Integrated Automotive ECU Virtualization for Real-Time Multi-Domain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of ECU devices in vehicles is inefficient due to redundant hardware and software requirements, leading to high costs, weight, and complexity, as each device executes similar infrastructure software functions and multiple operating systems.
Innovation Solution
A highly-integrated ECU device with multiple system-on-chips and virtual machine monitors that utilize the time-triggered paradigm for task execution and communication, allowing for the integration of infrastructure software functions and automotive applications on a single device, reducing the number of ECU devices and enabling real-time and fault-tolerant behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ECU devices are used to execute automotive applications, then functional requirements are met, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ECU devices into a single integrated ECU by consolidating multiple operating systems and automotive applications onto one device. This is achieved through a software architecture that supports multiple OS instances and applications sharing common infrastructure resources, thereby reducing the total number of physical ECU devices while maintaining all required functions
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated ECU device is designed with universal capabilities to execute multiple different operating systems and various automotive applications simultaneously. The device incorporates shared infrastructure software that can serve multiple applications across different automotive domains, making a single device perform the functions previously requiring multiple specialized ECUs
2Reliability
If each ECU device executes its own infrastructure software functions, then device independence is maintained, but resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines identical infrastructure software functions (communication middleware, system diagnosis, management functions) from multiple ECU devices into a single shared instance on the integrated ECU. This eliminates redundant execution of the same functions across multiple devices, improving resource efficiency while maintaining system reliability through centralized management
3Reliability
If multiple operating systems are executed on separate ECU devices, then application isolation is ensured, but system integration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested software architecture where multiple operating systems are virtualized and executed within a single integrated ECU device. The virtualization layer allows multiple OS instances to run concurrently with proper isolation, while sharing common hardware resources and infrastructure software, thereby reducing device complexity without compromising application isolation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for integrating infrastructure software functions and automotive applications on an automotive electronic control unit (ECU) device. The ECU device includes a hardware architecture and a software architecture, wherein the hardware architecture includes two or more system-on-chips, at least two of which each comprise two or more processing cores and means to communicate with at least one other system-on-chip. The hardware architecture includes memory and means to communicate with other ECU devices. The software architecture includes one, two, or more virtual machine monitors, each of which executes one, two, or more virtual machines. At least two of said virtual machines each execute an operating system, which executes one, two, or more tasks, and the execution of two or more of the tasks uses the time-triggered paradigm. The tasks are tasks of automotive applications from at least two different automotive domains and are tasks of infrastructure software functions.