C h a p t e r 1 | T h e Ev o l u t i o n o f N e w A u t o m o t i v e A r c h i t e c t u r e s
the vehicle wiring harness complicated
and heavy. To counter the weight of point-
to-point connections, designers adopted
domain architecture, in which a single
controller manages a particular element
of the onboard systems. For example, the
antilock braking system uses a unique set
of connectors and cabling, which forms
just part of the vehicle harness.
Cable harnesses therefore deliver power,
data, and control signals to a huge array
of systems throughout the vehicle.
Because of their complexity, cable
harnesses are one of the few handmade
components fitted to any vehicle, despite
manufacturers adopting highly automated
production lines.
In addition to the challenges of their
manufacture, the weight of the cable
harness significantly impacts vehicle
performance, especially as governments
encourage drivers to adopt smaller and
more efficient modes of transport. The
weight of copper cabling impacts vehicle
range and endurance and is most keenly
felt by electric vehicles (EVs) as they
compete to provide a viable alternative to
internal combustion engines.
New Technologies for the Road
The challenge of connecting onboard
systems is growing, as next-generation
vehicles require even more computing
power to deliver the latest technology.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
use the latest 5G wireless communication
to improve the in-vehicle experience. Cars
now form one component in a dynamic
network that shares information with
other road users to improve safety and
transportation efficiency—a wireless
technology known as cellular vehicle-to-
everything (C-V2X) communication. To
collect and share such information, cars
will require more sensors, connectivity,
and computing power than ever before.
Zonal architecture in vehicles is
poised for success in the near future,
driven by key technologies: high-
speed communication protocols like
Ethernet for data exchange between
zones and the central control unit,
robust security measures and data
encryption, and Over-the-Air (OTA)
updates for maintaining software
across all zones."
Joji Joseph
Sr. Technical Architect, KPIT
8
Zonal Architecture: Delivering New Standards of Connectivity for Automotive and Beyond
