E/E Architecture – Basics, Functionality, Applications, and Requirements

Electrics and electronics (E/E) are the nervous system of modern vehicles. They help integrate state-of-the-art functions, such as security and assistance systems, infotainment, as well as drive train control. In a constantly connected and digitalized automotive world, a powerful E/E architecture is key. This text explores basics, structure, functionality, applications, and requirements of modern E/E architectures.

What does E/E mean for the automotive industry?

E/E is the abbreviation of electrics and electronics and includes all electrical and electronic components within a vehicle, such as:

Power supply and energy distribution: providing electric energy to the various units.
Control units and sensors: data acquisition, processing, and transfer for ECU and climate control, battery management, security functions, as well as driver assistance systems.
Communication interfaces: connecting control units via bus systems, such as CAN, LIN, or Automotive Ethernet. These bus systems connect actuators with the control units, allow the different control units to communicate with each other, and provide via HMI interfaces the necessary data for vehicle features like driver assistance, infotainment, air-conditioning, security, and efficiency.

Functionality of an E/E architecture

E/E architectures rely on well-integrated hardware and software. Important elements are:

Electric energy distribution: a stable supply for all electronic components, even during voltage fluctuations within the on-board supply system and under extreme environmental conditions.
Signal processing and communication: Data are exchanged between sensors, control units, and actuators in real time via bus systems, with optimized communication protocols like CAN, LIN, Flexray, FPD-Link, GMSL, and ASA-ML.
Control systems: Intelligent algorithms and software solutions control the vehicle functions and help the various components work together smoothly.
Software integration: Thanks to modeling and simulation tools, complex E/E architectures can be planned and optimized at an early stage to ensure fast and efficient development processes up until time to market.

E/E architecture applications

E/E architectures provide the connecting links within the vehicle:

Vehicle development and prototype testing: As early as in the development stage of new models, E/E architecture optimization can improve security, efficiency, as well as vehicle dynamics.
Vehicle production: By reducing complexity and cable connections, modern E/E architectures simplify the assembly and cut down production time, leading to more precision and quality in serial production.
Driver assistance and infotainment: Systems like ABS, adaptive speed control, lane departure warning, and modern infotainment solutions depend on a robust and fail-safe E/E architecture for fast and secure data transmission.
Autonomous driving: Self-driving vehicles need highly complex and connected E/E architectures that can record and evaluate environment data in real time as well as simultaneously give the according control commands.
Connectivity and telematics: Modern E/E architectures in connected vehicle concepts transfer data to central platforms in real time or interact with other vehicles and road users, optimizing traffic flow, security, fleet management, as well as maintenance intervals. They lay the foundation for future innovations in mobility concepts.

Requirements for modern E/E architectures

With the continuously growing requirements for vehicles, E/E architectures have to meet high demands:

Reliability and security: Systems have to work reliably and fail-safe, even under extreme environmental conditions (temperature, vibration, humidity).
Real-time capability: Precise timestamps as well as powerful data processing and analysis are key to secure time-sensitive functions like driver assistance systems and autonomous driving features.
Modularity and scalability: Flexible and modular zonal architectures allow for the integration of new soft- and hardware technologies, high reusability, as well as a fast and efficient adaption to future requirements.
Interoperability: Standardized communication protocols (e.g. CAN, LIN, Ethernet) are vital to securing the connectivity of control units in the future.

Outlook and solutions

Refining E/E architectures is essential for the future of mobility. Significant trends and solution approaches are:

Expanded E/E architectures: With the ever-growing need for electric mobility, autonomous driving, as well as digital connectivity, modular and scalable systems that can adapt to new technologies and changing market requirements are becoming more and more important.
Integration of IoT and cloud solutions: The increasing connectivity of vehicles provides large amounts of data that can be analyzed in real time. Cloud platforms help continuously optimize vehicle functions and allow for predictive maintenance with OTA (OverTheAir) updates.
Innovative development tools: Modern tools are key to a model-based development of complex E/E architectures and the efficient integration of hard- and software components. They help reduce development times and improve system quality.
Cyber security and data protection: The increasing digitalization calls for according security measures. Future E/E architectures will have to focus even more on data protection and the defense against cyberattacks.

Conclusion

Electrics and electronics are the foundation of modern vehicle technologies. The integration of complex E/E architectures lays the ground for innovative driver assistance and infotainment solutions as well as for autonomous driving and connected mobility concepts. With their high modularity, reliability, and real-time capability, modern E/E architectures are perfectly equipped for the requirements of the future.