POLYN's New AI Chip Gives Cars a Crucial 'Feel' for the Road

TEL AVIV, Israel – April 29, 2026 – In a move that could fundamentally enhance the safety of future vehicles, POLYN Technology has announced the completion of its first automotive chip design, a milestone known in the semiconductor industry as a tapeout. The chip, named VibroSense™, is a neuromorphic analog processor designed to be placed directly inside a vehicle's tire, giving it the unprecedented ability to feel the road surface in real time.

Developed in collaboration with leading semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries, the VibroSense chip aims to solve one of the most persistent and dangerous challenges for both human drivers and autonomous systems: understanding the available grip between the tire and the road. By providing this crucial data, the technology promises to make advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving cars significantly safer and more reliable, especially in hazardous conditions.

A Brain on the Wheel

At the core of this innovation is POLYN's Neuromorphic Analog Signal Processing (NASP) technology. Unlike traditional digital processors that crunch data sequentially, NASP architecture is inspired by the biological human brain. It uses analog circuitry to create artificial neurons and synapses that process information in a parallel, asynchronous, and incredibly efficient manner.

This brain-like approach offers game-changing advantages for an in-tire sensor. First is ultra-low power consumption. The VibroSense chip operates at the microwatt level, consuming a tiny fraction of the energy required by digital AI processors. This efficiency is what makes its deployment inside a tire—where power is extremely limited—a practical reality for the first time. The chip can effectively operate in an 'always-on' state without draining a battery.

Second is near-instantaneous processing. The analog design results in extremely low latency, with inference times measured in microseconds. For a vehicle making critical decisions at highway speeds, this real-time response is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The chip processes high-frequency vibration data directly from an accelerometer as it is generated, detecting patterns that correspond to different levels of road friction.

By performing this heavy computational work at the sensor's edge, the NASP chip distills complex raw data into a simple, actionable insight: the peak friction coefficient (PFC). This drastically reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted wirelessly to the car's main computer, solving bandwidth and power challenges while ensuring the most critical information gets through without delay.

Eliminating the Blind Spot in Vehicle Safety

The need for more accurate road friction data has become increasingly urgent. Advanced safety systems like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) depend on knowing the limits of traction. Yet, most current systems operate reactively. They often infer friction based on secondary effects like wheel slip, meaning they can only confirm a loss of grip after it has already begun.

Furthermore, the sensors powering today's autonomous vehicles—cameras, LiDAR, and radar—suffer from a critical blind spot. While they can 'see' the road ahead, they cannot physically measure its slipperiness. A patch of black ice or a puddle deep enough to cause aquaplaning can be invisible to these systems, leading to catastrophic failures where the vehicle's control system overestimates the available grip.

POLYN's VibroSense is designed to eliminate this guesswork. By providing a direct, cause-based measurement of tire-road interaction, it gives the vehicle a proactive sense of touch. The system has been trained on extensive data from real-world driving conditions and validated in controlled scenarios, demonstrating strong alignment with friction behavior on asphalt, concrete, and even during aquaplaning events. This predictive insight allows a vehicle to adjust its speed and control parameters before a critical event occurs, a paradigm shift from reactive to preventative safety.

“There is strong and growing interest in sensor data pre-processing implemented in silicon for automotive applications,” said Aleksandr Timofeev, CEO of POLYN. “This tapeout marks an important milestone in NASP chip development and furthers our mission to unlock new opportunities for advanced vehicle systems with VibroSense - an energy-efficient neuromorphic sensing solution.”

Forging the Path to Mass Production

Bringing such a novel chip to the demanding automotive market requires a robust manufacturing strategy. POLYN's collaboration with GlobalFoundries (GF) provides just that. By leveraging GF's 'advanced node' manufacturing processes, which are automotive-grade qualified, POLYN ensures that the VibroSense chip can be produced with the reliability and scalability the industry demands. Technologies like GF's 22FDX® platform are specifically designed for low-power, high-reliability applications, making it an ideal fit for producing sophisticated electronics destined for the harsh environment inside a tire.

The tapeout of this engineering chip is the first major step toward commercialization. The next phase will involve extensive testing and integration. According to Timofeev, POLYN is already working closely with major industry players to make this happen.

“POLYN is actively collaborating with Tier 1 suppliers and automotive OEMs seeking to obtain real-time tire-road friction estimates directly from the tire,” he added, noting that the accuracy limitations of existing virtual sensors are a significant hurdle for autonomous driving. As safety standards, such as the upcoming Euro NCAP 2026 protocols, begin to mandate better performance on low-friction surfaces, the demand for direct sensing solutions like VibroSense is expected to intensify, potentially making it a key enabling technology in the race to full autonomy.