Acrosser Technology Co. Ltd, a global professional industrial and embedded computer provider, announces the new Mini-ITX mainboard, AMB-D255T3, which carries the Intel dual- core 1.86GHz Atom Processor D2550. AMB-D255T3 features onboard graphics via VGA and HDMI, DDR3 SO-DIMM support, PCI slot, mSATA socket with SATA & USB signals, and ATX connector for easy power in. AMB-D255T3 also provides complete I/O such as 6 x COM ports, 6 x USB2.0 ports, 2 x GbE RJ-45 ports, and 2 x SATA port. AMB-D255T3 can support dual displays via VGA, HDMI or 18-bit LVDS. AMB-D255T3 has one MiniPCIe type slot and one PCI for customer’s expansion. The MiniPCIe slot works with SATA and USB signals that can be equipped with mSATA storage module. AMB-D255T3 is certainly an excellent solution for applications that require powerful computing while still maintaining low-power consumption in a small form factor motherboard and has a complete set of I/O functions. Users can deploy the system solution with this fan-less mainboard easily. Ideally, it is a fast time-to-market weapon for system integrators. for
more information, please visit: http://www.acrosser.com/News-Newsletter/62.html
Along with automechanica, the largest automotive show in Russia is coming very soon in the end of August, 2013! As for the show, Moscow International Motor Show 2013(MIMS) is regarded highly in the automotive industry in Russia. Last year, the exhibitors consisted of 1,379 companies from 35 countries and 15,717 guests from 52 countries participated in this event. 99.6% of visitors were industry professionals. With its specific geographic location, MIMS is truly a trans-lateral gateway for automotive businesses.
The efficiency of heat dissipation also contributes to its high performance under rugged automotive environments. Another fascinating feature of AR-V6100FL is its smart power management function. Acrosser built a comprehensive power management subsystem solution, allowing users to select the best setting for the power management mode to meet specific application demands.
Driven by the thirst for 3D gaming in consumer electronics, current graphics processing units (GPUs) have evolved into powerful, programmable vector processors that can speed up a wide variety of software applications. These "general-purpose GPUs," as they are known, are no longer limited to the consumer market. They are making their embedded computer into the embedded market with the arrival of the new AMD Embedded G-Series platform.
ACROSSER Technology has provided a complete product line for In-Vehicle computers. The product line also gained more attention after winning the 21th Taiwan Excellence Award with 2 outstanding In-Vehicle computers: AR-V6005FL and AR-V6100FL. Acrosser also released its latest in-vehicle computer, AIV-HM76V0FL during late 2012. The company pride itself in offering not just products, but solutions. Please contact ACROSSER Technology for further consultations, volume quotes, or any other questions.
With a total board height less than 20mm, the slim fit feature of AMB-D255T1 makes it a perfect applicationalmost everywhere. With single layer I/O ports and external +12V DC power input, AMB-D255T1 can easily be equipped even in limited spaces like digital signage, POS or thin client systems. Also, the supporting video source includes both VGA and HDMI outputs to cater to a variety of needs. Many digital signage partners have showed great interests toward AMB-D255T1 for their business sector. AMB-D255T1 has one DDR3 SO-DIMM which supports up to 4GB DDR3 memory, mSATA socket with USB signals and SIM slot, and a DC jack for easy power in. For customers that are taking their entire system to the next level, AMB-D255T1 provides one PCI slot and one Mini PCIe expansion slot with a SIM card socket for further improvement. The mini PCIe expansion allows mSATA to function together with the system or multi module choices for USB signals module installation.( mSATA storage, Wi-Fi module, or 3G/4G telecommunication)
The key features of the AMB-D255T1 include: ．Intel Atom D2550 1.86GHz ．1 x DDR3 SO-DIMM up to 4GB ．1 x VGA ．1 x HDMI ．1 x 24-bit LVDS ．6 x USB2.0 ．4 x COM ．1 x GbE (Realtek RTL8105E) ．1 x PS/2 KB/MS ．1 x PCI slot ．1 x MiniPCIe slot for mSATA and USB device ．1 x SATA with power connector ．8-bit GPIO
AMB-QM77T1 is dedicated to multiple applications, such as industrial automations, kiosks, digital signages, and ATM machines. Supporting 3rd generation Intel core i processor, AMB-QM77T1 features an integrated GPU to support the following graphic libraries: DirectX11, OpenGL4.0 and OpenCL1.1. As for numbers of output, a maximum of 3 independent displays are supplied, which is a perfect solution for gaming/multimedia business. In addition, 4 USB3.0 and 2 SATA III connectors result in high data transmission.
