siliconindia | | MAY 2024 9Hardware: The hardware layer encompasses components such as the engine control unit and the chip housing the embedded operating system. All physical elements of the vehicle, including cameras and sensors, fall within this category.The main challenge currently faced by Software-Defined Vehicles is the tight coupling of software to hardware by many automotive manufacturers. To overcome this obstacle, manufacturers must adopt agile, modular development practices. They should aim to develop applications and ecosystems that operate independently of hardware, potentially utilizing more virtualization to maintain separation between functions and underlying hardware. This approach offers the added benefit of improved performance, allowing manufacturers to focus on optimizing hardware without compatibility concerns.Setting the Path for Next-Generation VehiclesRecently, NXP Semiconductors introduced a groundbreaking advancement in software-defined vehicle (SDV) development through the introduction of its cutting-edge platform, 'S32 CoreRide'. This innovative software platform is designed to streamline the complex process of vehicle architecture development, while simultaneously driving down costs for both automotive manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers.The 'S32 CoreRide' platform seamlessly integrates NXP's comprehensive hardware portfolio with software solutions sourced from prominent automotive experts across a wide-ranging ecosystem. Notable collaborators include Accenture ESR Labs, ArcherMind, BlackBerry QNX, Elektrobit, ETAS, Green Hills Software, Sonatus, Synopsys, TTTech Auto, Vector Informatik GmbH, Wind River, as well as tier-1 suppliers such as Valeo.NXP envisions that production vehicles utilizing the capabilities of the 'S32 CoreRide' platform are currently under development, with the initial wave of production vehicles expected to hit the market by 2027. This endeavor marks a substantial advancement in automotive technology, presenting the potential for enhanced effectiveness and performance in the creation of future vehicle models.Henri Ardevol, EVP and general manager of automotive embedded systems at NXP, emphasized the significance of tight integration between silicon and software in achieving faster innovation cycles and improved performance at reduced costs. He highlighted the potential for radical transformation in SDV development through the adoption of a faster, more open approach enabled by the 'S32 CoreRide' platform.Semiconductors: Vehicle RevolutionThe semiconductor industry is crucial in this context because software always operates on hardware. Similar to the process of developing efficient car software, established methods are applied for hardware and chip architecture. The fundamental requirements for software-defined vehicles largely stem from advancements in the semiconductor sector. A modern electric vehicle utilizes several thousand chips, contrasting with the roughly 60 highly specialized chips in an Apple iPhone. Although there is potential to reduce the number of control units to approximately a fifth, this would require a greater integration of customized chips. In the upcoming years, the automotive industry is awaited to initiative the fastest development within the semiconductor part.FinallyThe upcoming of transport centers on the combination of software and hardware growths, reshaping our interactions with vehicles. The current expansion of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) is poised to change mobility, offering opportunities for improved safety, efficiency, and connectivity in transportation networks.
< Page 8 | Page 10 >