This paper explores the technological and architectural shifts essential for the advancement of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), with an emphasis on decoupling hardware from software. It highlights the constraints of traditional development models and proposes modern architectural approaches, including MPU-based designs and virtualization techniques. Furthermore, it presents strategic pathways to cultivate an open and adaptable development ecosystem, empowering software engineers to experiment, innovate, and drive SDV evolution. These efforts aim to accelerate time-to-market and deliver a superior development experience across the SDV lifecycle.
The idea is to develop a Virtual Development Kit (VDK) that enables the design, validation, and scaling of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) even before the physical hardware is available. This comprehensive suite will include hardware platform emulators, operating systems, software stacks, and middleware tailored for high-performance computing (HPC) environments. The VDK will offer a range of tools and services to support the development, testing, and debugging of HPC systems—eliminating the dependency on physical hardware during early-stage development.
As the automotive industry evolves, software-defined features are becoming the primary drivers of innovation and differentiation, surpassing traditional hardware capabilities. To stay competitive, it is essential for the industry to embrace this shift, leveraging software innovation as a critical enabler of next-generation vehicle functionality and user experience.
The architecture comprises several key components designed to streamline and accelerate software development. It includes a Virtual Development Setup that allows developers to test software in a fully simulated environment, minimizing reliance on physical hardware. A comprehensive suite of build tools and development guidelines, hosted on the cloud, provides robust support for coding, testing, and integration. The platform also offers Virtual ECUs equipped with SDK support, enabling seamless integration and validation. Additionally, a Virtual Development Environment simulates diverse System-on-Chip (SoC) configurations, empowering developers to assess performance across various hardware scenarios.