Bluetooth is a complicated process that the average consumer is unable to accomplish, but by implementing NFC, consumers can simply touch their phone to the NFC receiver in a car and secure a wireless connection, rather than having to search for networks or set up a W2A pass phrase. One in-vehicle primary advantage of using NFC to provision a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection is that NFC is easier to set up than more complex radios, and the setup time is generally shorter (on the order of milliseconds). sh LCDs, creating an immediately personalized interface in the dashboard. Additionally, this in-vehicle standards-based technology allows consumers to safely control smartphones through the dashboard so they can answer calls and check text messages. Bypass the Bluetooth function is certainly a lost in the regional in-vehicle battlement.
refer to : http://embedded-computing.com/articles/wireless-accelerate-next-wave-in-vehicle-innovation/
ACROSSER Technology, a world-leading In-Vehicle Computer designer and manufacturer, is pleased to introduce its latest In-Vehicle computer product, the AIV-HM76V0FL. The AIV-HM76V0FL is built for handling rugged environments. To showcase its high performance, we have created a small experiment to prove its durability in difficult situations.
One fascinating feature of AIV-HM76V0FL is its ability to support HDMI video output. This outstanding feature would satisfy those seeking for high-quality video outputs. AIV-HM76V0FL is an outstanding In-Vehicle solution for anything ranging from commercial to security issues. We have seen our clients using them on digital signage display and security IP surveillance cameras. The two key factors that allow for such high-performance graphic processing are the Intel HM76 mobile chipset and FCPGA 988 socket for 3rd generation Core i mobile computer platform.
Acrosser’s latest In-Vehicle computer product, AIV-HM76V0FL should meerit a spot on your procurement list. This product can sustain a level 2G shock and received IEC 60068-2-64 (anti-vibration) and IEC 60068-2-27 (anti-shock) certifications.
Here is the actual video demonstrating the outstanding performance of the AIV-HM76V0FL. The base vibrator simulates a mobile environment, and this is exactly how it looks like inside a moving vehicle.
AIV-HM76V0FL Features
‧ FCPGA 988 socket support Intel 3rd Generation Core i7/i5/i3 and Celeron processors
up to 45W i7-3720QM
‧ Fanless thermal design and anti-vibration industrial design
‧ HDMI/DVI/VGA video outputs
‧ Combo connector for Acrosser’s In-Vehicle monitor
‧ 4 external USB 3.0 ports
‧ CAN bus 2.0 A/B
‧ Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5G, GPS
‧ One-wire (i-Button) interface
A portable atomic clock is just the ticket for many UAVs, and the more
SWaP-optimized the better. The Chip-Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) fits the
bill with the low power draw and accurate performance inherent in its design.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs) began as tools for military surveillance. As their capabilities
expanded, they found usage in civilian applications such as border
patrols and drug interdiction, while on the military side the expanded
capabilities led to missions using armed UAVs.Throughout
their use, accurate clocks have been required for UAVs to carry out
their missions. A principal need has been navigation; UAVs typically use
a clock that has been synchronized to Global Positioning System (GPS)
for very accurate timing. However, when the GPS signal is lost, the
clock is used to provide a “holdover” function that integrates with a
backup navigation system, usually some form of anInertial Navigation System(INS).
The clock’s holdover performance is important because, in military
applications, GPS signal loss is sometimes due to intentional jamming,
which can persist for long periods of time.Accurate clocks are also needed inUAVcommunications. As UAVsensorpayloads have advanced from still photos to video, to video integrated with infrared and other sensor data, high-densityencryptedwaveformshave been employed to transmit this data, as well as to receivevehiclecontrol data. These waveforms can only stay synchronized with stable, accurate clocks.Layered on top of these application requirements are the demands of Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). Almost everycomponentin the electronics of a UAV – whether part of the basic airframe or part of the specialized payload – is being pushed to reduce SWaP so that a given UAV can increase its mission duration (for more “persistent surveillance” in military terminology), or so that it can add more sensor capabilities without shortening mission duration. The choice of clock onboard can positively or negatively affect SWaP in UAV design. ............ refer to http://smallformfactors.com/articles/chip-scale-swap-design-challenges/#at_pco=cfd-1.0
ACROSSER Technology, a world-leading networking communication designer and manufacturer, launches ANR-IB751N1/A/Bnetworking appliances.
