Three team for SDV software stack
Vector Informatik in Germany is bringing TTTech Auto into its development with QNX of a stack for software defined vehicles (SDV).
However this multi-year agreement comes as TTTech Auto in Austria is to be acquired by NXP Semiconductor and brought inhouse, although both Vector and QNX-owner Blackberry are also part of the NXP ecosystem for software defined vehicles (SDVs).
At the same time Blackberry is rebranding its QNX division, possibly ahead of a spinout.
Like NXP’s CoreRide programme, this partnership aims to simplify the development of vehicle software with a stack that includes the real time operating system from QNX, orchestration middleware from TTTech/NXP and test management software from Vector. The pre-integrated, lightweight software developed by QNX and Vector will be certified to the highest functional safety standard of ISO 26262 ASIL D and ISO 21434 security.
Vector is already providing expertise in tooling and testing with the QNX RTOS, but TTTech Auto adds key expertise in advanced task and communication scheduling and its correct-by-design approach in its MotionWise software
Upon release, the vehicle software platform will also be open to contributions from additional ecosystem players as well as from open-source initiatives to adapt the stack to the specific needs of car makers.
The three point to hardware-specific dependencies that exacerbate the challenges of software integration in SDV designs by creating vendor lock-in, limiting portability across different modules and programs. Despite best efforts from industry consortia, they say, existing vehicle software platform approaches have yet to gain widespread acceptance from OEMs as a result of performance issues, complex configuration requirements and safety certification hurdles.
This is also why Nvidia has certified its Hyperion automotive stack with the Drive operating system and can offer integration services to its automotive customers.
“Automakers are under intense pressure to deploy software quickly, simply, and at scale – a demanding reality that often results in a whack-a-mole of issues that distract from their core mission to deliver a compelling in-car experience that differentiates their brand,” said John Wall, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Product, Engineering and Services at QNX.
“Amidst that backdrop, many have reached out with the same question – ‘Can you take care of the heavy lifting of the underlying software stack so we can focus on what matters most to our customers?’. Working with like-minded partners in Vector and TTTech Auto, we’re excited to be stepping up to the plate, with a holistic vehicle software platform that will make development headaches and managing multiple suppliers a thing of the past, freeing automakers to create the groundbreaking features that will redefine what it means to get behind the wheel.”
“Behind the best software engineering organizations in the world exists a mature, well-integrated toolchain,” said Alex Oyler, Director at the global automotive research firm SBD Automotive.
“With the rapid transition to software-defined vehicles, entirely new tools – and integrations between them – must be developed to scale development in the world of over-the-air updates, software-in-loop simulation, and cloud-native vehicle simulation. Close cooperation between companies like QNX, Vector, and TTTech Auto plays a critical role in helping accelerate achievement of crucially important SDV key performance indicators such as faster time-to-market, complexity reduction, and workforce efficiency.”
“Our customers are investing significant time in integrating various components of a vehicle software platform and maintaining it throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle. By pre-integrating more parts upfront, we can drastically reduce the effort required by OEMs, ultimately shortening their time to market. The collaboration between QNX, TTTech Auto, and Vector to develop a pre-integrated vehicle software platform will enable OEMs to reallocate resources from non-differentiating software to focus on customer-facing functionalities. By jointly creating a vehicle software platform, variants will be reduced, quality and maturity of the software will be increased and the total maintenance costs will be drastically reduced,” said Matthias Traub, President and Managing Director at Vector Informatik.
“At TTTech Auto, we are committed to accelerating the development of SDV designs by providing faster, more robust integration solutions. Our collaboration with QNX and Vector enables us to deliver a scalable platform that supports multiple System on Chips (SoCs), ensuring that automakers can innovate rapidly and efficiently. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in simplifying the complexities of vehicle software integration, allowing OEMs to focus on driving experiences for their customers,” said Dirk Linzmeier, CEO of TTTech Auto.
www.tttech-auto.com; www.blackberry.com/qnx; www.vector.com
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