The digital age is transforming how vehicles interact with their surroundings, how they are made and how we use them. High-speed wireless connectivity integrates road users into a network, allowing them to take advantage of digital technology.
Current automotive design techniques are not robust or flexible enough to allow drivers to take advantage of the new digital environment. In traditional design, each feature is introduced as a new module, known as an electronic control unit (ECU), and the mass of wiring used to connect them is approaching the point of saturation.
Modern vehicles collect information about their surroundings from a vast array of sensors and rapidly process this data. They share information with other road users, traffic control networks and even vehicle manufacturers. Sensors and data are transforming how vehicles are used, from the incorporation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and immersive in-car experiences to fully autonomous driving functionality.
Innovations in electronics are changing how vehicle systems will be connected. Miniaturized electronics are replacing single-use ECU with embedded computing modules. As a result, vehicles are starting to resemble data centers in their management of information and usage of communication systems on par with computer networks.
Zonal architecture takes a new approach to vehicle electrical architecture. Grouped by location, the functions within a vehicle are controlled by a zonal gateway close to the devices it manages. Not only will this reduce the cable lengths required to connect functions, but it will also simplify data management. With this new approach to vehicle electrical architecture, Zonal is enabling manufacturers to take a modular approach, streamlining their supply chains and making the process highly flexible.
Regardless of the new technology employed, the automotive industry is still a harsh environment for equipment. Extremes of temperature, constant vibration and exposure to the elements will require designers to choose components wisely, especially in commercial and industrial vehicles. To address these hurdles and overcome the new design paradigms, they will need to work with companies that can deliver the products, expertise and track record to enable future designs.
