The two companies, PAS and Arm, are embarking on an ambitious initiative aimed at designing a versatile software stack that addresses both current and future demands within the automotive sector. This collaboration is enhanced by their active involvement in the SOAFEE initiative, a project that promotes more cohesive collaboration and standardised software development practices throughout the automotive marketplace.
This strategic partnership will enable PAS and Arm to utilise and further develop the device virtualization framework VirtIO, a crucial step towards decoupling automotive software development from hardware constraints. This innovative approach is expected to significantly accelerate development cycles across the automotive industry, paving the way for more efficient production processes.
The automotive industry has notably consolidated Electronic Control Units (ECUs), transitioning towards the use of a singular, highly efficient ECU, such as Cockpit Domain Controllers (CDCs) or High-Performance Computers (HPCs). This shift towards integration has amplified the importance of hypervisors and advanced chipsets, which facilitate the management and utilisation of these complex systems.
However, numerous automakers and tier-1 suppliers are facing significant obstacles due to vendor-specific proprietary interfaces. Such intricacies lead to inflated costs and extended delivery timelines, particularly when shifting from one vendor solution to another, thereby hindering timely innovation and adaptability within the industry.
Recognising this challenge, both PAS and Arm are pivoting from a hardware-centric approach to a more software-first development model. By standardising the interfaces that bridge the software stacks used by automakers and tier-1 suppliers, along with the hypervisors and chipsets that support them, this collaboration will streamline the adoption of cutting-edge technologies within the automotive sector.
This new partnership will involve several key initiatives:
- Utilising VirtIO-based Unified HMI to standardise zonal architecture across the industry.
- PAS and Arm are leveraging VirtIO not only for virtualising devices connected to the central ECU like CDC/HPC, but also for remote devices linked to zonal ECUs. Both organisations have successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept using PAS’s open-source remote GPU technology, Unified HMI, which implements a Display Zonal Architecture built on Arm technology. This architecture ingeniously redistributes GPU loads from the central ECU to multiple zonal ECUs, resulting in reduced heat generation and decreased harness weight, all while ensuring existing applications on the central ECU remain unaffected. The Mali-G78AE GPU within the Zonal ECUs offers flexible partitioning, thereby allocating dedicated hardware resources to various workloads and ensuring deterministic graphics performance within the Display Zonal Architecture.
- PAS and Arm are collaborating to provide a SOAFEE Blueprint and reference implementation of this work, with the objective of establishing standardised practices for emerging zonal architectures within the automotive landscape.
- PAS’s vSkipGen runs on Arm Neoverse-based cloud servers, and by maintaining a consistent Arm CPU architecture alongside the VirtIO device virtualisation framework, this initiative will guarantee full environmental parity between cloud virtual hardware and automotive hardware.
- PAS and Arm will further develop and implement VirtIO within virtual hardware systems, effectively bridging the divide between virtual and physical automotive environments.
Currently focused on cockpit use cases such as Android Automotive and Automotive Grade Linux, PAS and Arm are now looking to expand the VirtIO standards to include a broader spectrum of automotive applications. This initiative encompasses the standardisation of interfaces for Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS), allowing for the decoupling of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) software from their associated hardware constraints.
Masashige Mizuyama, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of PAS, commented, “Our partnership with Arm is essential for promoting the standardisation of VirtIO and elevating this industry reference standard to new heights. This collaboration aims to unlock the extensive potential of software development and serves as a vital bedrock for constructing the future of automotive technology, particularly in relation to Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV).”
“SDVs represent one of the most thrilling prospects for automakers today; however, achieving this vision requires innovative strategies that empower software developers to commence their work even before the physical silicon is fully available,” stated Dipti Vachani, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive Line of Business at Arm. “The partnership between PAS and Arm stems from both organisations’ commitment to SOAFEE and is built upon a unified goal to minimise fragmentation within the industry through standardisation. This effort will ultimately accelerate automotive development cycles for all of our partners.”
**Interview with Jane Doe, VP of Partnerships at PAS**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Jane. There’s a lot of excitement around the partnership between PAS and Arm. Can you explain what inspired this collaboration in the tech-heavy automotive sector?
**Jane Doe:** Thank you for having me! The need for innovation in the automotive industry is immense, particularly as we see more devices being integrated into vehicles. The shift from multiple Electronic Control Units (ECUs) to a unified approach, such as Cockpit Domain Controllers and High-Performance Computers, presents both significant opportunities and challenges. Our partnership with Arm is founded on the belief that we can simplify and accelerate software development to meet current and future demands in the automotive sector.
**Editor:** You mentioned the importance of the SOAFEE initiative. How does this project impact your collaboration and the broader automotive landscape?
**Jane Doe:** SOAFEE stands for “Scalable Open Architecture for Embedded Edge.” By integrating our efforts with SOAFEE, we’re fostering a standardised framework for collaboration across the automotive marketplace. This helps address the vendor-specific proprietary interfaces that many automakers and suppliers struggle with, which can lead to inflated costs and lengthy delivery times. With SOAFEE, we aim to create a more cohesive environment that encourages innovation and adaptability.
**Editor:** It sounds like the VirtIO framework plays a critical role. Can you elaborate on how this technology will change software development in the automotive industry?
**Jane Doe:** Absolutely. The VirtIO framework allows us to virtualise devices connected to ECUs without being locked into specific hardware configurations. This decoupling is pivotal as it enables automotive software to be more agile and responsive. For example, we’ve demonstrated a proof-of-concept using our Unified HMI with Arm’s technology, which efficiently redistributes GPU workloads, reduces heat generation, and ultimately lowers the vehicle’s harness weight. This is a huge leap forward for both performance and efficiency.
**Editor:** With these developments, what can we expect regarding future implementations or products arising from this collaboration?
**Jane Doe:** Our immediate focus is on rolling out the SOAFEE Blueprint and reference implementations that will standardise practices for zonal architectures. We also aim to extend our innovations into viable, market-ready solutions that facilitate ADAS and in-vehicle experiences while maintaining peak functionality. The next few years will be pivotal as we continue to adapt and integrate new technologies to improve software-first methodologies in automotive development.
**Editor:** Exciting times ahead! Is there anything else you would like to share about the goals of this partnership?
**Jane Doe:** The overarching goal of our partnership is to create an ecosystem that fosters collaboration, innovation, and efficiency. By overcoming the barriers that currently exist in automotive software development, we hope to not just benefit automakers and suppliers, but also ultimately enhance the consumer experience. We are committed to leading these advancements, and we’re thrilled to be part of this transformational shift in the industry.
**Editor:** Thank you, Jane, for sharing your insights today! We look forward to seeing how PAS and Arm continue to innovate in the automotive space.
**Jane Doe:** Thank you for having me! I’m looking forward to it as well.
