Water ingress into the Steer-by-Wire (SbW) electronics can cause short circuits and corrosion, thus resulting in unforeseen system malfunctions. Steering control units that are mounted on the front axle (road-wheel actuator) are exposed to harsh environmental influences. This vulnerability is particularly concerning when redundant sub-systems share the same enclosure, potentially leading to common cause failures. To mitigate this risk, monitoring water ingress in real time enables immediate actions such as smart degradation, timely maintenance, or the initiation of emergency stop protocols.
Steer-by-wire systems
Detect water ingress in real-time to ensure safety integrity
How our sensors make a difference
Ensuring system safety integrity
Tight sealing is the main defense against water ingress in safety-critical enclosures. Utilizing sensors for real-time detection provides a cost-effective secondary safety measure against water ingress.
Enable smart degradation
Smart degradation economically adds a third layer of vehicle redundancy. Condition monitoring of safety-critical systems (such as SbW) is crucial for assessing the probability of a second failure and thus enhancing overall resilience.
Meet vehicle manufacturer requirements
With the surge in autonomous vehicles and impending regulations, OEMs must take on more liability. This emphasizes the necessity for real-time water ingress detection mechanisms to ensure system reliability and compliance.

Want to learn more?
Explore further insights into water ingress detection in safety-critical vehicle systems by downloading our free white paper.

Want to learn more?
Explore further insights into water ingress detection in safety-critical vehicle systems by downloading our free white paper.
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Monitor water ingress with Sensirion’s SHT4xA humidity sensor
With its compact size and cost-effectiveness, Sensirion's SHT4xA humidity sensor sets a new standard in the automotive market. Its advanced functionality makes it particularly well-suited for detecting water ingress in safety-critical ADAS systems.
SHT41A-FD1B
Enhancing automotive safety: the crucial role of water ingress detection in advanced technologies
Marco Gysel, Business Development Manager, Johan Mannerberg, Senior Business Development Manager & Julien Cors, Product Manager
Watch nowOur expertise
Market leader
With over 20 years of experience in humidity and temperature sensing, we are aware of many challenges and know how to overcome them.
Automotive certification
Our sensors are automotive-graded, comply with the strictest quality standards and offer highest reliability.
Extensive application know-how
Leveraging our extensive application knowledge, we empower our customers to transition from raw sensor output to practical real-world applications.
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Luca Villani, Sales Director Mobility, is looking forward to hearing from you.