ANR-IB751N1/A/B networking appliances are the latest in scalable Intel
3rd generation Core i7/i5/i3 processors (formerly code-named Ivy
Bridge). They feature a 1U rackmount
chassis, maximum 16GB DDR3 memory, 8 x GbE ports, optional 2 or 4 x
Fiber SFP LAN ports, 2 pairs LAN bypass, 2 x USB3.0 ports, 2 x SATA
ports, and console port.
Virtualization trends in commercial computing offer benefits for cost, reliability, and security, but pose a challenge for military operators who need to visualize lossless imagery in real time. 10 GbE technology enables a standard zero client solution for viewing pixel-perfect C4ISR sensor and graphics information with near zero interactive latency.
For C4ISR systems, ready access to and sharing of visual information at any operator position can increase situational awareness and mission effectiveness. Operators utilize multiple information sources including computers and camera feeds, as well as high-fidelity radar and sonar imagery. Deterministic real-time interaction with remote computers and sensors is required to shorten decision loops and enable rapid actions.A zero client represents the smallest hardware footprint available for manned positions in a distributed computing environment. Zero clients provide user access to remote computers through a networked remote desktop connection or virtual desktop infrastructure. Utilizing a 10 GbE media network for interconnecting multiple computers, sensors, and clients provides the real-time performance and image quality required for critical visualization operations. The cost of deploying a 10 GbE infrastructure is falling rapidly and 10G/40G has become the baseline for data center server interconnect. Additionally, deploying common multifunction crew-station equipment at all operator positions brings system-level cost and logistics benefits. The following discussion examines the evolution to thinner clients and the path to a real-time service-oriented architecture, in addition to looking at zero client benefits and applications.
Evolution to thinner clients
For military C4ISR, capabilities provided by legacy stovepipe implementations are being consolidated into networked multifunction systems of systems. To accomplish this, open standards and rapidly advancing technologies for service-oriented architectures are being leveraged (Figure 1). For crew-station equipment, this drives an evolution from dedicated high-power workstations toward thinner client equipment at user locations. Computing equipment is being consolidated away from the operators into one or more data centers. This leaves the crew station with a remote connection to system resources, but does not ease the requirement for high-performance access to visual information. 10 GbE provides the client/server connection performance necessary for real-time remote communication.
Figure 1: Client/server evolution: Increasing communications bandwidth enables more service-oriented computing and “thinner” clients.
Workstations at operator positions normally run software applications locally and provide dedicated resources for data and graphics processing. Server-based data processing and networked sensor distribution systems have moved much of the application processing away from the operator. This can simplify the job of system administration and maintenance and enables multiple users to access the same capabilities. However, much of the processing for presenting images to operators can be unique to the individual needs for varying roles at each position.
Thin clients can be utilized to provide dedicated graphics and video processing horsepower for user-specific visualization operations such as windowing, rendering, and mixing multiple data and sensor sources. Dedicated local graphics processing power can be important for critical real-time operations or for interfacing to servers without high-performance graphics capabilities. This makes a thin “networked visualization client” a flexible option for multifunction crew stations that must interface with both legacy and newer service-oriented systems.
For commercial computing systems, a major push is underway to move high-performance graphics capability into the data center servers. This can be implemented via dedicated workstations for each crew station, virtualized compute engines with dedicated graphics for each crew station, or completely virtualized environments with networked image distribution. Virtualization provides a means to share CPU and GPU compute cycles between multiple users, gaining efficiency from higher utilization of system hardware resources. However, for mission-critical C4ISR systems, a deterministic Quality-of-Service level for performance, reliability, and security must be maintained.
