RESIST: RESilient Integrated SysTems

The high quality of German cars and airplanes is decisive for the economic success of their manufacturers and the supplier industry. In order to ensure this also in the future, the ever-increasing demands on electronic components must be countered. They must reliably implement more and more functions in a small space, are used in ever new fields of application, and are also intended to make a decisive contribution to conserving natural resources. For this purpose, electronic systems increasingly require more computational and storage capacity while minimizing their energy consumption. Therefore, the transition from micro- to nanoelectronics is being pushed forward in automotive and aircraft construction. Today, vehicle systems are being implemented in all areas by means of highly integrated semiconductors. Up to 90 percent of automotive innovations are related to electronics. In the aircraft, more and more mechanical functions are electronically controlled. Particularly in these fields of application, however, the miniaturization of the electronics carries the risk of a higher sensitivity against operating and environment-related loads. Suitable design measures are necessary so that components can function reliably even at extreme temperatures.

For this reason, the partners in the project "RESIST" (RESILient Integrated SysTems) are researching how these particularly powerful micro- and nanoelectronic components can be designed extremely reliably and robustly. To this end, the participating partners develop design processes for microchips and future systems, with which the high demands on quality and reliability can be met even better. The goal is particularly powerful and robust components, which at the same time contribute to the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This will strengthen the competitiveness of future German technology products. RESIST is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) over a three-year period of EUR 5 million within the framework of the European EUREKA-CATRENE initiative.

New applications for robust electronics - The work of the RESIST partners is expected to significantly increase the life span of electronic assemblies in cars and certain future aviation applications. For this purpose, methods are developed which already allow an exact prediction of the behavior of individual chips as well as complete systems in the design phase. This means that the results for the entire intended operating time can already be taken into account in the system design. This requires a new development approach for electronics and additional circuit parts. They will ensure that components can tolerate operating-related loads better during the entire vehicle life. In addition, an "early warning system" is generated which informs the vehicle operator or the maintenance service of any electronics wear. To this end, the partners develop so-called aging monitors in the project in order to permanently monitor the current state of safety-relevant components. This results in new applications for electronics, which will replace mechanical components in even more areas. RESIST also enables systems that can be optimally adapted to external conditions and thus increase energy efficiency and safety.

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