Texas Instruments has launched new automotive semiconductors and resources aimed at improving safety and autonomy in vehicles. Their TDA5 system-on-a-chip (SoC) family provides optimized processing and artificial intelligence (AI) for up to Level 3 vehicle autonomy. They also introduced the AWR2188, an eight-by-eight 4D imaging radar transceiver that simplifies high-resolution radar systems. These products, along with the DP83TD555J-Q1 Ethernet physical layer (PHY), expand TI’s automotive offerings for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and software-defined vehicles (SDVs). TI will showcase these innovations at CES 2026, Jan. 6-9, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information, see ti.com/TDA54-Q1, ti.com/AWR2188 and ti.com/DP83TD555J-Q1.
“The automotive industry is moving toward a future where driving doesn’t require hands on the wheel,” said Mark Ng, director of automotive systems at TI. “Semiconductors are at the heart of bringing this vision of safer, smarter and more autonomous driving experiences to every vehicle. From detection and communication to decision-making, engineers can use TI’s end-to-end system offering to innovate what’s next in automotive.”
High-performance compute SoCs enable safe, scalable AI across vehicle models
To improve safety and independence in future vehicles, car manufacturers are using central computer systems that combine AI and sensors for quick decision-making. TI’s TDA5 SoC family is built for high-performance computing, offering AI speed from 10 trillion to 1200 trillion operations per second, with energy efficiency over 24 operations per second per watt. This flexible design, supported by Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express technology, allows developers to add various features and support up to Level 3 self-driving cars with one product line. With more than 20 years of automotive experience, this family enhances TI’s existing portfolio so automakers can centralize computing and use advanced AI models.
By using the latest TI C7 neural processing unit, TDA5 SoCs offer up to 12 times more AI computing power than earlier models while using similar energy, which cuts down on expensive cooling solutions. This capability supports complex language models and networks, boosting in-car intelligence and functionality. The family also includes the latest Arm® Cortex®-A720AE cores, enabling manufacturers to add more safety, security, and computing features.
TDA5 SoCs simplify systems and lower costs by allowing the integration of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), in-car entertainment, and gateway systems into one chip. Their safety-first design helps meet the Automotive Safety Integrity Level D standards without needing extra components.
To make vehicle software management easier, TI is collaborating with Synopsys to offer a Virtualizer development kit for TDA5 SoCs. This kit helps engineers speed up the time it takes to bring their software-defined vehicles (SDVs) to market by up to 12 months.
To learn more about TDA5 SoCs, read the technical article, “Why scalable high-performance SoCs are the future of autonomous vehicles.”
Single-chip, eight-by-eight radar transceiver achieves earlier, more accurate detection
With better detection and reliability in all weather, radar is essential for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and improved vehicle autonomy. The AWR2188 4D imaging radar transceiver by TI combines eight transmitters and eight receivers into one compact chip. This design makes it easier to create high-resolution radar systems, as the eight-by-eight setup doesn’t need to be connected in series, and scaling up needs fewer devices. The transceiver works with both satellite and edge systems, giving car makers the flexibility to roll out ADAS features quickly in all types of vehicles.
The AWR2188 has improved data processing for better performance, being 30% faster than current options. This performance helps with advanced uses like detecting lost cargo, telling apart closely located vehicles, and recognizing objects in challenging environments. The transceiver can spot objects accurately from over 350 meters away, making driving safer and more autonomous.
To learn more, read the technical article, “Achieving 4D radar imaging with a single-chip, 8-by-8 cascadable transceiver.”
10BASE-T1S technology extends Ethernet to vehicle edge nodes
The push towards Smart Driver Vehicles (SDVs) and more automated driving is changing how vehicle systems are designed. Ethernet plays a key role in this change because it helps systems gather and send more data quickly and easily using one network.
Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced the DP83TD555J-Q1, a new Ethernet component that provides very precise time synchronization, high reliability, and can deliver power over the data line. These features help engineers use high-performance Ethernet at various points in the vehicle, making it simpler and more cost-effective to design the necessary wiring.
With TI’s complete system solutions for advanced sensors, reliable networking inside the vehicle, and efficient AI processing, car manufacturers can create automated systems that enhance safety and automation across different car models.
To learn more, read the company blog, “The semiconductor technology shaping the autonomous driving experience.”
TI at CES 2026
In the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, meeting room No. N115, TI will showcase how innovation across its analog and embedded processing portfolios is reshaping what’s next in how people move, live and work. Demonstrations include advancements in vehicle technology and advanced mobility, smart homes and digital health, energy infrastructure, robotics, and data centers. See ti.com/CES.
Package, availability and pricing
- The TDA54 software development kit is now available on TI.com to help engineers get started with the TDA54 Virtualizer development kit. Samples of the TDA54-Q1 SoC, the first device in the family, will be sampling to select automotive customers by the end of 2026.
- Preproduction quantities of the AWR2188 transceiver and an evaluation module are now available upon request at TI.com.
Preproduction quantities of the DP83TD555J-Q1 10BASE-T1S Ethernet PHY and an evaluation module are now available upon request at TI.com.