For systems with both computing and graphics processing located away from the operator, zero clients provide network-attached displays with audio and user input devices (keyboard, mouse, and touch screen). Minimizing size, weight, and power at the operator position brings many benefits, but performance depends on the remote visualization processing capabilities and the communication channel. To match workstation performance, a consistent human-computer interaction latency of less than 50 ms must be provided.
Path to a real-time service-oriented architecture
System architects need a graceful technology insertion path that leverages the benefits of thinner clients (Figure 2). One approach for centralizing computing equipment while maintaining performance is to simply move the workstations to the data center and extend the interfaces to the display and input devices. This maintains the dedicated computing resources for critical operations. Video and device interface extension can be accomplished via extenders or switch matrices to provide connections between operators and computers.
Figure 2: Crew-station evolution to a service-oriented architecture
A more flexible approach is to utilize a standard network to support highly configurable access to all workstation resources from any operator position. With this approach, any user can connect to any image source and user screens can be shared with collaborative remote displays or other users. This also enables growth to a service-oriented “cloud” architecture that follows the trend for general-purpose IT and data processing systems. However, commercial IT products do not always meet the performance, reliability, security, or logistics requirements for mission-critical C4ISR systems.
To leverage this computing trend for real-time applications, a standard 10 GbE media network can be utilized to connect multiple zero clients to multiple remote graphics and sensor sources. Lossless distribution is supported for high-quality text, dynamic 2D/3D graphics, HD video, radar, and sonar imagery. Compositing multiple sources onto a single screen can be performed at the zero client or by networked video processing services. Near-zero latency interaction and video distribution are now possible and support deterministic performance and real-time dynamic visualization at any operator position.
One full-resolution (1,920 x 1,200) loss-less channel at 60 Hz with 24-bit color requires 3.3 Gbps of bandwidth. Therefore, one 10 GbE connection can support a dual-head crew station at full frame rate with audio and USB support. However, many visual applications require no more than a 30 Hz update rate (including 1,080p/30 HD full motion video), which reduces the bandwidth to 1.7 Gbps per channel. This enables triple-head crew stations with audio and USB support over a single 10 GbE connection. Dual Ethernet ports at the zero client can also be provided to support more video channels, higher frame rates, and/or redundant connections.
Zero client benefits
Compared to workstations, zero clients provide several benefits, including lower TCO, reduced SWaP, higher system availability, and more system security and agility.
Reduced total cost of ownership
Zero clients provide the smallest, simplest, and most maintainable equipment available for the operator position. This means lower initial investment costs as well as lower operating and maintenance costs throughout the system life cycle. System modularity and standard interfaces support seamless technology refresh as new computing and display equipment becomes available. 10 GbE has been widely adopted for data centers and standard component costs are declining rapidly. When compared to legacy stovepipe systems, networked systems also greatly reduce the amount of dedicated cabling required.
Reduced size, weight, and power
Only video, audio, and USB encoding/decoding functions are required with a zero client. These are packaged as small dongles or integrated into the display. Small packaging enables new options for lightweight operator consoles with increased ergonomics, as well as reducing noise and the burden on cooling systems for manned areas.
High system availability
System uptime and reliability benefit from consolidating all computing elements into managed data centers. Common equipment at multiple operator positions and redundant network connections support rapid recovery from computer, client, or network equipment failures.
High system security
Security risks are reduced through centralized administration and access authentication at the data center. Additionally, stateless zero client equipment outside the data center and encrypted communications between all components assure system confidentiality and integrity.
System agility
Systems using common crew-station equipment can be reconfigured by software for different mission roles and objectives. Additional clients can be added quickly to extend the system. Also, as computing systems evolve with new virtual desktop infrastructures, today’s investment in zero client equipment is preserved through standard interfaces for video, audio, and user input devices including DVI, PC audio, and USB.
Applications of a zero client
In addition to the benefits of a zero client, the technology’s agility also enables a range of applications using common equipment. For example, remote crew stations can now be smaller, lighter, and more versatile, and operator equipment can be located at remote locations not previously possible. Noisy, heat-generating computing equipment can be moved away from operator positions.
Another application highly suited to zero client utilization is the multifunction crew station. Common crew-station equipment can be used to access multiple computers and sensor sources under secure software control. This supports the capability for dynamic access to multiple systems from a single location. Systems can be rapidly reconfigured for different mission objectives, operating roles, or failure recovery.
