AGC continues to invest heavily in ADAS safety technologies and innovations related to self-driving vehicles. One of the most important areas is glass antennas, which play a vital role in supporting computerization of the car.
Auto manufacturers increasingly prefer integrated glass antennas to protruding antennas because they leave more design freedom, are lighter and improve aerodynamics.
These glass antennas are formed by screen-printing a conductive coating material on the glass surface. Combined with electronic amplifiers and components, they can pick up electromagnetic (EM) waves carrying AM, FM, TV and other signals that advanced vehicles depend on.
First anechoic chamber
AGC now plans to construct its first European anechoic chamber to measure EM radiation arising from communications between vehicles and public infrastructures. The new 500 m² chamber near the AGC Technovation Centre in Gosselies, Belgium, should come on stream in late 2018.
This investment will enhance AGC’s ability to test new glazing technology with integrated antennas and supply customers with high-quality connectivity solutions. The advent of self-driving cars will only bolster this requirement for vehicle connectivity.