichai Ron, SVP of TI Embedded Processing, said in a statement. “TI continues to provide innovative technologies to enable the future of the automotive driving experience.”

Ron added that TI’s latest innovations focus on safety and audio refinement.

“Our edge AI-enabled radar sensors allow automakers to make vehicles safer and more responsive to the driver, while our audio systems-on-chip elevate the drive through more immersive audio,” he said. “Together they create a whole new level of in-cabin experiences.”

Safety in a more efficient package—while driving or parked

TI said that original equipment manufacturers are gradually designing more sensors to enhance the in-vehicle experience and meet evolving safety standards.

The company said its edge AI-enabled AWRL6844 60GHz mmWave radar sensor allows engineers to incorporate three in-cabin sensing features to replace multiple sensor technologies, lowering total implementation costs by an average of $20 per vehicle.

The edge intelligence capabilities of the AWRL6844 sensor also help improve the driving experience in several ways, TI said.

While driving, it supports occupant detection and localization with 98% accuracy to enable seat belt reminders. After parking, it monitors for unattended children in the vehicle, using neural networks that detect micromovements in real time with over 90% classification accuracy. This direct sensing capability enables OEMs to meet 2025 European New Car Assessment Program design requirements.

When parked, it adapts to different environments through intelligent scanning, reducing false intrusion detection alerts caused by car shaking and external movement.

Enhanced entertainment experience

Paired with Dolby Laboratories, TI’s semiconductor technologies are enhancing the automotive audio experience as well, the company said.

“Dolby’s longtime collaboration with Texas Instruments has enabled incredible audio experiences in the home, which we’re now bringing into the car,” Andreas Ehret, senior director of Automotive Business at Dolby Laboratories, said in a statement.

“With TI’s C7x DSP core, we can now deliver the latest Dolby Atmos capabilities more efficiently, including support for even smaller form factor audio systems so nearly all vehicles can have Dolby Atmos,” Ehret said. “Together, these products can help turn every car ride into an immersive entertainment experience.”

TI said that at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week, it will demonstrate how semiconductor technologies make it possible to reimagine experiences everywhere by enabling new levels of automation, intelligence, power efficiency, and affordability.

Demonstrations include innovations in software-defined vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems, robotics, medical wearables, energy infrastructure, and personal electronics.

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