Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Centralization potential of automotive E/E architectures

Lucas Mauser, Stefan Wagner

TL;DR

System designers are provided with actionable guidance to optimize their systems, addressing the outlined challenges while avoiding monolithic architecture, as this paper bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application.

Abstract

Current automotive E/E architectures are subject to significant transformations: Computing-power-intensive advanced driver-assistance systems, bandwidth-hungry infotainment systems, the connection of the vehicle with the internet and the consequential need for cyber-security drives the centralization of E/E architectures. A centralized architecture is often seen as a key enabler to master those challenges. Available research focuses mostly on the different types of E/E architectures and contrasts their advantages and disadvantages. There is a research gap on guidelines for system designers and function developers to analyze the potential of their systems for centralization. The present paper aims to quantify centralization potential reviewing relevant literature and conducting qualitative interviews with industry practitioners. In literature, we identified seven key automotive system properties reaching limitations in current automotive architectures: busload, functional safety, computing power, feature dependencies, development and maintenance costs, error rate, modularity and flexibility. These properties serve as quantitative evaluation criteria to estimate whether centralization would enhance overall system performance. In the interviews, we have validated centralization and its fundament - the conceptual systems engineering - as capabilities to mitigate these limitations. By focusing on practical insights and lessons learned, this research provides system designers with actionable guidance to optimize their systems, addressing the outlined challenges while avoiding monolithic architecture. This paper bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application, offering valuable takeaways for practitioners.

Centralization potential of automotive E/E architectures

TL;DR

System designers are provided with actionable guidance to optimize their systems, addressing the outlined challenges while avoiding monolithic architecture, as this paper bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application.

Abstract

Current automotive E/E architectures are subject to significant transformations: Computing-power-intensive advanced driver-assistance systems, bandwidth-hungry infotainment systems, the connection of the vehicle with the internet and the consequential need for cyber-security drives the centralization of E/E architectures. A centralized architecture is often seen as a key enabler to master those challenges. Available research focuses mostly on the different types of E/E architectures and contrasts their advantages and disadvantages. There is a research gap on guidelines for system designers and function developers to analyze the potential of their systems for centralization. The present paper aims to quantify centralization potential reviewing relevant literature and conducting qualitative interviews with industry practitioners. In literature, we identified seven key automotive system properties reaching limitations in current automotive architectures: busload, functional safety, computing power, feature dependencies, development and maintenance costs, error rate, modularity and flexibility. These properties serve as quantitative evaluation criteria to estimate whether centralization would enhance overall system performance. In the interviews, we have validated centralization and its fundament - the conceptual systems engineering - as capabilities to mitigate these limitations. By focusing on practical insights and lessons learned, this research provides system designers with actionable guidance to optimize their systems, addressing the outlined challenges while avoiding monolithic architecture. This paper bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application, offering valuable takeaways for practitioners.
Paper Structure (20 sections, 5 figures, 10 tables)

This paper contains 20 sections, 5 figures, 10 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. Busload
  4. Functional Safety
  5. Computing Power
  6. Feature Dependencies
  7. Development and Maintenance Costs
  8. Error Rate
  9. Modularity and Flexibility
  10. Research Method
  11. Interview Participants
  12. Interview Questions
  13. Results and Discussion
  14. Methodology of the Interview Analysis
  15. Results
  16. ...and 5 more sections

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Zone-oriented E/E architecture approach
  • Figure 2: Classification of the zonal E/E architecture into the 3 tiers of I-IoT ConvergenceIT
  • Figure 3: Classification of the vehicle as IoT device into the 3 tiers of I-IoT
  • Figure 4: Results interview questions of part 2 - For arguments see textual reporting of answers in present \ref{['chap:Results']}
  • Figure 5: Results interview part 2 - Impact of centralization on evaluation criteria of \ref{['tab:Eval-Crit']} displayed as means of answers rounded in percent according to following rating: Yes = 1, Partially = 0.75, Slightly = 0.6, Yes and No = 0.5, It depends = 0.5, To be analyzed = 0.5, Not necessarily = 0.5, No = 0