Collaborative and remote displays also benefit from zero client usage. Unmanned displays can be attached to the network for sharing real-time visual information for dissemination and collaboration. Large area displays for several viewers can receive multiple feeds with full performance. Additionally, selected sources can be compressed and transmitted through secure routers for wider area distribution.
Using zero client technology for networked multifunction crew stations enables the integration of legacy capabilities into a consolidated operating environment as well as the development of new concepts of operation. One example of this is Barco’s zero client technology, which brings the benefits of state-of-the-art computing architectures into mission-critical C4ISR systems involving advanced visualization.
Mission-critical solution
Leveraging commercial computing trends and standards provides significant cost and capability benefits. However, the level of real-time performance, mission assurance, and information assurance required for mission-critical C4ISR systems must be achieved. Zero client technology enabled by 10 GbE provides the necessary pixel-perfect viewing of graphics and sensor information for these demanding applications.
New Atom series solutions which include AMB-D255T1Mini-ITX industrial mainboard and AMB-N280S1 fanless 3.5-inch single board computer. AMB-D255T1 is equipped with an Intel D2550 Atom processor. AMB-N280S1 is equipped with an Intel N2800 Atom. Both have a 5~7 year product warranty.
This seems to be the year for milestone events in the EDA industry,
though calculations show some of the “anniversary” designations to be
premature. Nevertheless, the first big EDA event of the year is the
Design and Verification Conference (DVCon),
held in San Jose, CA every February. DVCon celebrated its 10th
anniversary this year, after a transformation from HDLcon in 2003, which
followed the earlier union of theVHDLInternational User’s Forum and InternationalVerilogHDL Conference. Those predecessor conferences trace their origins back 25 years and 20 years, respectively.
After DVCon, EDA marketers quickly turn to preparations for the JuneDesign Automation Conference(DAC), perhaps with a warm-up at Design, Automation, andTestin
Europe (DATE) in March. DAC is the big show, however, and this year
marks the 50th such event (and its 49th anniversary). Phil Kaufman Award
winner Pat Pistilli received the EDA industry’s’ highest honor for his
pioneer work in creating DAC, which grew from his amusingly-named
Society to Help Avoid Redundant Effort (SHARE) conference in 1964.
Milestones
inevitably lead to some reflection, but also provide an opportunity to
look forward to what the future will bring. In our 2nd annual EDA Digest
Resource Guide, we will be asking EDA companies to share what they see
as the biggest challenges facing the industry in the next five years,
and how the industry will change to meet those challenges. Will future
innovations be able to match the impact of the greatest past
developments in EDA, which enabled the advances in electronics that we
benefit from today?
To put that question in perspective, I’ve been developing a Top 10 list of the most significant developments in the history of EDA, based on my personal experiences over the course of my career. That doesn’t go back quite as far as Pat Pistilli’s, but I have seen many of the major developments in EDA first hand, going back to when I started as an IC designer at Texas Instruments. (This was a few years after we stopped cutting rubylith, in case you were wondering.)
We will also be conducting asurveyof readers, and will publish the results in the EDA Digest Resource guide in time for DAC-50. To get things started, here are the first five EDA breakthroughs on my list, roughly in historical order.
MicroMax announced today it is exhibiting its M-Max 810 PR/MS3, an ATR-based system for avionics, at Embedded World 2013 in Nuremberg.
Sam Abarbanel, President of MicroMax, stated “Our newest addition to the M-Max line of rugged computers demonstrates MicroMax’s excellence at building tough machines for harsh environments. Our unique fully sealed fanless ATRenclosure is especially designed to house PC/104 form-factor boards. We proudly demonstrate this system at Embedded World as yet another example of our quality engineering and manufacturing abilities.” ........
As
the role of the mobile device continues to evolve, chip designers will face
increased pressure to create processors that can handle next-generation
computing. Designers need to look beyond single-core solutions to deliver
powerful, energy-efficient processors that allow for the "always on, always
connected" experience consumers want.
Mobile usage has changed significantly, with today’s
consumers increasingly using their smartphones for the majority of the
activities in their connected lives. This includes high-performance tasks such
as Web browsing, navigation and gaming, and less demanding background tasks such
as voice calls, social networking, and e-mail services. As a result, the mobile
phone has become an indispensible computing device for many consumers.
