Software-Defined Vehicles: The New Era of the Automotive Industry

Key takeaways

1. SDVs rely on onboard software to introduce features and enhance performance. This marks a shift from traditional hardware-driven systems and emphasizes continuous updates and improved user experiences.
2. Key architectural elements of SDVs include a layered structure with an application layer, instrumentation, an embedded operating system, and centralized electronic control units (ECUs), which streamline operations and improve platform scalability and adaptability. 
3. The integration of connectivity, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and cybersecurity measures are essential for the development of SDVs, as they enable over-the-air updates, enhance safety, and address vulnerabilities in increasingly connected automotive environments. 

Understanding software-defined vehicles 

SDVs rely on onboard software to operate and introduce new features, and are moving away from reliance on traditional hardware-driven components. To handle the increasing complexity and provide advanced functions, modern vehicle manufacturers are adopting this approach. 

Software-defined vehicles are at the forefront of a substantial shift within the automotive industry. This evolution involves transitioning from a focus on hardware toward an emphasis on software in order to fulfill established performance metrics. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), along with automotive suppliers, have started the development of intricate software for managing vehicle systems, which boosts performance and user experience. In this transformation, automotive engineers are playing an indispensable role. 

Tesla has led the way with a model centered on software-defined vehicles, and is setting new benchmarks for innovation in the automotive space. Their triumph underscores the vast opportunities being opened up through the embracing of software-driven vehicle designs. As a result, it is blazing a trail for other car manufacturers to pursue similar pathways. Connectivity, autonomy, and electrification stand out as pivotal technologies propelling the development of SDVs. 

Key benefits of software-defined vehicles 

One major advantage of SDVs is that they receive regular updates and enhancements throughout their lifecycle to keep them updated and current with the latest technological innovations without the need for dealership servicing. 

Safety enhancement is a primary benefit of these vehicles. By integrating features such as anti-collision systems and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), software-defined vehicles bolster safety measures that can be upgraded over time to increase their effectiveness. 

In terms of comfort and convenience, SDVs are seeing substantial advancements. They feature integrated infotainment systems enabling passengers to enjoy streaming services during transit, thereby significantly improving the passenger experience. Through over-the-air software updates, manufacturers can roll out new functionalities that ensure passenger vehicles remain contemporary and capable long into their lifecycle. 

The perpetual enhancement of both driving experiences and vehicle performance post-purchase stands as a salient benefit. This constant evolution helps preserve the vehicle’s value while keeping it in line with emerging technological developments. 

Architecture of software-defined vehicles 

SDVs use a service-oriented architecture (SOA) that builds applications as a collection of modular units of software called services. In SOA, services are self-contained, modular, and loosely coupled. This approach enables the building of complex and distributed applications in which the update of individual components is enabled, in contrast to entire monolithic applications. 

A typical SOA software stack includes application software comprising services, platform services, and middleware. These services run on high-performance hardware or virtual machines. 

SOA-based applications use service-oriented interfaces to exchange information via messaging. Services act as clients or servers, each implemented as a software component. The connection points between these components are called client/server ports, which act as service-oriented interfaces. 

The services within the architecture are reusable and upgradeable. They enable software engineers to build scalable, service-oriented applications using agile principles, including systems that support over-the-air (OTA) updates so that they are always current. 

For software-defined systems incorporating autonomy, connectivity, and electrification, service-oriented architecture plays a crucial role as the foundational framework. SOAs are also used to build systems of systems, multiagent systems, discrete-event systems, and distributed systems in the automotive industry. 

Centralized electronic control units in SDVs 

Transitioning toward SOA leads to using a more centralized architecture by consolidating numerous ECUs into fewer but more robust ones. These centralized ECUs mark a considerable evolution in the field of software-defined vehicles and their electronic frameworks.  

By using zonal ECUs, a vehicle’s capacity through high performance control units enables high performance computing, thus enhancing overall performance availability and functionality. By linking various systems together, these unified ECUs can efficiently orchestrate data exchanges and enhance component intercommunication within the vehicle akin to the role played by a central processing unit. 

Adopting this centralized method simplifies system intricacies and promotes optimized distribution of resources. It effectively supersedes fragmented ECU landscapes with an elegant streamlined central computer configuration for vehicles that integrates multiple functions seamlessly. 

Service-oriented architecture in automotive software 

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) represents an advanced approach to software design, employing discrete components known as services. In the context of vehicles with software-defined capabilities, SOA combines service-based- and signal-oriented applications that bolster functionality and enable better interoperability among various vehicle systems through a zonal architectural framework. 

By adopting SOA principles, automotive systems can interact using uniform communication protocols. This fosters improved interoperability between different software modules. Through message-centric communications, these services are capable of sharing information without requiring intimate knowledge of each other’s inner workings or configurations. 

One significant advantage provided by service-oriented architecture is its facilitation of swift advancements in vehicular technology. Since it allows for services to be independently connected-yet-loosely integrated, there is added flexibility when updating individual parts, as with each application layer, technological improvements emerge. This architecture contributes to fault isolation. If one service encounters problems, it does not compromise the functioning of others, thereby ensuring enhanced dependability across the vehicle’s entire system network. 

Connectivity and over-the-air updates 

Connectivity plays a critical role in the realm of software-defined vehicles by facilitating over-the-air updates and real-time data within the connected car ecosystem. This allows SDVs to remain up to date with new features without the need for inconvenient and expensive visits to dealerships. 

As Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication is integrated, it will promote an exchange of data collected from various elements in our surroundings, which helps enhance vehicle functions while also contributing to advancements in smart city infrastructure. The presence of connectivity is essential for these software-defined vehicles as it enables them to adjust effectively to changes around them and maintain peak performance levels. 

The increasing need for connectivity and enhanced functionalities necessitates a robust software architecture capable of managing these demands. With over-the-air capabilities, seamless upgrades are possible, which ensures that SDVs consistently handle software updates efficiently. These systems empower continuous adaptation through feature enhancements that emerge according to evolving technology trends. 

Integration with autonomous driving technologies 

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) play a pivotal role in the instrumental layer of software-defined vehicles, acting as essential components to augment vehicle intelligence. These systems are integral for achieving full self-driving functionality by connecting principal driving operations through unified software. 

The complexity of autonomous vehicle systems presents considerable challenges in software development, as they need regular software updates to uphold safety standards and optimal performance. Software-defined vehicles come equipped with fundamental safety features such as sensors and LiDAR, which are critical for enabling self-driving capabilities. 

The incorporation of artificial intelligence into the realm of software-defined vehicles is set to revolutionize how we develop automotive software, as it promises enhanced experiences within the vehicle itself. This fusion not only refines autonomous driving system functions but also bolsters decision-making efficiency through dynamic updates to their embedded software. 

Cybersecurity challenges and solutions 

Embedded cyber systems in vehicles are susceptible to security threats that could enable cyber attackers to interfere with essential operations such as steering and braking. 

Significant cybersecurity weaknesses include: 

1. Outdated systems and external components from different suppliers in the vehicle production chain; 

1. Flaws in cloud-based services that could lead to the compromise of confidential user information or interference with entire fleets; and 

1. Security gaps during software updates that could allow malicious code to infiltrate vehicles’ operating systems. 

Implementing robust encryption for service-based networks is crucial for securing communication pathways inside vehicles. Such protective strategies are vital for maintaining the integrity and dependability of software-defined vehicles in a world where connectivity is ever-growing. 

Role of model-based design in SDV development 

Model-based design is transitioning towards support of a service-oriented architecture, which allows algorithms to be run through service calls instead of the conventional signal-driven approach. This shift is vital for creating software-defined vehicles and promotes more adaptable and efficient approaches in software development processes. 

In this evolving landscape, continuous integration (CI) plays a pivotal role by automating testing and code generation upon each code commit, thus facilitating simultaneous contributions from multiple engineers. Incorporation into CI/CD pipelines is critical for upholding the standards of quality and dependability inherent in automotive software. 

As organizations embrace DevOps methodologies, they are incorporating standardized platforms that facilitate continuous integration/continuous delivery (“CI/CD”). At MathWorks, engineers assist teams in adapting model-based design to modern methods by harmonizing system engineering practices with software development efforts—thereby boosting performance as well as fortifying reliability, safety, and security. 

Future trends in software-defined vehicles 

Vehicles defined by their software are poised for a transformative future filled with numerous innovative prospects. The movement toward these advanced vehicles involves their seamless integration into smart cities that utilize information and communication technology to enhance municipal services and streamline the flow of traffic. In this ecosystem, SDVs will act as proactive elements that augment operational productivity while simultaneously striving to save energy. 

The practice of predictive maintenance represents an evolving trend within this space that employs vehicle telematics and diagnostic tools to gain more profound insights into vehicle performance. This approach is pivotal in facilitating preventative maintenance strategies to keep vehicles running at peak efficiency, curtailing both unplanned downtime and associated costs. 

As we progress technologically, the evolution of novel functions and services is set to redefine the landscape of software-defined vehicles further. With each advancement in technology comes a significant step forward, encompassing sophisticated features along with newly devised functionality that collectively contribute towards enhancing safety measures while bolstering overall vehicular effectiveness and intelligence. 

Summary 

Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are ushering in a major shift within the automotive sector. Transitioning from a focus on physical components to prioritizing software capabilities, SDVs deliver an array of advantages such as continuous over-the-air software updates, advanced safety enhancements, increased comfort features, and prolonged value retention for the vehicle. 

Within these vehicles lies an infrastructure composed of centralized electronic control units and service-oriented architecture that facilitates effective resource distribution and accelerates innovation rates. The role of connectivity is fundamental here, enabling real-time functionality updates and seamless adaptation to emerging tech trends through over-the-air service delivery. 

Looking ahead at what’s on the horizon for SDVs, their convergence with autonomous driving systems, integration into smart urban environments, and implementation of predictive maintenance protocols will mold the contours of the auto industry’s future terrain. Advances in model-based design along with heightened cybersecurity protections look to maintain these sophisticated vehicles as paragons of both technological advancement and steadfast dependability.

Learn more

• Beyond the Hype: How OEMs Actually Deliver a Software-Defined Vehicle
  A Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) uses software to control its key functions instead of relying solely on hardware. This article explains how SDVs work, their main components, and the challenges in developing them.
  Read more
• Live Workshops: Designing Service-Oriented Architectures for SDVs with MathWorks Tools: A Hands-On Approach
  Get actionable insights and a clear technical roadmap to move from outdated designs to scalable, service-based architectures.
  Register here

  On-demand webinar: Driving the Future: An On-Demand Webinar on Software-Defined Vehicles
  Explore the strategic and technical foundations of SDVs and explain how modern architectures and tools are enabling faster, more modular, and scalable automotive development.
  Watch here