Summary
- Cars today have advanced significantly from those in the 1990s or 1950s due to new batteries, infotainment software, and ADAS
- Panasonic and Arm are partnering to standardize software-defined vehicles for improved automotive architecture
- The partnership aims to standardize interfaces, reduce costs, and accelerate automotive industry development cycles
- Initiatives will include zonal architecture standardization, environmental parity from cloud to car, and expanding VirtIO standardization
- The partnership seeks to bring software potential to the forefront and build the future of automotive technology towards SDV
Article
Cars nowadays are equipped with advanced technology and software that are continuously updated to enhance performance and user experience. Panasonic, in partnership with Arm, aims to standardize software-defined vehicles (SDVs) by developing a software stack that can be utilized across different automotive models and brands. This initiative is part of a larger industry-wide collaboration known as SOAFEE, with the goal of streamlining software development and increasing collaboration in the automotive market.
The partnership between Panasonic and Arm focuses on decoupling automotive software development from hardware by utilizing the VirtIO device virtualization framework. This approach allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in meeting the evolving needs of the automotive industry. By standardizing interfaces between automaker and tier-1 supplier software stacks, the collaboration aims to simplify the adoption of new technologies and optimize software for various use cases.
One key initiative of the partnership involves utilizing VirtIO-based Unified HMI to standardize zonal architecture in vehicles. By distributing GPU loads from the central ECU to multiple zonal ECUs, this approach reduces heat generation and weight without affecting application performance. Another aspect of the collaboration aims to ensure environmental parity between cloud and automotive hardware by implementing VirtIO in virtual hardware systems.
Panasonic and Arm also plan to expand the VirtIO standardization to encompass a wider range of automotive applications beyond cockpit use cases. This includes standardizing interfaces for Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) to decouple Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) software from hardware dependencies. By promoting the standardization of VirtIO, the partnership aims to unlock the full potential of software development in the automotive industry.
The executives from Panasonic and Arm express confidence in the partnership’s ability to drive innovation and accelerate the development of software-defined vehicles. Masashige Mizuyama, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic, emphasizes the collaboration’s role in establishing a industry reference standard for the future of automotive technology. Dipti Vachani, senior vice president and general manager of Arm’s Automotive Line of Business, highlights the shared goal of reducing fragmentation in the industry through standardization.
Overall, the partnership between Panasonic and Arm represents a significant step towards standardizing software-defined vehicles and advancing the automotive industry. By focusing on decoupling software from hardware and promoting industry-wide collaboration, the initiative aims to address the challenges faced by automakers and suppliers in adapting to new technologies and accelerating development cycles. The development of a standardized software stack can potentially lead to greater efficiencies, cost savings, and innovation in the automotive sector.
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