At the same time, new mobile form factors such as tablets are
redefining computing platforms in response to consumer demand. This is creating
new ways for consumers to interact with content and bringing what was once only
possible on a tethered device to the mobile world. What we’re seeing is truly
next-generation computing.
As with any technology shift, designers must consider several
factors to address the changing landscape, but in this case, a few issues stand
out more than the rest as trends that will define where mobility is going.
Increased data
Consumers today desire an on-demand computing experience that
entails having data available at the ready anytime. Gone are the days when
consumers owned smartphones for the sole purpose of making phone calls. They now
require a rich user experience allowing them to access documents, e-mail,
pictures, video, and more on their mobile devices. Combined with the more than
37 billion applications already downloaded, data consumption continues to rise.
According to a recent Cisco report, global mobile data traffic from 2011 and
2016 will grow to 10.8 exabytes (1 billion gigabytes) per month, and by 2016,
video is expected to comprise 71 percent of all mobile data traffic.
Battery life
Mobile computing has always required a balance of performance
and power consumption. The combination of smaller form factors and consumers
demanding more out of their devices has led chip designers to develop ways
around the power/performance gap. Without cutting power altogether, designers
turn to techniques like clock scaling, where processor speeds vary based on the
intensity of a task. Designers have also reverted to dual- and quad-core
processors that decrease power while still delivering performance. As consumers
continue to trend toward an “always on, always connected” experience, processors
must become more powerful and more energy efficient.
Connectivity
The way consumers use computing devices is drastically
changing, as their primary computing devices are no longer stationary, but
carried around in their pockets, bags, and purses. The number of mobile
connected devices will exceed the world’s population in 2012, according to
industry studies. By 2016 there will be more than 10 billion mobile Internet
connections around the world, with 8 billion of them being personal devices and
2 billion Machine-to-Machine (M2M) connections.
Implications for chips
So where is Moore’s Law going to take the embedded industry
with this mobile revolution? History predicts a doubling every 18 months from
thousands to billions of transistors, but actually looking at the performance of
a single processor shows that it has all but stalled because the amount of power
that can be consumed in the system has peaked.
For any single processor in the future, heat dissipation will limit any significant
increase in speed. Once a device hits its thermal barrier, it will simply melt,
or in the case of a mobile phone, start to burn the user. Apart from the
physical aspects of heat dissipation, it is also hugely power inefficient. The
amount of power it takes to tweak a processor to perform faster and faster
becomes exponential, and the last little bit is especially expensive. Whereas in
the past, double the size meant double the speed, double the size now equates to
just a small percentage faster. That’s one of the reasons why designers have hit
a limit for single-core systems.
Solving the power problem
If designers can’t make a single core go faster, the number
of individual cores has to increase. This brings the benefit of being able to
match each core to the demands being placed on it.
ARM’s big.LITTLE processing extends consumers’ “always on,
always connected” mobile experience with up to double the performance and 3x the
energy savings of existing designs. It achieves this by grouping a “big” multicore
processor with a “little” multicore processor and seamlessly selecting the right
processor for the right task based on performance requirements. This dynamic
selection is transparent to the application software or middleware running on the processors.
The first generation of big.LITTLE design (see Figure 1)
combines a high-performance Cortex-A15 multiprocessor cluster with a Cortex-A7
multiprocessor cluster offering up to 4x the energy efficiency of current
designs. These processors are 100 percent architecturally compatible and have
the same functionality, including support for more than 4 GB of memory, virtualizationextensions, and functional units such as NEON advanced Single Instruction,
Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions for efficient multimedia processing and
floating-point support. This allows software applications compiled for one
processor type to run on the other without modification. Because the same
application can run on a Cortex-A7 or a Cortex-A15 without modification, this
opens the possibility to map application tasks to the right processor on an
opportunistic basis.
Figure 1: ARM’s big.LITTLE processing combines
the high performance of the Cortex-A15
multiprocessor with the energy efficiency of the Cortex-A7 multiprocessor and
enables the same application software to switch seamlessly between
them.
