Conti Launches Powerful Architecture

Continental’s new electrical architecture is all about communications. The high-powered network improves coordination between vehicle systems and enables V2X connectivity, including over-the-air software updates.

Such capabilities are key to the server-based approach that Conti says will be necessary to manage next-generation vehicles as more features—autonomous, connected and electrification—are added. Eventually, this will require consolidating dozens of electronic control units (ECUs) into a handful of ultra-powerful domain controllers (possibly as few as 2 or 3) responsible for specific groupings, such as powertrain, infotainment and body/chassis.

By the Numbers

Conti hails the architecture as a “milestone in the digital transformation” of a vehicle. One benefit is to separate software development from the corresponding hardware to enable speedier (smartphone-like) updates.

But getting the job done is a huge and complex undertaking. Conti’s new system, for example, manages:

• Software from 18 companies
• 68 ECUs
• 70,000 vehicle functions and tasks
• 20 million lines of code

Source: Continental

Conti says the centralized computing power is provided by a high-performance system-on-chip over a fast-bus architecture such as an automotive Ethernet. Different operating systems (Adaptive Autosar, Android, Java VM) can run on the same hardware. Other benefits: predictive maintenance and enhanced cybersecurity.

Electric Launch

Conti’s new system debuts this year in Volkswagen’s new ID.3 electric hatchback in Europe and will be used for subsequent ID models.

Conti and VW say the central computing architecture will provide significant cost savings and enable third-party connected vehicle services (e.g., range-optimized route planning and locating and scheduling time at charging stations).

VW plans to consolidate the number of electronics architectures used across its various brands from eight today to a single platform. The number of ECUs will be slashed from about 70 modules (with software from 200 vendors) to less than five.