IAA 2007: A New direction in electronics architecture – A Modular concept enables new functions
Regensburg/Germany, September 11, 2007
In today’s vehicles, there can be up to 70 electronic control units in your vehicle that ensure greater safety, comfort, and environmental compatibility. Because new vehicle systems are demanding more electronic controls, the number of these devices could continue to rise. Therefore, Siemens VDO is supporting a new electronic architecture for vehicles that will help manage the complexity of future systems. This concept consists of modules or domains that cover broad function fields, which allows new functions to be easily and quickly integrated.
More than ever before, electronics are making cars more safe, comfortable, economical, and environmentally compatible. Today's vehicles are electronic networks on wheels; however, if the number of electronic control units (ECUs) continue to rise in the future, the complexity of in-car electronics will be difficult to manage. To help manage the growling complexity of in-vehicle electronics, Siemens VDO is developing an alternative to the increased number of ECUs located throughout the vehicle. The company’s approach is a “simple” electronics structure with few central control units. New safety and comfort systems can be implemented primarily on the basis of additional software, which will help yield competitive advantages if the large numbers of today’s standalone functions are combined into fewer modules. Siemens VDO's architecture will require fewer ECUs and may eliminate the need for new ECUs and the networking effort and expenses associated with them. “This ‘domain’-based architecture creates excellent conditions for new functions that can do more and more in the vehicle,” says Professor Dr. Gernot Spiegelberg, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Technology at Siemens VDO. Because the system is designed as an open architecture, the automotive manufacturers can integrate their specific components and functionalities.
The hardware supporting this electronic architecture consists of a few standardized central computers with a simplified, high-performance, networking structure. Individual functions are stored in the ECU as software modules. “This approach, with few domains, permits us to integrate new functions, but still reduce the level of complexity in the car. The BUS systems' communication is minimized because its reach is further extended through the electronics,” says Spiegelberg.
One important basis for this approach is the Autosar standard, which defines uniform interfaces for software modules and makes them independent of the hardware (ECU) for the most part. As a founding member of the Autosar consortium, Siemens VDO has been pushing the development of modular architectures forward for years. However, Spiegelberg notes, “Autosar is only the necessary determination of the standard. Also, corresponding system architecture is another prerequisite that will easily incorporate functions into the car.
The new electronics architecture has a modular and flexible structure. The number of domains is dependent on how the functions are organized and combined. Siemens VDO's approach is based on five modules: The Driver Interface module receives the driver’s commands and then determines the desired vehicle movement. The Driver Assistance module registers the vehicle’s environment using sensors and adapts the desired movement to the current traffic and road situation. The Powertrain & Chassis module then translates the command into movement. Additional modules are the Comfort Systems and the central E/E Infrastructure module, responsible for managing the flow of energy and data in the vehicle. Based on this structure, different vehicle equipment levels and features – from low-end to high-end – can be implemented. The number and combination of the software modules determine the vehicle’s level of equipment and features. Because Siemens VDO's approach is based on an open architecture, automotive manufacturers also can choose to use individual components of the electronic structure to define unique selling propositions that set them apart from their competitors.
Siemens VDO Automotive AG (Regensburg) is one of the world’s leading automotive electronics and mechatronics suppliers, earning approximately 70 percent of its total annual sales in this segment. As an automotive industry development partner, the company's innovative products and solutions enhance safety, driving comfort, cost-effectiveness and performance, as well as reduce emissions and keep drivers informed and in touch with the world. In the 2006 business year (Sept. 30, 2006), Siemens VDO generated sales of more than EUR 10 billion and achieved results of EUR 669 million based on US-GAAP, which corresponds to an EBIT margin of 6.7 percent.
Reference Number: SV 200709.007 en
