C h a p t e r 4 | W h e r e C a n Z o n a l Ta ke Yo u ?
In addition, the tough automotive
environment and rigorous testing
required for vehicle-based devices create
a range of solutions that are not only
versatile but also highly robust.
For example, the aerospace industry
places great emphasis on reducing
weight. In modern aircraft, zonal
architecture can be used to manage
electrical systems, avionics, and hardware
by dividing the aircraft into zones.
The greatly simplified cable harness
requirements will reduce overall aircraft
weight. The tough conditions present
onboard aircraft, including long periods
of vibration and extreme temperature
variations, are shared with the automotive
industry, making vehicle-based solutions
attractive for aerospace designers.
Architects are integrating technology
into living and working spaces. Building
automation provides centralized control
of systems as diverse as heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC);
lighting; security; and elevators. This
unified control improves the comfort and
safety of the building's inhabitants.
Zonal architecture can be easily applied
to building automation systems, in which
separate floors or rooms are natural zones
that need to be controlled independently.
A locally installed zonal controller manages
all services within a space, and, with
existing infrastructure, can easily be tied
into the building's network.
In industrial automation, the smart
factory is a facility networked by the
Internet of Things (IoT), which allows
machines to share data. The smart
factory is more adaptable and efficient
but requires processing power, in the
form of edge computing devices, to be
deployed into the tough environment of
the factory floor. Edge computers act as
All of these technologies are
applicable outside the vehicle.
Identify the zones based on
the functionality and keep the
automotive model in mind. Instead of
ECUs, network nodes and gateways
will establish the communication."
Sameer Nargund
Technical Architect, Continental AG
25
Zonal Architecture: Delivering New Standards of Connectivity for Automotive and Beyond
