As vehicles become more software-defined, the network architecture that connects different electronic control units (ECUs) inside the vehicle is evolving to meet new demands. The traditional in-vehicle network is giving way to next generation technologies that enable fully connected and autonomous driving experiences.

The Changing Connected Car Landscape
Vehicles today contain dozens of ECUs that control everything from engine management and brakes to infotainment and advanced driver-assistance systems. These ECUs traditionally communicated over low-speed networks like Controller Area Network (CAN) bus that lacked the bandwidth, security and flexibility needed for future applications. However, the connectivity and automation revolution is pushing automakers to modernize internal vehicle networks.

Advanced driver-assistance systems now being introduced require high-speed networking between sensors, cameras and other systems. Future autonomous vehicles will demandterabytes of real-timevehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure data exchange. Meanwhile, as vehicles become mobile devices on wheels, passengers will expect in-car infotainment and productivity features on par with consumer electronics. This is driving the need for network upgrades that support multimedia streaming, over-the-air updates and more.

The Rise of Ethernet and Other High-speed Technologies
To meet evolving needs, Next Generation In-Vehicle Networking are adopting high-speed Ethernet, BroadR-Fi and other connectivity solutions. Ethernet in particular is gaining widespread acceptance due to its ubiquitous nature, high-bandwidth capabilities and support for IP technologies. Several automakers have already launched vehicles equipped with Ethernet-based networks to power infotainment systems, and its role will only expand in fully autonomous vehicles.

Ethernet for Advanced Driver Assistance
One application witnessing early adoption of Ethernet is advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Systems like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assistance require real-time sharing of processing loads and sensor data between ECUs. The CAN bus struggles with such bandwidth-intensive applications. Ethernet provides the low-latency, high-speed interface critical to these safety features. It allows integrated control of functions while streaming video, maps and otherrich data. This helps improve reaction times, reduce complexityand enable over-the-air updates.

Several automakers have introduced Ethernet-connected ADAS on new luxury vehicles. For instance, the 2021 Mercedes S-Class comes equipped with dozens of cameras, radars and ultrasonic sensors interconnected by an Ethernet network architecture. This integrated sensing package provides Level 2 autonomous capabilities like steering/acceleration/braking assistance on highways. As advanced as it seems, it’s only the beginning of a transition towards full autonomy based on next generation IVNs.

Building Networks for Vehicle Automation
Fully self-driving vehicles will be software-defined machines relying entirely on sensor fusion and external connectivity for navigation. This pushes networking requirements to an unprecedented scale. Future vehicles may house 200-300 ECUs, generating terabytes of data per hour from LiDAR, radar and camera sensors. Additionally, vehicles will need to securely and reliably exchange real-time data with road-side infrastructure and other vehicles for cooperative driving.

Such capabilities demand network architectures with drastically higher bandwidth, lower latencies, tighter security and robust redundancy compared to traditional systems. Technologies like Ethernet, BroadR-Fi and dedicated short-range communications fulfill these demands.They support high-speed multimedia streaming within the vehicle alongside communications in the gigabit range for wireless vehicle-to-everything exchanges. Automakers are developing modular, fault-tolerant Ethernet-based “networks on wheels” needed for fully self-driving vehicles this decade.

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