Webinar on Function as a Product

A Pragmatic Approach towards Software-Defined Vehicles

www.continental-automotive.com Business Area Architecture and Networking

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Nicolas Perrin
Head of Product Group Networking and New Value Streams
Architecture and Networking Business Area

12 years at Software
Continental, background in
13 years in total various roles
in Automotive

The role of our organization is to:

Provide Gateways, Develop new business

Trailer Brake Modules model such Function
and DC/DC Converters as a Product (software
and services)

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Matra Visiophone in Early 80’
Classic Single Product Approach

Product dedicated to function

Electronics sized to this sole purpose

Monolithic Software Application that cannot be updated

Cost optimized

Ready to use

1:1 Relation – Function : Software

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Having a Desktop in 2000’
Software-Driven Approach

Computer
› Capable of running 100 applications at a time
› Require for an Operating System to run the system
› Require Drivers to interface with the additional peripherals

Main Application
› Shall comply to Operating System architecture
› Can be updated (New features, new capabilities, complete redesign, etc.)

Additional peripheral
› Hardware + Firmware using sensors to capture the environment
› Limited upgrade capability (Optimization, bug correction)
› Interfaces standardized

1:n Relation – Function : Software

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Video Call Function with Today’s Devices
Software-Driven Approach

Complete integration in one device

App store for new applications

Seamless and transparent

update of Software and
Firmware

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Story Repeats for Automotive
Example of Body Functions

From classic dedicated ECU to

High-Performance Computers
and Zone Control Units

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Big Trend: Software-Defined Vehicles
Trendy Terms for Automotive

Software-defined means that you can change the

key function or nature of the device by changing its
software. You can re-define the value of the device.

Dr. Moritz Neukirchner

(Head of Software Architecture Elektrobit)

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Big Trend: Software-Defined Vehicles
OEMs Want to Become Software Powerhouses
This transformation will move Stellantis’ vehicles from today’s dedicated
STELLANTIS electronic architectures to an open software-defined platform that
seamlessly integrates with customers’ digital lives.

Geely’s Volvo Cars said it would take software development in-house

“as a car’s appeal increasingly becomes more defined by software-
GEELY driven functions and features, rather than traditional automotive
attributes”.

The vehicle is no longer the central point of the automotive value

Renault chain, as software, electronics and on-board intelligence increasingly
Group determine both the value and use of the vehicle for new mobility needs
and services.

VW.os: The heart of our tech stack

Volkswagen With a consistent development environment and a modular structure,
our new VW.os software platform will help us to achieve simplification,
CARIAD efficiency and scalability.

Arene enables the development of integrated, software-driven

TOYOTA experiences, all with the quality and efficiency that is synonymous
with Toyota.

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Big Trend: Software-Defined Vehicles
New E/E Architecture with HW/SW Decoupling
Distributed Domain Server-Zone x-Domain
Architecture Architecture Architecture Server-Zone Architecture

CGW HPC

ZCU ZCU
ZCU ZCU ZCU
DC DC DC
HPC
HPC
HPC
HPC

ZCU ZCU
ZCU ZCU

CGW = Central Gateway; HPC = High-Performance Computer; DC = Domain Controller; ZCU = Zone Control Unit

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Industry
Challenges Software complexity
1 increases

2 Multiplication of
software suppliers

3
Limited resources

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Why Function as a Product?
Immediate Step into Software-Defined Vehicles’ World
“To unlock the potential of the software-defined vehicle, we need to adapt our collaboration, increase standardization,
and change our business models across the entire industry. With this we will open up new value streams and provide
a truly digital user experience for drivers and passengers of the smartphone on wheels.”

Jean-François Tarabbia
Head of Architecture and Networking, Continental

Software Assets Functions Parametrization

Long term Maintenance Integration services

Collaboration Services Consulting & Training

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From One Monolithic Block to Several Software Assets
Example of a Function Scattered in New E/E Architecture
Distributed Domain
Monolithic Function Architecture Architecture

CGW HPC

Customer-specific Applications
› Function portion dedicated to customer DC DC DC

differentiation

Applications
› User perceivable portion of the function

Services ZCU ZCU

› Function core algorithm and core API* ZCU ZCU ZCU

HPC
HPC
HPC
HPC

ZCU ZCU
Hardware / ECU abstraction layer ZCU ZCU

› Non-AR standard microcontroller peripherals,

› Optimized drivers

x-Domain
Server-Zone Architecture
Server-Zone Architecture

CGW = Central Gateway; HPC = High-Performance Computer; DC = Domain Controller; ZCU = Zone Control Unit

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Function Portfolio
We Can Provide the Entire Backbone Functions
Example of Body Domain Functions

Window Seat Antitheft

Lifter Adjustment Warning

Power
Latch Lock Personalization
Door

Motor Exterior
Position Light

Continental’s “Function as a Product”

portfolio offers a full range of vehicle Liftgate
Mirror
backbone functions as fast and cost- Trunk Lid
efficient as off-the-shelf solutions, which Build tomorrow’s
are ready to be integrated in x-Domain Anti-Pinch Software Defined Vehicles
products. Heating
Control with today’s Continental’s
“Function as a Product”
portfolio
Wiper Interior
Washer Light

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Function as a Product
Key Take Away

Function as a Product means software assets and

the services around to ensure seamless integration
and maintenance.

Function as a Product serves every stage of the

OEM Software-Defined vehicles transformation.

Function as a Product targets at first the backbone

functions of the vehicle.

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Thank you

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