(Click graphic to zoom by
1.9x)
As we continue to usher in this new era of computing, mobile
phone designers will find themselves focusing on how to deliver devices that
allow for increased data consumption, connectivity, and battery life. ARM’s
big.LITTLE processing addresses the challenge of designing a System-on-Chip (SoC) capable of delivering both the highest
performance and the highest energy efficiency possible within a single processor
subsystem. This coupled design opens up the poten-tial for a multitude of new
applications and use cases by enabling optimal distribution of the load between
big and LITTLE cores and by matching compute capacity to workloads.
The speed of innovation in automotive IVI is making a lot of heads turn.
No question, Linux OS and Android are the engines for change.
The open source software movement has forever transformed the mobiledevicelandscape.
Consumers are able to do things today that 10 years ago were
unimaginable. Just when smartphone and tablet users are comfortable
using their devices in their daily lives, another industry
is about to be transformed. The technology enabled by open source in
this industry might be even more impressive than what we’ve just
experienced in the smartphone industry.
The industry isautomotive, and already open source software has made significant inroads in how both driver and passenger interact within theautomobile. Open source stalwartsLinuxand Google are making significant contributions not only in the user/driver experience, but also insafety-criticaloperations,vehicle-to-vehicle communications, and automobile-to-cloudinteractions.
Initially,
automotive OEMs turned to open source to keep costs down and open up
the supply chain. In the past, Tier 1 suppliers and developers of
In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems would treat an infotainment center
as a “black box,” comprised mostly of proprietary software componentsand dedicated hardware. The OEM was not allowed to probe inside, and had no ability to “mix and match” thecomponentparts.
The results were sometimes subquality systems in which the automotive
OEM had no say, and no ability to maintain. With the advent of open
source, developers are now not only empowered to cut software
development costs, but they also have control of the IVI system they
want to design for a specified niche. Open source software, primarily
Linux and to some extentAndroid,
comprises open and “free” software operating platforms or systems. What
makes Linux so special are the many communities of dedicated developers
around the world constantly updating the Linux kernel. While there are
many Linux versions, owned by a range of open source communities and
commercial organizations, Android is owned and managed exclusively by
Google.
To
understand the automotive IVI space, it’s best to look at the
technology enabled by Linux and what Android’s done to further advance
automotive multimedia technology.
Linux OS – untapped potential at every turn
There are many standards bodies and groups involved in establishing Linux in the automobile – not just in IVI, but in navigation, telematics, safety-critical functions, and more. The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth of Linux, recently announced the Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) workgroup. The AGL workgroup facilitates widespread industry collaboration that advances automotive device development by providing a community reference platform that companies can use for creating products. Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, and Toyota are among the first carmakers to participate in the AGL workgroup.
Another Linux initiative, the GENIVI Alliance, was established to promote the widespread adoption of open source in IVI. The goal behind GENIVI is to allow collaboration among automakers and their suppliers across a single unified ecosystem, to streamline development, and keep costs down. The organization has flourished since its formation in 2009, and today it has more than 165 members. The GENIVI base platform (Mentor Embedded is compliant with version 3.0) accommodates a wide range of open source building blocks demanded by today’s developers.
Linux has further opened up the possibilities with safety-critical operations and multimedia communications. Hardware companies have followed suit with more IVI functions built onto a single piece of silicon, improvingsecurityand performance.
The available power ofmulticoreSoChardware hosting a Linuxoperating systemis fueling rapid expansion in vehicle software in the area of telematics. In Europe, for example, by 2015, all newcarsmust be equipped with the eCall system, to automatically alert emergency services in the event of a collision. Services such as insurance tracking, stolen vehicle notification, real-time cloud data (traffic, weather, road conditions ahead), car-to-car communication, driverless car, diagnostics, and servicing are also made available via in-car Internet services. To operate in this space, IVI hardware needs to have multicore processor support, GPU/high-performance graphics with multiple video outputs, Internet connectivity, and compatibility with existing in-car networks such asCAN, MOST, and AVB. Several components are already on the market, and the future potential is exciting.
