Are you interested in our solutions? Then write us a message. Our sales team will be happy to help you.
Start enquiry
Bosch is developing new electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures that ensure the complexity of future vehicle systems stays manageable. At the center of this development is the shift away from today’s domain-specific E/E architecture toward a cross-domain, centralized E/E architecture that uses only a few very powerful vehicle computers instead of a great many individual control units. These vehicle computers will be connected to the remaining embedded control units as well as the sensors and actuators via zone ECUs. Bosch calls this approach a vehicle-centralized, zone-oriented E/E architecture. The reduced number of control units leads to lower system complexity coupled with a simultaneous increase in security.
fewer embedded control units. Today’s E/E architectures consist of one hundred control units and more.
lower costs through material and hardware savings.
Modern E/E architectures
Future E/E architectures will consist of a few very powerful vehicle computers that will be connected to the embedded control units, sensors, and actuators via the vehicle-centralized, zone-oriented E/E architecture. A feature of the new E/E communication network (ComNET) topology is the centralization of the data streams. The zone ECUs send the data via high-speed Ethernet to the
connected vehicle computers. This type of connection ensures the data communication is faster, securer, and performs better – both internally within the vehicle and externally via the link to the cloud. Moreover, it means the vehicle’s wiring harness becomes shorter, which in turn results in cost and weight savings.
In existing vehicle platforms, adaptation of the E/E architecture takes place as an iterative process. The cross-domain vehicle computers are integrated into the existing domain-oriented E/E architecture and combined with the conventional embedded control unit structure. With a modest amount of effort, the modification thus achieves an optimal benefit. In the case of new vehicle platforms, a systematic implementation of the vehicle-centralized, zone-oriented E/E architecture with vehicle computers and zone ECUs offers maximum benefits and an optimal level of performance that is ready for future needs. In addition, Bosch has developed a modular control unit kit that enables efficient scaling of an E/E platform across various different vehicle models.
Left: domain-oriented E/E architecture, Right: zone-oriented E/E architecture
In existing vehicle platforms, adaptation of the E/E architecture takes place as an iterative process. The cross-domain vehicle computers are integrated into the existing domain-oriented E/E architecture and combined with the conventional embedded control unit structure. With a modest amount of effort, the modification thus achieves an optimal benefit. In the case of new vehicle platforms, a systematic implementation of the vehicle-centralized, zone-oriented E/E architecture with vehicle computers and zone ECUs offers maximum benefits and an optimal level of performance that is ready for future needs. In addition, Bosch has developed a modular control unit kit that enables efficient scaling of an E/E platform across various different vehicle models.
The automotive industry is facing one of the greatest transformations in its history. New business models promise additional revenue throughout the vehicle life cycle. Consumers increasingly expect their cars to blend into their digital, private, and professional lives. For manufacturers, there are many new opportunities to stand out from competition, however, especially for the established ones, leveraging this is a challenge. Learn more about the future of E/E architectures in this whitepaper.
The growing range of functions resulting from new requirements in the areas of electrification, personalization, automation, and connectivity must not lead to spiraling costs. New E/E architectures reduce the total cost of ownership through savings in the wiring harness, development, and production and thanks to their facility for enabling vehicle software updates. Consolidating the software on vehicle computers furthermore simplifies the development
process through reduced complexity in the E/E architecture – in particular thanks to the software-oriented architecture that is designed for rapid software development iterations and updates (OTA). To enable scalability across the entire vehicle fleet, Bosch offers a versatile modular kit for the vehicle-centralized, zone-oriented E/E architecture. Smaller vehicles will thus be equipped with fewer zone ECUs than large vehicles.
Alongside its comprehensive know-how in the powertrains, automation, vehicle electronics, and entertainment domains, Bosch also possesses expertise in all areas of the future E/E architecture, from hardware and software solutions to sensor technologies and the automotive cloud. In the new division Cross-Domain Computing Solutions, more than 17,000 employees offer vehicle electronics and software solutions from a single source.
Furthermore, Bosch is on hand to provide consulting services and can also supply customers with a blueprint for the specific design of E/E architectures and cross-domain solutions. When it comes to the provision of end-to-end services, Bosch furthermore acts as an innovation and industrial deployment partner as well as an integrator of software and hardware components from diverse ecosystem partners.
Bosch today already employs 14,000 software engineers in the mobility segment and makes annual investments totaling 3.7 billion euros in the development and provision of full-scale software expertise in all relevant areas.
Software is a fundamental component of all engineering activities. Among the areas in which software plays an essential role are powertrains, driver assistance systems, safety systems, automated driving, cockpit and HMI systems, and vehicle connectivity solutions.
To supply its customers with vehicle electronics and software solutions in future from a single source, Bosch is consolidating its software and electronics engineering capacities in a new division: Cross-Domain Computing Solutions.
This division with more than 17,000 employees has set itself the goal of reducing the growing complexity of software and electronics with a cross-domain approach and in future bringing new vehicle functions to the roads much more quickly.
Bosch supports its customers with a blueprint for the specific design of E/E architectures and cross-domain solutions. Bosch’s consulting portfolio also includes dedicated studies for creating holistic definitions of the
future E/E architecture. An optimization can be implemented globally (i.e. across all vehicle segments) as well as locally (e.g. limited to a particular vehicle model).
What challenges are you facing? How can Bosch help you find a solution? And which consulting services are required for this? These points are clarified with you before the start of the project to ensure efficient support that quickly leads to actionable results.
In the course of development, the E/E architecture concept is further refined. For example, the requirements are defined and specified in a dedicated requirements specification. All development and validation activities are carried out using the very latest simulation tools and test methods.
Together with you, we define the range of functions the future vehicle should have. Based on this, our experts draw up an initial draft design for a suitable E/E architecture. Accompanying reviews and testing ensure that the concept meets the requirements.
What challenges are you facing? How can Bosch help you find a solution? And which consulting services are required for this? These points are clarified with you before the start of the project to ensure efficient support that quickly leads to actionable results.
In the course of development, the E/E architecture concept is further refined. For example, the requirements are defined and specified in a dedicated requirements specification. All development and validation activities are carried out using the very latest simulation tools and test methods.
Together with you, we define the range of functions the future vehicle should have. Based on this, our experts draw up an initial draft design for a suitable E/E architecture. Accompanying reviews and testing ensure that the concept meets the requirements.
Are you interested in our solutions? Then write us a message. Our sales team will be happy to help you.
Start enquiry
