Designing a Scalable In-Vehicle Network for Autonomous and Electric Vehicles

The rapid evolution of chip-level architectures drives a transformative shift in how in-vehicle networks are designed for autonomous and electric vehicles. As high-performance computing (HPC) elements advance, more vehicle functions can be consolidated into fewer computing platforms. This architectural compression supports the migration of edge-based software toward centralized HPCs, enabling a more efficient, scalable in vehicle network design that can help new capabilities for years to come. Two dominant architectural approaches have emerged. Domain Master architectures assign dedicated HPCs to individual vehicle domains, such as powertrain, infotainment, or driver assistance systems. While effective for today's systems, Domain Master setups may struggle to scale as software complexity and data traffic grow. In contrast, Zonal architectures distribute HPCs throughout the vehicle's geography, with each zone controller managing software from multiple domains. This redu...