Consolidating multiple functions into a single Linux-based Electronic Control Unit (ECU) allows for a reduction in component count, thereby reducing overall vehicle costs. Maintenance becomes easier. And the wire harness costs are reduced as the total ECU count drops. As Linux becomes more widespread in vehicles, additional technologies will consolidate – for example, instrument clusters and AUTOSAR-based ECUs may coexist with infotainment stacks. It’s also important to realize that the complexity of software and the amount of software code used will only increase as these new technologies become standard. Already more than 100 million lines of code are used in the infotainment system of the S-Class Mercedes-Benz and according to Linuxinsider.com, and that number is projected to triple by 2015 (Figure 1).
Figure 1:Software complexity in IVI systems continues to grow. Today, the IVI system of an S-Class Mercedes has 100m lines of code. By 2015, it is expected to be 300m. A Linux-based solution, capable of scaling to handle the complexity, is mandatory.
Android apps hit the road
The Android operating system, on the other hand, was designed from the start to support mobile devices and has proved that it can serve more than mobile phones. Using the Android OS for in-vehicle entertainment provides all the entertainment features offered by a top-of-the-range, in-dash infotainment system with the addition of informative, driver-assisting content including hands-free calling, multimedia center, and a navigation system/Google maps. For an open source expandable system (whereby the framework can be extended and applications can be developed for it), the Android OS can be enhanced to support multiple audio and video feeds. For example, IVI audio requirements include music, phone calls, sensor warnings, and navigation announcements, which must be managed and prioritized. Managing multiple displays, with an information-focus for the driver and entertainment-focus for passengers, is also a requirement. The UI for the driver should be arranged to minimize distraction, while passengers will want as much content as possible from their UIs. But many automotive OEMs and developers ask, “Why not just use the Android smartphone and tie it into a vehicle’s dash?” Not only would this be more cost effective for the developer, but the user would have instant familiarity with the system.
One organization promoting the use of the smartphone as an IVI in-dash system is the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC). The CCC provides standards and recipe books for tethering a smartphone to the infotainment head unit. The CCC members implement MirrorLink (Figure 2), a technology standard for controlling a nearby smartphone from thein-car infotainment system screen or via dashboard buttons and controls. This allows familiar smartphone-hosted applications and functions to be easily accessed. CCC members include more than 80 percent of the world’s automakers, and more than 70 percent of global smartphone manufacturers. The MirrorLink technology is compatible with Mentor Embedded’s GENIVI 3.0 specification Linux base platform solution.
Figure 2:An example of smartphone in-dash tethering:Driversuse the same smartphone apps in the vehicle as they do on their own smartphone, which provides a great deal of familiarity.
A recent example of smartphone tethering can be found in certain subcompactmodelsfrom U.S. auto manufacturer General Motors. Select Chevrolet models carry the “MyLink” in-dash infotainment system.
From both a cost and ease-of-use perspective, tethering a smartphone makes a lot of sense. But there’s another reason to consider. Some automotive manufacturers are nervous about being too dependent on Google – as Google is the sole provider and owner of the Android mobile platform. Android built into an IVI system is an 8- to 10-year commitment, and a lot can happen in that time regarding license fees or terms of use.
Linux and Android driving together?
Despite the strengths of and differences between these two popular platforms, recent embedded architecture developments now allow the Linux and Androidoperating systemsto happily coexist. And this might be a very good thing. For example, Android can be hosted on top of Linux using Linux Container Architecture (LXC) (Figure 3). The resources, access control, and security of the Android client are managed by the host Linux operating system. For system designers concerned about the security of Android, this represents a good way to offer Android app access, and keep other system functions on a standard Linux platform. MulticoreSystem-on-Chip(SoC) platforms make this architecture even more attractive, as there are sufficient resources for both Linux and Android domains to perform well simultaneously. The CPU resources can be shared, along with memory,graphics processingresources, and other peripherals. The output of the two domains can be recombined into a common Human Machine Interface (HMI) allowing the user to select functions from both domains.
Figure 3:There are several ways to include Android (Android apps) in a Linux-based IVI solution. One method, which is becoming increasingly more popular, is using Linux Container Architecture. Here, Android sits as a guest OS on top of the Linux kernel. Privileges and permissions are tightly controlled.
Exciting times ahead
Both Linux and Android are extremely versatile and powerful operating systems worthy of consideration in IVI systems. We are still in the infancy stages in what these two open source platforms can do for IVI. Now is the perfect time to starting developing or to join a consortium so that you too can reap the fruits of what IVI promises down the road.
