Automotive gateway research: integrated gateways have become an important trend in zonal architecture.
Automotive gateway is a core component in the automotive electronic/electrical architecture. As the hub of in-vehicle networks, it enables such functions as data transmission, security prevention and control, and remote diagnostics.
As E/E architecture evolves from the distributed to the centralized domain architecture, gateway also changes accordingly. Its evolution route is as follows:
Phase I: Conventional CAN gateway in distributed architecture
Phase II: Central gateway in domain-centralized architecture
Phase III: Distributed gateway in zonal architecture
1. Conventional CAN gateway in distributed architecture
Phase I: the distributed ECU architecture means that many single functional ECUs provide hardware/software solutions. These functional ECU clusters (e.g. power, chassis, body, safety and IVI systems) are combined together and connected via conventional bus systems such as CAN, LIN or FlexRay?. While sensors and actuators are directly connected to the ECUs, the interaction between domains is realized through CAN gateways.
2. Central gateway in domain-centralized architecture
Phase II: the "domain" of a domain controller generally refers to functional domains which fall into: Powertrain, Chassis Control, Body Control, Entertainment System (Cockpit), and ADAS. Systems in these domains are interconnected still using CAN and FlexRay communication buses. For inter-domain communication, the Ethernet with higher performance serves as the backbone network for information exchange. In such architecture, a central gateway is needed for inter-domain communication. This gateway allows for data exchange with OEM vehicle clouds, and is thus regarded as a "service gateway".
3. Distributed gateway in zonal architecture
Phase III: in the zonal architecture, the central gateway will evolve into a HPC or a central computer, while the domain gateways will evolve into zonal gateways. The gateway is not only responsible for routing of in-vehicle network communication buses, but also takes charge of more complex functions, for example, data association and processing between safety and functional domains (e.g., powertrain, chassis and safety, body control, IVI and ADAS) via the MCU+SoC computing platform. The biggest benefit offered by this architecture is to greatly reduce wiring harnesses and thus cut down the weight and cost by about 30%.
Currently, gateways are in a transitional phase from centralized gateways in domain centralized architecture to distributed gateways in zonal architecture.
In response to the major trend for cross-domain integration, many gateway chip vendors propose their solutions. For example, NXP S32G3 network processors released at the end of 2021 feature real-time processing capability, service-oriented high-performance computing power, cross-domain integration, and high-performance safety processing, and also provide complete software development tools, which can meet the development requirements of various new automotive E/E architectures: service-oriented gateways, vehicle computers, domain controllers, zonal processors, and safety processors.
NXP S32G3 network processors were mass-produced in February 2023, and were first installed in GAC Hyper GT in April 2023.
The G9H chip SemiDrive unveiled in July 2022 is mainly used in such scenarios as next-generation high-performance central gateways, vehicle computing units, and cross-domain controllers. In addition to body network interfaces, G9H also supports video input/output interfaces, including 1-channel MIPI DSI and 2-channel MIPI CSIs. Coupled with PowerVR’s high-performance 3D GPU, G9H can integrate 3D cluster, DMS and other features into the central gateway, further lowering the BOM cost of the system.
Gateway suppliers make a gradual shift to integrated gateways from independent gateways. The main integration modes include integration between gateways and body domains, between gateways and zone controllers, and between gateways and central computer. In 2023, quite a few suppliers have announced integrated gateway solutions.
Examples include the cross-domain central computing platform product for next-generation E/E architectures, released by UAES in April 2023. This solution integrates central gateway, body control, power and other functional domains, and Neusoft Reach provides underlying software and middleware development support.
Another example is the physical zone control unit (ZCU) and the central computing platform (CCP), released by Jingwei HiRain in May 2023:
ZCU: Integrates vehicle power distribution function, zonal gateway routing function (100M Ethernet, CANFD, LIN, etc.), body comfort domain, new energy power domain, and partial chassis domain, as well as input/output signal acquisition and control for air conditioner and thermal management.
CCP: Integrates centralized gateway, body and comfort control, new energy vehicle power control, air conditioner and thermal management, vehicle management, full-volume data acquisition, OTA update, SOA service and other functions.
At present the above two products have been developed, tested and produced in small volume. They will be spawned and delivered by the end of 2023. Wherein, the CCP has been mass-produced to support four cooperative mainstream automakers in China.
As gateway chip and integrated gateway technologies mature, OEMs race to implement their "quasi-centralized" architecture solutions on production models, most of which will be rolled out during 2022-2024.
