Remote-controlled edge-node benefits

Remote-controlled edge architectures offer multiple advantages, including centralizing software, reducing software development costs, enabling scalability, and simplifying OTA updates. Additionally, using a remote-controlled edge node enables load driver control from the commander ECU while minimizing load wiring.

A remote-controlled edge node can reduce system costs through software centralization. Removing the edge microcontroller and centralizing software into fewer ECUs enables companies to decrease the amount of software development and management overhead, decreasing testing and validation requirements across the many ECUs in the vehicle.

Software centralization also enhances scalability. Developers can create software for the upstream commander ECU only, while standardizing hardware in the edge nodes. This standardization simplifies vehicular infrastructures across multiple nodes and ECUs, rather than requiring specialized edge hardware.

Figure 4 contrasts a traditional approach (where each edge-node module uses a different MCU from a different supplier, requiring software development and management across multiple platforms) to a remote-controlled edge approach (where the label “RCE Solution A, B or C” in Figure 4 represents software-free options from multiple suppliers). Standards-based solutions provide additional benefits, as the commander ECU’s software remains consistent regardless of remote-controlled edge solution supplier.

Centralizing control enables automakers to streamline software management and OTA updates, making it easier for them to own and manage their own software. Releasing an OTA update requires updating only the commander ECU, rather than updating the software for multiple modules.

Using edge nodes instead of driving loads directly from the commander ECU shortens wire length to the load drivers. Remote-controlled edge nodes maintain this benefit while also keeping the HAL in the commander ECU. Figure 5 shows this configuration in a zone architecture using a door as an example. Although the zone controller controls both door modules, the door edge module shortens the load cabling, which also helps mitigate electromagnetic interference by minimizing parasitic capacitance and inductance, which is especially important for next-generation 48V vehicles that require faster switching times.