With the rapid development of intelligent electric vehicles and compact computer systems, and the application of advanced technologies such as real-time traffic monitoring, autonomous driving, and the Internet of Vehicles, vast amounts of data are generated during vehicle operation. This has created an increasingly critical demand for faster storage speeds and larger storage capacities within in-vehicle systems. Additionally, these systems are subjected to constant movement and vibration, where loose connections or dislodged hard drives could lead to system crashes or data loss. The challenge lies in ensuring the safety and performance of hard drives or SSDs under such rigorous conditions. Therefore, the ability to quickly replace a faulty hard drive or retrieve data for backup without shutting down the system is essential.

Research shows that Level 3 autonomous vehicles generate terabytes of data per hour from sensors, requiring in-vehicle storage systems with sufficiently fast read and write speeds and ample storage capacity. High-capacity, high-speed SATA/SAS SSDs and even faster NVMe SSDs have become the preferred choices for in-vehicle storage systems.

During the operation of electric vehicles, various unforeseen issues, such as hard drive failures or data transmission interruptions, may occur. These issues can lead to data loss or corruption, which could disrupt the normal functioning of the vehicle. Therefore, in-vehicle storage systems must be equipped with the ability to quickly replace faulty drives and retrieve data drives without interrupting vehicle operation. Removable hot-swappable drive enclosures can perfectly meet these functional needs of in-vehicle systems.

The data collected on the vehicle side is crucial for subsequent data analysis, training, and the iterative optimization of intelligent driving algorithms on the platform side. Therefore, efficient and rapid data exchange and transmission between vehicle and platform have become key issues to address. The introduction of embedded removable drive enclosures offers an ideal solution. This design allows hard drives to be easily removed from or inserted into the vehicle system without shutting down the system or interrupting data transmission. The removed drive can be inserted into a drive enclosure on the platform side for data reading, greatly enhancing the convenience of data exchange while ensuring continuity and stability in data transmission.

ICY DOCK’s ToughArmor series products, such as the MB491SKL-B, MB492SKL-B, MB491SKL-1B, and MB601VK-B, have become highly regarded storage solutions in autonomous driving and other in-vehicle systems due to their outstanding performance and reliability.

The ToughArmor series is built on an all-metal structure, designed specifically for harsh environments. Its metal body and tray design provide fire resistance, while the anti-shock and anti-vibration features meet MIL-STD-810H military standards. These enclosures fit standard 3.5-inch floppy drive bays and offer removable trays and hot-swappable functionality, allowing easy drive insertion and removal without system shutdown, which facilitates maintenance and backup. Equipped with dual security locks, they ensure data safety and stability. Additionally, a five-year warranty underscores the product's quality and reliability.

Briefly introducing some widely used in-vehicle drive enclosures

ICY DOCK also offers a waterproof and dustproof version, the MB491SKL-1B, which is an upgraded model based on the MB491SKL-B. This enclosure not only provides excellent performance but also meets IPX5 certification for water and dust resistance. The IPX5 rating ensures stable operation even under exposure to water jets and dust, offering superior environmental protection. Whether in humid work environments, dusty construction sites, or highly demanding outdoor military and medical applications, the MB491SKL-1B safeguards user data with exceptional reliability.

The MB491SKL-1B drive enclosure features a dual-lock design that supports 2.5-inch SATA/SAS drives with heights ranging from 5 to 15 mm. In terms of transfer speeds, it supports up to 6Gb/s for SATA 3.0 and up to 12Gb/s for SAS 3.0, with backward compatibility. This provides users with greater storage flexibility and capacity options. Additionally, its hot-swappable functionality makes drive replacement and maintenance highly convenient.

ICY DOCK stands out in enterprise applications due to its near-perfect stability and exceptionally low failure rate, meeting the automotive industry's stringent reliability requirements. The ToughArmor series, with its high speed, large capacity, and outstanding reliability, provides excellent storage solutions for the intelligent electric vehicle sector. Looking ahead, the ToughArmor series will continue to drive progress in the smart electric vehicle industry.