Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. (PAS) and Arm have announced a strategic partnership to standardize the automotive architecture for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). The collaboration aims to create a flexible software stack that addresses both current and future automotive needs. This partnership aligns with their active participation in SOAFEE (Scalable Open Architecture for the Embedded Edge), an industry initiative driving standardized software development across the automotive sector.
As the automotive industry shifts towards more integrated systems, with Electronic Control Units (ECUs) consolidating into powerful central units like Cockpit Domain Controllers (CDC) and High-Performance Computers (HPC), PAS and Arm see the need for a software-first approach. The growing reliance on hypervisors and advanced chipsets requires overcoming the challenge of vendor-specific proprietary interfaces, which complicate transitions between different solutions and increase costs and development time.
The partnership will focus on several key initiatives aimed at simplifying and accelerating automotive development:
- Standardizing Zonal Architecture with VirtIO
PAS and Arm are utilizing the VirtIO framework to virtualize devices connected to the central ECU and zonal ECUs. This includes a groundbreaking proof-of-concept with PAS’s open-source remote GPU technology to implement a Display Zonal Architecture. This approach distributes GPU loads from the central ECU to multiple zonal ECUs, reducing heat generation and harness weight while ensuring consistent graphics performance. - Ensuring Cloud-to-Car Environmental Parity
PAS’s vSkipGen™ software, which runs on Arm Neoverse-based cloud servers, will be aligned with the same Arm CPU architecture and VirtIO framework used in automotive hardware. This initiative aims to ensure environmental parity between virtual cloud hardware and physical automotive systems, bridging the gap between cloud and car systems. - Expanding VirtIO Standardization
Currently focused on cockpit use cases like Android Automotive™ and Automotive Grade Linux™, PAS and Arm plan to expand VirtIO standards to encompass additional automotive applications. This includes decoupling Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) software from hardware, particularly in Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).
Masashige Mizuyama, Executive Vice President and CTO of PAS, said, “Our partnership with Arm is crucial in advancing the standardization of VirtIO and bringing industry reference standards to the next level. By combining our strengths, we are unlocking the potential of software and laying the foundation for the future of SDVs.”
Dipti Vachani, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Arm’s Automotive Business, added, “SDVs present tremendous opportunities, but realizing this vision requires innovative solutions that allow software development to progress ahead of silicon availability. This partnership with PAS will reduce fragmentation in the industry and accelerate the development cycles for our partners.”
Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. is a global leader in automotive technology, providing advanced systems such as infotainment solutions to automakers worldwide. As a Tier 1 supplier, Panasonic is committed to creating safe, secure, and enjoyable driving experiences through innovative technologies.
