Demystifying Android Integration on High-Performance Computers

The integration of Sibros with Android Automotive OS marks a pivotal shift in the automotive industry. It signals a transition to a more holistic approach not only to enhancing the user experience but also to ensuring vehicles remain up-to-date and secure in the rapidly evolving world of automotive technology 

Android’s Original Connected Vehicle Tech

When Google first announced Android Auto in 2014, its sole purpose was to allow users to connect an Android mobile device to the vehicle’s dashboard. This greatly enhanced the driver’s user experience over the traditional built-in dashboard software by adding benefits such as enhanced voice commands, navigation, calls, and music. As a bonus, this experience can be seamlessly updated using Android’s existing OTA update infrastructure. But at its essence, Android Auto is merely a projection, a secondary interface that runs on a smartphone and mirrors content to a car's In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system. As software-defined vehicles (SDVs) have evolved, so has the need to connect to systems and High-Performance Computers (HPCs) beyond IVI. 

Android’s Journey Beyond IVI

In response to the trend toward more connected, intelligent, and versatile in-car experiences, Google announced Android Automotive OS, an automotive extension to Android OS, in 2017. Rather than living on a smartphone and projecting onto a vehicle’s IVI systems, Android Automotive OS is directly integrated into the vehicle's hardware. This transition from primarily an IVI system to a tighter integration in HPCs represents a significant shift in automotive technology and extended capabilities which include advanced driver-assistance, vehicle communication, and electric vehicle management. 

Some of the key features enabled by Android Automotive OS are:

• In-depth control and access to more automotive functions like climate control, seat adjustments, and vehicle diagnostics.
• Support for a wide range of apps specifically designed for automotive use cases. 
• Ease of customization for the automaker to create a unique user interface and experience that tailors to OEM brand and customer needs.
• Vehicle Hardware Abstraction Layer (VHAL) interface that facilitates communication between Android applications and the various sensors and signals within a vehicle.
• Integration with Google Automotive Services (GAS) like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store.
• Enhanced voice control capabilities powered by Google Assistant allow drivers to interact with the system hands-free, improving safety and convenience.
• Support for over-the-air (OTA) updates.

As a consequence, the expansion to Android Automotive OS necessitates a more robust and secure framework, as the scope of capabilities now involves critical vehicle operations that go far beyond media playback and navigation. Moreover, it reflects a broader trend in the automotive industry toward centralization and consolidation of vehicle systems.

Impact on Centralized Domain Controllers

Centralized domain controllers, the nerve centers of modern vehicles, are profoundly influenced by the transition to more connected, autonomous, and software-defined vehicles. These controllers, which traditionally manage discrete vehicular functions, are now evolving into more complex systems. The introduction of Android Automotive OS into this equation adds layers of functionality that require a robust architectural approach.

SDVs are now producing upwards of 1.4 TB of data per hour. In the past, much of the data produced by vehicle systems has remained inaccessible. However, with solutions like Sibros’ Deep Logger coupled with Android Automotive OS, automakers can expect to tap into a huge influx of data from various subsystems. As such, OEMs will need to ensure that their centralized domain controllers can handle the efficient processing and management of this data. That’s why Deep Logger was designed with the ability to customize logging configurations, which allows automakers to ensure optimized data collection and eliminate some of the superfluous data points included in that 1.4 TB per hour. 

The integration of Android Automotive OS into centralized domain controllers also significantly impacts how these controllers manage and present complex vehicular functions. Centralized controllers, therefore, must adapt to support a system where complex tasks like adjusting advanced vehicle settings, managing connected services, and integrating with external devices become more user-friendly and accessible through the vehicle's primary interface. 

Lastly, centralized domain controllers must also be able to facilitate the more sophisticated inter-system interactions required by advanced systems, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and battery management systems (BMS). Overall, this shift demands robust hardware and software optimization to ensure seamless performance and user experience.

Challenges and Solutions

One major challenge associated with an integrated vehicle operating system, like Android Automotive OS, is ensuring stability and reliability in the face of increased complexity. This challenge requires a more dynamic approach to software updates and maintenance, and it depends heavily on the automaker's ability to deploy vehicle-wide over-the-air updates. These OTA updates are essential for keeping both vehicle systems and the OS up-to-date. 

Another challenge is ensuring system security and adherence to international safety, cybersecurity, and data protection standards. Being an operating system that connects to the internet and supports third-party applications, it is exposed to potential cybersecurity threats like hacking and data breaches. This risk is heightened because the system interacts with critical vehicle functions, meaning a security breach could impact not just data privacy, but also physical safety. As a result, robust security measures and a trusted partner network are vital to protect against such vulnerabilities.

The Role of Companies like Sibros

Sibros, with its expertise in connected vehicle-embedded SaaS solutions, enhances the functionality of Android Automotive OS in several ways. Sibros’ ability to facilitate comprehensive ISO 26262 ASIL-D standard OTA updates, enabled by Deep Updater, is crucial for keeping Android Automotive OS and its applications updated with the latest features and security patches. This capability not only ensures the OS remains current but is also secure. 

Sibros' focus on streamlined data harnessing and analysis, with its Deep Logger product, complements the data-centric nature of Android Automotive OS by facilitating efficient data processing and storage. Additionally, Sibros can provide advanced diagnostics and telematics solutions that work in tandem with Android Automotive OS to enhance vehicle monitoring, and facilitate remote diagnostics, and maintenance capabilities via Deep Commander. By providing a robust backend infrastructure, Sibros enables Android Automotive OS to function seamlessly, ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience.

Conclusion

The growing adoption of Android Automotive and its impact on centralized domain controllers is a testament to the rapid evolution in automotive technology. Sibros software on Android Automotive OS not only enhances vehicular functionalities but also sets a new standard for user experience and system efficiency. For consumers, this means more intuitive vehicle interactions, where infotainment and vehicle controls blend seamlessly. For manufacturers, it presents an opportunity to standardize interfaces across models, reducing development times and costs. As the automotive industry continues to embrace this change, the role of advanced software solutions, like those provided by Sibros, and robust system architectures become increasingly significant. 

Sibros is a Premier & Build Partner of Google Cloud, to learn more about our software-defined mobility solutions contact us today.