Analysis on Xpeng’s Layout in Electrification, Connectivity, Intelligence and Sharing, 2023
Research on Xpeng’s layout in electrification, connectivity, intelligence and sharing: in the innovation-driven rapid development, secured orders for 100 flying cars.
NIO, Xp...
Automotive Cockpit SoC Research Report, 2024
Automotive Cockpit SoC Research: Automakers quicken their pace of buying SoCs, and the penetration of domestic cockpit SoCs will soar
Mass production of local cockpit SoCs is accelerating, and the l...
Automotive Integrated Die Casting Industry Report, 2024
Integrated Die Casting Research: adopted by nearly 20 OEMs, integrated die casting gains popularity.
Automotive Integrated Die Casting Industry Report, 2024 released by ResearchInChina summari...
China Passenger Car Cockpit Multi/Dual Display Research Report, 2023-2024
In intelligent cockpit era, cockpit displays head in the direction of more screens, larger size, better looking, more convenient interaction and better experience. Simultaneously, the conventional “on...
Automotive Microcontroller Unit (MCU) Industry Report, 2024
With policy support, the localization rate of automotive MCU will surge.
Chinese electric vehicle companies are quickening their pace of purchasing domestic chips to reduce their dependence on impor...
Automotive Digital Key Industry Trends Research Report, 2024
Automotive Digital Key Industry Trends Research Report, 2024 released by ResearchInChina highlights the following: Forecast for automotive digital key market;Digital key standard specifications and co...
Automotive XR (VR/AR/MR) Industry Report, 2024
Automotive XR (Extended Reality) is an innovative technology that integrates VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality) and MR (Mixed Reality) technologies into vehicle systems. It can bring drivers...
OEMs’ Next-generation In-vehicle Infotainment (IVI) System Trends Report, 2024
OEMs’ Next-generation In-vehicle Infotainment (IVI) System Trends Report, 2024 released by ResearchInChina systematically analyzes the iteration process of IVI systems of mainstream automakers in Chin...
Global and China Automotive Lighting System Research Report, 2023-2024
Installations of intelligent headlights and interior lighting systems made steady growth.
From 2019 to 2023, the installations of intelligent headlights and interior lighting systems grew steadily. I...
Automotive Display, Center Console and Cluster Industry Report, 2024
Automotive display has become a hotspot major automakers compete for to create personalized and differentiated vehicle models. To improve users' driving experience and meet their needs for human-compu...
Global and China Passenger Car T-Box Market Report, 2024
Global and China Passenger Car T-Box Market Report, 2024 combs and summarizes the overall global and Chinese passenger car T-Box markets and the status quo of independent, centralized, V2X, and 5G T-B...
AI Foundation Models’ Impacts on Vehicle Intelligent Design and Development Research Report, 2024
AI foundation models are booming. The launch of ChapGPT and SORA is shocking. Scientists and entrepreneurs at AI frontier point out that AI foundation models will rebuild all walks of life, especially...
Analysis on Geely's Layout in Electrification, Connectivity, Intelligence and Sharing
Geely, one of the leading automotive groups in China, makes comprehensive layout in electrification, connectivity, intelligence and sharing.
Geely boasts more than ten brands. In 2023, it sold a tota...
48V Low-voltage Power Distribution Network (PDN) Architecture Industry Report, 2024
Automotive low-voltage PDN architecture evolves from 12V to 48V system.
Since 1950, the automotive industry has introduced the 12V system to power lighting, entertainment, electronic control units an...
Automotive Ultrasonic Radar and OEMs’ Parking Route Research Report, 2024
1. Over 220 million ultrasonic radars will be installed in 2028.
In recent years, the installations of ultrasonic radars in passenger cars in China surged, up to 121.955 million units in 2023, jumpin...
Automotive AI Foundation Model Technology and Application Trends Report, 2023-2024
Since 2023 ever more vehicle models have begun to be connected with foundation models, and an increasing number of Tier1s have launched automotive foundation model solutions. Especially Tesla’s big pr...
Qualcomm 8295 Based Cockpit Domain Controller Dismantling Analysis Report
ResearchInChina dismantled 8295-based cockpit domain controller of an electric sedan launched in December 2023, and produced the report SA8295P Series Based Cockpit Domain Controller Analysis and Dism...
Global and China Automotive Comfort System (Seating system, Air Conditioning System) Research Report, 2024
Automotive comfort systems include seating system, air conditioning system, soundproof system and chassis suspension to improve comfort of drivers and passengers. This report highlights seating system...