Micron Unveils Revolutionary Quad-Port SSD to Boost Data-Intensive Autonomous and AI Workloads

Micron Technology has introduced the world's first quad-port SSD designed for intelligent vehicles, the Micron 4150AT SSD, featuring single-root input/output virtualization and a PCIe Generation 4 interface.

First quad-port SSD designed specifically for intelligent vehicles
Offers data center-level flexibility and power in a ruggedized automotive design
Multi-port capability allows for centralized storage and reduces costs

Micron Technology, a leading provider of memory and storage solutions, has launched the world’s first quad-port SSD designed specifically for intelligent vehicles. The Micron 4150AT SSD combines features like single-root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) and a PCIe Generation 4 interface, making it a game-changer in the automotive storage space.

As vehicles become more advanced, with features like AI and autonomous safety systems, the need for high-performance storage solutions has never been greater. The Micron 4150AT SSD addresses this demand by offering data center-level flexibility and power in a ruggedized automotive design.

“With the rapid advancements in in-vehicle experiences and autonomous safety, the automotive industry requires a new storage paradigm,” said Michael Basca, Vice President of Embedded Products and Systems at Micron. “Micron has reimagined storage from the ground up to deliver the world’s first quad-port SSD, providing the industry with the flexibility and horsepower needed to deploy transformative technologies.”

One of the key features of the Micron 4150AT SSD is its multi-port capability. With four ports, the SSD can connect to up to four systems on chips (SoCs), allowing for centralized storage and reducing the need for redundant copies of data. This not only improves performance but also streamlines architecture and reduces costs.

Another standout feature is the SR-IOV capability, which enables high performance for heavy multi-host workloads. With support for up to 64 virtual machines, each SoC and its virtual machines have their own isolated storage region while sharing a pool of storage. This maximizes efficiency and is crucial as automotive SoCs increasingly use virtual machines to multitask across different functions.

Security is also a top priority for Micron. The 4150AT drive’s unique virtualization ensures that the data of each virtual machine is isolated, mitigating the risk of data or code leakage and preventing hacking attempts from compromising critical data.

To meet the diverse data requirements of the automotive industry, the Micron 4150AT SSD offers customizable endurance modes. Built with triple-level cell (TLC) NAND, the drive can be configured to support single-level cell (SLC) and high-endurance (HE-SLC) data endurance groups. This allows for optimal endurance based on specific use cases, such as continuous black box data recording.

In addition to its impressive features, the Micron 4150AT SSD is designed to withstand the rigorous requirements of the automotive industry. It delivers Automotive Safety Integrity Level B (ASIL-B) capability and is offered in a ball grid array package to withstand the shock and vibration typically found in vehicles’ rugged environments.

Micron is now sampling the 4150AT SSD to automotive customers worldwide. With capacities up to 1.8 terabytes, the drive enables efficient storage of AI algorithms, large language models, advanced infotainment, and telemetry data for the next generation of vehicles.

The Micron 4150AT SSD is a testament to Micron’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of storage technology and providing innovative solutions for the automotive industry. With its market-leading features and robust design, it is set to revolutionize storage in intelligent vehicles.

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Background Information

About Micron Technology: Micron Technology, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a global leader in innovative memory and storage solutions. Founded in 1978 by Ward Parkinson, Joe Parkinson, Dennis Wilson, and Doug Pitman, Micron has played a pivotal role in advancing semiconductor technology. The company produces dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), flash memory, and USB flash drives. Micron’s products cater to various applications, including AI, automotive, mobile devices, data centers, and client PCs. Their commitment to innovation and memory technology has positioned them as a key player in the industry.

Technology Explained

NAND: NAND technology is a type of non-volatile memory that is used in many computer applications. It is a type of flash memory that is used to store data in a non-volatile manner, meaning that the data is not lost when the power is turned off. NAND technology is used in many computer applications, such as solid-state drives, USB flash drives, digital cameras, and memory cards. It is also used in many embedded systems, such as cell phones, tablets, and other consumer electronics. NAND technology is a reliable and cost-effective way to store data, making it a popular choice for many computer applications.

PCIe: PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for connecting components such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to a motherboard. It is the most widely used interface in the computer industry today, and is used in both desktop and laptop computers. PCIe is capable of providing up to 16 times the bandwidth of the older PCI standard, allowing for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as storage, networking, and communications. PCIe is an essential component of modern computing, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

SoC: A System-on-Chip (SoC) is a highly integrated semiconductor device that encapsulates various electronic components, including processors, memory, input/output interfaces, and often specialized hardware components, all on a single chip. SoCs are designed to provide a complete computing system or subsystem within a single chip package, offering enhanced performance, power efficiency, and compactness. They are commonly used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to embedded systems and IoT devices, streamlining hardware complexity and facilitating efficient integration of multiple functions onto a single chip.

SSD: A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a modern data storage device that employs flash memory technology to store data electronically. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This leads to quicker boot times, faster application loading, and smoother overall system performance. SSDs are known for their durability, shock resistance, and energy efficiency, making them ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and other portable devices. They come in various form factors, including 2.5-inch, M.2, and PCIe cards, and are favored for their reliability, quiet operation, and reduced heat generation