In the automotive industry, zonal architecture is a design approach that organizes a vehicle’s electronic and communication architecture into specific zones. These zones group components based on their function into the same control unit, allowing for more efficient integration and simplified communication between the various systems of the vehicle. To improve the efficiency of information centralization, zonal architecture groups Electronic Control Units (ECUs) according to their functionalities, facilitating faster data exchange between them and enabling better prioritization filtering among different categories.
An important aspect of this architecture is the implementation of the Controller Area Network Flexible Data-rate (CAN FD) protocol and Automotive Ethernet. These are serial communication protocols specifically developed for automotive applications, enabling higher transmission rates and larger data packets.
With the growing need for higher speed and quality in communication between a vehicle’s ECUs, new solutions are being developed to optimize system integration. One such innovation is the Zonal Gateway, which allows for efficient interconnection between different zones of the vehicle, ensuring fast and secure data transmission among its various components. The implementation of zonal architecture integrated with the Zonal Gateway benefits the vehicle, including the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which consist of safety sensors such as brakes, cameras, and accelerators that assist the driver during vehicle operation.
This paper addresses the implementation of zonal architecture within the ADAS system, discussing the challenges encountered in deploying this concept and the solutions adopted to make communication between vehicle systems more efficient and secure.