Case Study
Next-Gen Domain Controller for Automotive OEMs
Performance improvement
Increase in Energy efficiency
Network Bandwidth utilization efficiency
Background
With the arrival of 5G and its associated technologies, Automotive industry is witnessing a radical transformation in intra vehicle device management, driver/occupant monitoring, and user experience.
Carmakers across the globe are continually looking at enhancing Digital Cockpit experiences to deliver a differentiated experience.
With our deep understanding of Hardware and Software, we helped a leading automotive OEM to develop a common platform (domain controller for a digital cockpit) that connects wired/wireless vehicle devices, server, and collects vehicle diagnostic data through advanced OS interfaces like Automotive Android, Linux, and RTOS. This will give end users a seamless and intuitive interface for controlling the system and help OEMs provide premium features for an enhanced customer delight.
Challenge
Apart from Cloud Adoption and Management, our client was facing the following challenges:
- High-Speed Connectivity
- Intra Vehicle Device Management
- Inter Vehicle connectivity
Tata Elxsi proposed an intuitive communication gateway solution to provide all current and future radio frequency interfaces to the vehicle [LTE (Long term Evolution), 5G, NBIoT (Narrowband IoT), C-V2X(Cellular Vehicle to Everything)].
Solution
The unified domain controller platform is an in-house platform to integrate new innovative communication technologies which acts as a CPU for high-performance processing.
Our unique solution offered 5G Vehicle-to-Network that allows~ 0 latency communication with Edge computing for the automotive OEM.
Most of the In-vehicle computations for VR, 3D Maps, Multimedia content, Realtime Analytics and Augmentation in the vehicles were passed on to the gateways and cloud.
Cellular V2X was deployed so that it could communicate efficiently between two vehicles even without a network.
To enable roadside sensor communication, NBIoT (nodes that are battery-powered low-power modules) were included. All these features were integrated into a single domain controller with multiple in-cabin functions to enhance the personalized experience.
Impact
This unified platform helped our client vehicles to create an impact through:
2x the ease of integration due to ECU consolidation: With other systems such as cameras, sensors, and ADAS being integrated it has helped to improve the overall functionality and safety of the vehicle with a 30% increase in energy efficiency.
Cost-effectiveness: The integration of multiple electronic systems into a single unit has led to a reduction in the need for multiple controllers, and has simplified the overall design of the digital cockpit resulting in a 25% increase in performance.
Future-proofing vehicles: With regular OTA software updates, OEMs can recheck beforehand the implication and how much of new features and capabilities can be deployed.
Future Outlook
Features that Tata Elxsi plans to explore in this area:
- Collision avoidance
- Platooning
- Cooperative driving
- Queue warning
- Supporting the emergency services
- Hazards ahead warning
- Autonomous driving
- Avoiding vulnerable road-user
- Vehicle & Asset Tracking
- NBIoT-based sensor integration
- Toll payment and Parking
- Roadside sensor communication
Services rendered
Tata Elxsi
- HW Design, Development & Prototyping
- Connected Infotainment
- 5G – High Bandwidth communication
- Cellular V2X
- Narrow Band IoT Communication
- Automotive Ethernet