Asymmetric Vehicle Compute Nodes for Software-Defined Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle systems with independent electronic components face challenges in updating or expanding features due to complex wiring and manufacturing costs, limiting the ability to integrate new software-defined functions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of asymmetric distributed compute nodes, comprising higher-performance and lower-performance nodes, allows for software-defined vehicle functions by distributing processing tasks across a network, reducing the need for complex wiring and enabling efficient feature updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each electronic component operates independently with its own processing circuitry and wiring, then each component can be controlled reliably, but the wiring complexity and manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments vehicle functions into software processes distributed across multiple compute nodes. Each compute node handles specific software-defined functions through executable processes, eliminating the need for dedicated processing circuitry and complex wiring for each component. This segmentation allows independent control of functions while reducing physical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compute nodes are designed to be universal platforms capable of executing multiple different software processes. Instead of dedicated processing circuitry for each component, universal compute nodes can be programmed to perform various vehicle functions through software, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining reliable control.
2Ease of operation
If traditional electronic components with dedicated processing circuitry are used, then each component can be controlled independently, but updating or expanding vehicle features becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptability through software processes that can be updated, added, or removed from compute nodes without hardware changes. This allows vehicle features to be updated and expanded easily while maintaining independent control of individual functions through process-level management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter from fixed hardware functionality to flexible software-defined functionality. By transitioning from dedicated processing circuitry to software processes on universal compute nodes, the system enables easy updates and expansions while maintaining independent control through process management.
3Power
If higher-performance compute nodes are used for all vehicle functions, then processing capacity is sufficient, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by matching compute node performance to the specific requirements of different vehicle functions. Lower-performance compute nodes handle less demanding functions, while higher-performance nodes are used only where needed. This heterogeneous approach reduces overall manufacturing costs while maintaining sufficient processing capacity for all functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs asymmetric compute nodes with different performance levels distributed throughout the vehicle. Instead of using uniform high-performance nodes everywhere, the architecture uses a mix of compute node types matched to local functional requirements, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate processing capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology disclosed herein enables software-defined functions in a vehicle using asymmetric distributed compute nodes. In a particular example, a system includes one or more higher-performance compute nodes of the asymmetric distributed compute nodes and one or more lower-performance compute nodes of the asymmetric distributed compute nodes. The system further includes a communication backbone over which the higher-performance compute nodes and the lower-performance compute nodes communicate. The one or more higher-performance compute nodes execute first processes for performing a first portion of the software-defined vehicle functions for the vehicle and the one or more lower-performance compute nodes execute second processes for performing a second portion of the software-defined vehicle functions for the vehicle.