Book of Tech Words

Advanced driver assistance systems are designed to assist the driver with perception, planning, and operation tasks related to driving. Therefore, they provide assistance with navigation, vehicle control, and vehicle stabilization, potentially having a significant impact on accident avoidance and injury mitigation.

The term autonomous driving is generally used to describe the ability of a vehicle or transportation system to drive partially or fully autonomously, with limited or no human intervention. SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) defined the development stages for such a fully autonomous vehicle in 2014 with the J3016 standard. The levels of autonomous driving range from level 0 (no automation) to level 5 (driverless driving or fully automated vehicles).

The cooperation between CARIAD and Bosch was launched in 2022 and is currently focusing on the development of automated driving functions at Level 2+ and Level 3. The aim is to create a scalable software stack that ranges from sensors and perception to data fusion, a high-resolution map, situation interpretation and motion planning through to steering, braking and HMI control. Around 1,500 associates from CARIAD and Bosch are working shoulder to shoulder across Germany with hubs in Ingolstadt and the Stuttgart area.

Artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer technology to mimic human abilities such as logical thinking, learning, planning, and creativity. AI is able to learn from data without the need to program specific instructions. AI enables technical systems to perceive their environment, deal with what is perceived, and solve problems in order to achieve a specific goal.

In the digital, networked vehicle, the number of sensors is increasing - and with it the amount of data collected. New, central high-performance computers are used to process the data. This requires a rethinking of the entire electrical and electronic system in the vehicle. With the end-to-end electronics architecture (E³), the Volkswagen Group has established a scalable solution. Data is processed faster and more securely: in the vehicle and beyond in the cloud. Allowing new customer features and a new user experience. The first models with the E³ version 1.1 include the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Audi Q4 e-tron. With the new Porsche Macan and the Audi Q6 e-tron, the first vehicles on the E³1.2 were introduced in 2024. A zonal architecture will form the basis for the Volkswagen Group’s software-defined vehicles.

E³ 1.1 is the proven end-to-end electronics architecture for Volkswagen’s Volume brands, developed in close cooperation by CARIAD and Volkswagen. E³ 1.1 is featured in vehicles such as Volkswagen’s ID models, the Audi Q4 e-tron, Škoda Enyaq, and CUPRA Born. It operates everything from infotainment and driving dynamics to advanced driver assistance systems. With convenient over-the-air updates and seamless integration of digital innovations, the architecture provides a continuously improving, connected driving experience while meeting highest safety and security standards.

Highly scalable electronics architecture - E³1.2 is the E/E architecture for Volkswagen Group’s Progressive and Sport Luxury vehicles in the coming years. It is based on an ambitious and powerful domain architecture providing more than 400 software-based customer functions at launch – from voice control, charging functions, driving dynamics to advanced driver assistance systems.

Five specialized High-Performance Compute Platforms (HCPs) form the central nerve system. Each HCP controls a specific set of vehicle functions and is an essential enabler to gradually decouple hardware and software. E³1.2 has been jointly developed by Audi, Porsche and CARIAD. It launched in the Audi Q6 e-tron and the all-electric Porsche Macan — bringing fully connected vehicles to the market with new software features that are taking the digital in-car experience, mobility and electromobility to a new level.

Large Language Models (LLMs) are advanced AI systems that are trained on enormous amounts of text data. These machine learning-based models can comprehend, generate, and respond to human-like text. They can understand context, answer questions, and perform various tasks that mimic human comprehension and response.

The abbreviation 'MEB' stands for 'Modular Electric Drive Matrix', an electric car platform concept developed by Volkswagen. Its purpose is to accelerate the development and production of mass-produced electric cars that are affordable for the broader market, in a faster and more cost-effective manner. It represents a shared modular strategy within the Volkswagen Group for the development of all-electric vehicles. CARIAD also refers to its comprehensive software/hardware architecture approach as E³ 1.1.

Open source refers to software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify and distribute. This collaborative development model encourages transparency, innovation and community-driven advancement.

An operating system controls and manages the resources of the underlying hardware and provides the execution infrastructure to programs on top of it. Unlike desktop computers or smartphones, automotive embedded software in a vehicle cannot simply rely on one single operating system. Instead, vehicles consist of a networked system of subsystems that integrate different operating systems for specific purposes and different levels of safety or real-time requirements forming a software platform. Thus, they can handle the reliable execution of steering and braking functions, and enable a rich user experience in the infotainment system at the same time.

Vehicles designed and developed with a focus on software. Highly digitalized with high-performance computers and modern, embedded computer systems. Their functions can be centrally controlled and updated and extended over the vehicle’s life. Their software docks flexibly with all kinds of hardware – from control units to sensors such as cameras and lidar. SDVs are considered the basis for safe, intelligently communicating vehicle fleets, a new customer experience in infotainment and highly automated driving functions.

A system-on-chip is a complete computing unit on a semiconductor, which usually consists of microprocessors, microsystem components and reconfigurable and analog circuits, including the necessary connecting elements. SoCs are used in particular where high performance is to be achieved with the lowest possible energy consumption and compact design as they combine many or all high-level function elements of an electronic device onto a single chip instead of using separate components mounted to a motherboard.

The scalable systems platform, SSP, refers to the next generation of an all-electric, fully digital and highly scalable vehicle platform, on which models of all brands and segments can be built and which will replace the current modular assembly matrices and platforms MQB, MSB, MLB, as well as MEB and PPE. It is will become the unified modular car platform for electric vehicles being developed by the Volkswagen Group and first introduced in two cars by Audi and Volkswagen. SSP will be the vehicle platform for the Software Defined Vehicles at Volkswagen Group and combined with CARIAD's E³2.0, the unified end-to-end-electronic architecture of the future.

A user interface (UI) enables people to interact with a system, e.g. a car, a computer, a website, or an application. It encompasses the look, feel, and interactivity of a product. UI also refers to all types of interfaces: haptic, visual, and voice.

The term user experience (UX) encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and ist products. (Donald Norman)

The electric/electronic (E/E) architecture is a defining element of every car. It is formed of all electric and electronic components in the vehicle and in the cloud: cameras, radars or computers, for example. It can be considered the car’s nervous system. Bringing to life its components, systems and features in unity with the vehicle platform and the software platform.

The latest evolution is a zonal E/E architecture. The basis of software-defined vehicles.

A zonal architecture typically relies on a high-performance computer (HPC) that powers automated driving and a next-generation infotainment. It is supported by specialized computers in predefined zones of the car.

These zonal controllers enhance the performance of the HPC. They sit in close proximity to sensors and actuators. Their task: taking over select features in the front, rear or side areas of the vehicle chassis and providing data across the vehicle.

Zonal architectures guarantee ultra-fast connectivity and unlock highspeed over-the-air updates. They enable feature enhancements over the car’s lifetime flexibly and modularly and are built to scale across vehicle classes – from entry to sport and luxury.

Conceptualized in a software-first manner, zonal architectures are unlocking the true potential of data sets available across the entire vehicle and up to the cloud. Allowing fast innovation cycles with highly advanced customer features based on artificial intelligence.