US semiconductor firm Texas Instruments (TI) has unveiled new processors, radar systems, and in-vehicle networking technologies aimed at accelerating the development of autonomous and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
The announcements were made last Jan. 6 during CES 2026, one of the world’s largest technology trade shows.
The releases focus on computing, sensing, and networking — three core building blocks of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving.
Edge AI processors target Level 3 autonomy
TI introduced its new TDA5 system-on-a-chip (SoC) family, designed to support edge artificial intelligence workloads in vehicles.
The company said the processors can support up to Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Level 3 autonomy, which allows drivers to disengage from certain driving tasks under defined conditions.
The TDA5 SoCs deliver AI acceleration ranging from 10 trillion operations per second (TOPS) to 1,200 TOPS, with power efficiency exceeding 24 TOPS per watt.
According to TI, the processors are capable of running large language models and transformer networks while supporting multiple vehicle domains on a single chip.
The SoC family uses Arm Cortex-A720AE CPU cores and incorporates TI’s latest C7 neural processing unit.
TI said the architecture provides up to 12 times more AI compute performance than previous generations at similar power levels, reducing system complexity and thermal requirements.
TI also said the processors can consolidate advanced driver-assistance systems, in-vehicle infotainment, and gateway functions into a single platform.
“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.
The first product in the lineup, the TDA54-Q1 SoC, is expected to be available as samples to select automotive customers by the end of 2026.
New radar transceiver extends ADAS detection range
TI also launched the AWR2188 4D imaging radar transceiver, targeting next-generation ADAS and autonomous driving applications.
The AWR2188 integrates eight transmitters and eight receivers in a single chip, a design intended to simplify high-resolution radar systems.
TI said the transceiver supports both satellite and edge architectures, enabling deployment across a wide range of vehicle classes.
The company said the radar offers 30 percent faster performance than existing solutions and can detect objects at distances beyond 350 meters. Such range is critical for use cases such as highway autonomy, object classification, and long-range hazard detection.
TI said the radar can be used for applications including lost-cargo detection, distinguishing closely spaced vehicles, and identifying objects in high dynamic-range environments.
Pre-production quantities of the AWR2188 are now available upon request.
Automotive Ethernet targets data-heavy vehicles
Completing its automotive announcements, TI introduced the DP83TD555J-Q1 10BASE-T1S Ethernet Serial Peripheral Interface PHY, aimed at expanding Ethernet connectivity within vehicles.
Automotive Ethernet is increasingly used to handle growing data traffic from cameras, sensors, infotainment systems, and diagnostic applications.
TI said the new PHY includes an integrated media access controller with nanosecond-level time synchronization, Power over Data Line support, and reliability features designed for automotive environments.
The company said the solution allows automakers to extend Ethernet to vehicle edge nodes while reducing cabling complexity and cost.
Pre-production units of the DP83TD555J-Q1 Ethernet PHY and an evaluation module are available through TI.
Beyond automotive technologies, TI also showcased demonstrations related to robotics, data centers, smart homes, medical devices, energy infrastructure, and consumer electronics at CES 2026.
