01
What is autonomous driving domain control?
In the automotive field, analyzing or introducing a controller typically starts with its top-level requirements (functions). For autonomous driving domain controllers, the top-level requirement is "to achieve certain driver assistance functions," and everything serves this goal. Due to cost constraints, different domain controllers can naturally achieve different functions, so driver assistance functions need to be introduced in a tiered manner. To achieve these driver assistance functions, different sensor configurations are also required as a foundation. Based on different sensor configurations, matching autonomous driving chips must be selected to ensure that the chip's computing power can process the massive amounts of sensor data in real time. Finally, various permutations and combinations of different autonomous driving chips have formed the diverse range of autonomous driving domain controller solutions currently available in the industry.
Among these, the domain controller is a high-performance, high-reliability automotive control system that enables the control and management of the entire vehicle system. By integrating various sensors and controllers, the domain controller centrally manages the vehicle's electronic control units (ECUs), thereby achieving intelligent control and management of the vehicle.
At the heart of a domain controller is a high-performance computer that integrates multiple processors, memory, and communication interfaces, enabling rapid response and efficient control of vehicle systems. Simultaneously, the domain controller also integrates various sensors and controllers, such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar, to achieve vehicle perception and control functions.
The principle of a domain controller is based on the concept of a distributed control system (DCS). This system can divide the entire vehicle system into multiple subsystems, each controlled and managed by a controller. By integrating multiple controllers, the domain controller integrates and manages the different subsystems, thereby achieving centralized control and management of the entire vehicle system.
02
What benefits can domain controllers bring to autonomous driving?
With the development trend of intelligent and connected vehicles, the original distributed automotive electronic and electrical architecture based on ECUs has also exposed many problems and challenges. The core of the traditional automotive functional system is the ECU, and the upgrade of intelligent functions depends on the accumulation of ECUs and sensors. With the acceleration of the intelligent upgrade of single vehicles, intelligent functions such as airbags, anti-lock braking systems, electric power steering, electronic stability systems, intelligent instruments, entertainment and audio systems, and power battery management systems are constantly being added. The supporting circuits are becoming increasingly complex. The original intelligent upgrade methods are facing problems such as soaring R&D and production costs, insufficient computing power, and reduced security. How to ensure the optimization of data processing and network security has become a difficult problem.
To address these issues, the concept of automotive domain controllers was proposed. Domain controllers integrate previously isolated ECUs, using one or more "central brains" to control all the ECUs and sensors in the vehicle. This allows many similar but separate ECU functions to be integrated into a processor hardware platform that is more powerful than the ECU itself. The introduction of domain controllers has gradually reduced the R&D costs of automotive intelligence upgrades, accelerating the realization of automotive intelligence.
Autonomous vehicles equipped with domain controllers can basically achieve the following functions:
(1) Perception function: The domain controller can realize the vehicle's perception function, such as visual perception, sound perception, and tactile perception, by integrating a variety of sensors and controllers.
(2) Control function: The domain controller can control and manage various systems of the vehicle, such as the engine, braking system, steering system, and power system.
(3) Safety functions: The domain controller can realize the safety protection functions of the vehicle, such as automatic driving, automatic obstacle avoidance, automatic braking, etc.
(4) Diagnostic function: The domain controller can diagnose and handle various vehicle faults, thereby realizing automated vehicle maintenance and management.
(5) Network function: The domain controller can enable the vehicle system to communicate with external networks, such as data exchange with the cloud platform and communication with other vehicles.
(6) Data processing function: The domain controller can process and analyze the data collected by the vehicle sensors, thereby realizing intelligent control and management of the vehicle.
03
Applications of domain controllers
Domain controllers are widely used in autonomous vehicles, intelligent transportation systems, and intelligent public transportation systems. In autonomous vehicles, domain controllers have become a common solution in the industry, enabling more convenient and efficient management by dividing autonomous driving into multiple domains. However, different manufacturers may have different design philosophies when designing domain controllers, dividing the vehicle's main functions into several different domains.
For example, Bosch divides automobiles into the powertrain domain, body domain, chassis domain, cockpit domain, and autonomous driving domain. This is the most classic five-domain centralized electronic and electrical architecture. Some manufacturers further integrate this five-domain architecture, combining the powertrain, body, and chassis domains into the vehicle control domain controller, creating a three-domain centralized electronic and electrical architecture: vehicle control domain controller, intelligent driving domain controller, and intelligent cockpit domain controller. For example, Volkswagen's MEB platform and Huawei's CC architecture primarily adopt this three-domain centralized electronic and electrical architecture. The five-domain centralized electronic and electrical architecture comprehensively integrates all control functions for Level 3 and above autonomous vehicles.
Domain controllers are becoming increasingly common in the field of autonomous driving, and the following applications have already been implemented:
1. Integrates multiple sensors and controllers
Domain controllers integrate various sensors and controllers, such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar, enabling vehicle perception and control functions. By collecting environmental information about the vehicle's surroundings, domain controllers can achieve precise control and management of the vehicle, thereby improving vehicle safety and comfort.
2. To achieve autonomous driving capabilities for the vehicle.
Domain controllers enable autonomous driving capabilities for vehicles, allowing them to automatically identify and process information about their surroundings to achieve functions such as autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and parking. By collecting information about the vehicle's environment, domain controllers can precisely control and manage parameters such as the vehicle's route, speed, and braking, thereby achieving autonomous driving functionality.
3. Improve vehicle operating efficiency and safety.
Domain controllers enable the control and management of various vehicle systems, such as the engine, braking system, steering system, and electrical system. Through precise control and management of these systems, domain controllers can improve vehicle operating efficiency and safety, thereby reducing vehicle failure rates and maintenance costs.
04
Summarize
As domain controllers have evolved, their advantages have become increasingly apparent. This evolution has also increased the demand for computing power, driving the development of both domain controllers and chips. The architecture has shifted from distributed to centralized electronic and electrical systems. The emergence of domain controllers integrates functions that previously required multiple ECUs into a single domain controller, making the control of various automotive components more efficient. The development of domain controllers has also led to greater integration of the functions of various automotive components. Controlling the vehicle's functions through a single central controller allows for more efficient data transmission and greater interconnectivity among different automotive systems.
