Automotive Electronics Fundamental Software Development Needs Hardware Collaborative Development

The Automotive Electronics Fundamental Software Alliance recently established in the industry is a “blooming water”, and the industry’s focus has shifted to the development of automotive electronics software and industrialization. The reporter interviewed the automotive electronics industry on these hot topics. One of the initiators of the software alliance is Puhua Software Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager and Technical Director Jiang Shui.

The development of basic software is an irresistible trend. "The functions of automobiles are becoming more and more complicated. The electronic control units need to communicate with each other and interact. Since there is a need for interaction, standards are needed." The river pointed out.

Jiang Shui gave reporters a vivid example of the importance of developing independent basic software. He said that Volvo wanted to make improvements to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and found a well-known ECU company to design and implement it. The other side offered a price of 530,000 Euros, while Volvo’s internal assessment was 20,000 Euros. Why did it appear so large? Contrast? Because the company that makes ECU thinks Volvo puts forward the new function, although the change is not big, but because the software is closed, need to re-design completely, last Volvo has to spend high price to get. Jiang Shui told reporters that if software is standardized, it will not cost so much. At present, most of the software platforms of domestic automakers are used abroad. Although they are relatively stable and reliable, they are very expensive. If you want ECUs to expand new features, you will also face the same problems with Volvo. The development of independent automotive electronics basic software standards is "the trend of the times."

Jiang Shui said: "With the increasing proportion of ECUs in vehicles, adoption of open standards will not only reduce costs, but also provide feasibility for future car intelligence." The key to basic software is the operating system. Jiang Shui explained that if there is only a simple communication between car ECUs, it does not require an operating system, but cars will continue to add new functions in the future, and the degree of safety and intelligence will also become higher and higher. This requires that ECUs not only be able to Collect, receive or issue commands, which requires the operating system to solve this problem.

At the stage of test and test From the perspective of the software standard system, AUTOSAR is the most widely used worldwide. Jiang Shui also stated that AUTOSAR is actually a product of the open architecture of IT systems and the integration of automobiles. Therefore, the basic software of domestic autonomous automotive electronics also basically refers to the AUTOSAR standard. Jiang Shui said that the V1.0 version of automotive electronics software was released last year. At that time, the main operating system was the main one. The V4.0 to be released this year has been extended from a single operating system to the entire platform. It includes roughly four major parts: First, it is in line with AUTOSAR. The standard operating system, the second is the related development tool, the third is the interface, and the fourth is some additional components such as communication components to solve the communication problem. "V1.0 is equivalent to a kernel, and V4.0 is basically a usable platform." Jiang said.

The software version currently under development has already been tested on the vehicle in the vehicle manufacturer, including transmission controllers of FAW hybrid powertrains and heavy-duty truck engine control systems, EPS of the SAIC Roewe series vehicles, and instrumentation of Changan Benben. In addition, PwC made a project for Saab overseas, which can be described as “more flowering”.

Jiang said at the same time that the current software standards developed by the Alliance are only at the demonstration stage of on-vehicle test and testing, and industrialization also needs a relatively large effort to implement. The future work will mainly focus on the following aspects: First, in the vehicle factory and related ECU manufacturers try to promote trials, and secondly, they cooperate with some research institutions or universities to develop experimental platforms. Third, they continue to deepen their technical aspects and carry out targeted localization work.

In addition to technology and evolutionary approaches, exploring new business models is also a very important task for the Alliance. “Because from the current business model of automotive electronics, especially the embedded ones are basically the license fees, but this model can meet the market needs, still have to explore. And this is a constant trial process, It will take some time," Jiang said.

To keep up with the development of hardware Although China has realized the importance of developing basic software for automotive electronics, the "Nuclear High Base" program has led to the establishment of an automotive electronics infrastructure software alliance, providing an opportunity for "acceleration". However, Jiang Shui also frankly stated that from the perspective of the industry chain, if there is no domestic chip support, it is actually equivalent to “dressing others”.

“Because the software needs to be adapted first, although the automaker provides opportunities to use it in some parts of the lab or even small batches, it is not easy to actually embed it in the ECU. The key is that the ECU is in the hands of foreign manufacturers. "The lack of domestic automobile hardware in the river waterway restricts the current state of the industrialization of software standards." To solve this problem, we must rely on all parties in the industry chain to vigorously accelerate the development of auto electronic chips. Jiang Shui then pointed out that at present, the Union is accelerating the adaptation of ECU products with foreign countries on the one hand, and on the other hand is also uniting all forces to actively promote the state to increase support for the research and development of automotive electronic chips.

In this situation, the attitude of the automaker is particularly important. Jiang Shui mentioned that when the software was developed, there were more or less problems, and our technicians were deciding where FAW, SAIC, and what went wrong on the spot would change. The automaker also gave great support. “This also reflects the importance of knowing the standards of auto manufacturers. One is to grasp the commanding heights in the future, and the other is to hope that through this alliance, the industry chain can be chained together because auto electronics cannot do it alone. It will inevitably require the cooperation of all parties in the industry chain to create a benign and interactive ecosystem.” Jiang said.