Vehicle Function Integration Component for Sensor Data Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems are inflexible, requiring complete software replacement for functional changes and being tied to specific sensor configurations, limiting the ability to adapt or retrofit vehicle functions without modifying multiple control devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that separates the computing plane and sensor plane using an integration component, allowing vehicle functions to retrieve sensor data independently and transform it into environmental data, enabling hardware-independent development and retrofitting of functions without adapting to specific sensors or actuators, and allowing external data processing and actuator control via an offboard plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle functions are tied to specific control devices with dedicated sensor connections, then the system provides stable and reliable function execution, but the system loses flexibility and adaptability when functional changes or sensor replacements are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into three independent planes: the sensor plane (sensor devices and actuators), the computing plane (vehicle functions with standardized interfaces), and the offboard plane (external processing resources). This segmentation allows each plane to be developed, modified, and replaced independently while maintaining stable connections through standardized interfaces, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing plane is designed with universal, standardized interfaces that can work with multiple different sensor types and actuator configurations. This universality allows the same vehicle function to operate with different sensor planes without requiring function-specific modifications, enabling both reliable execution and flexible adaptation.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple specialized control devices are used for different vehicle functions, then each function can be optimized for its specific sensors, but the overall system complexity increases and retrofitting becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vehicle functions that previously required separate specialized control devices are merged into a single computing plane with standardized interfaces. This consolidation reduces the number of control devices from multiple specialized units to one unified computing plane, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining function-specific optimization through software configuration rather than hardware specialization.
3Device complexity
If complete software replacement is required for functional changes, then the control device remains simple and dedicated, but the time and cost for adapting vehicle functions increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The computing plane is designed with dynamic, reconfigurable software architecture that allows vehicle functions to be loaded, unloaded, and modified without replacing the entire control device software. This dynamic approach enables incremental functional changes and retrofits, reducing the time and resources required for adaptation compared to complete software replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized interface acts as an intermediary layer between the computing plane and sensor plane, allowing functional changes to be implemented at the software level without affecting the hardware layer. This intermediary enables flexible function adaptation while keeping the control device structure simple and stable.
4Speed
If vehicle functions are directly connected to sensors, then data processing is fast and direct, but the system cannot easily utilize external processing resources or cloud-based functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a third dimension by introducing the offboard plane for external processing resources, while maintaining the traditional sensor-to-computing plane connection for time-critical functions. This dimensional expansion allows the system to handle both fast local processing and slower external processing simultaneously, enabling cloud-based functions and remote diagnostics without compromising the speed of essential vehicle functions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a method for providing vehicle functions in a motor vehicle, the vehicle functions being provided in a computing device of said motor vehicle on the basis of sensor data from a sensor device of the motor vehicle. The invention provides that the vehicle functions in the motor vehicle are coupled to the sensor device via an integration component, and the integration component procures the sensor data from one sensor unit or a plurality of sensor units of the sensor device independent of the vehicle functions by means of a respective sensor-specific detection routine and generates respective state data therefrom and each of the vehicle functions respectively retrieves at least some of the provided state data from the integration component by means of a sensor-independent retrieval routine.