In a recent interview, Rashmi spoke with Sombabu, AVP – Digital Engineering at MosChip Technologies Ltd., exploring the company’s role in transforming the automotive industry through cutting-edge embedded solutions.
Digital cockpit systems today are underpinned by high-performance embedded platforms featuring multicore SoCs, intelligent compute engines, AI accelerators, and strong safety architectures. These platforms are enabling seamless convergence between infotainment, ADAS, and telematics functionalities. As we transition towards autonomous and electric vehicles, the digital cockpit is becoming a strategic innovation hub for OEMs, which helps in reshaping driver engagement, systems architecture, and software monetization models.
As the automotive industry shifts towards software-defined architectures, the importance of embedded technologies in enhancing in-vehicle experiences becomes increasingly paramount. This article will explore the domain of embedded systems, examining the evolution from IVI systems to a fully integrated digital cockpit. This transition enables a seamless blend of personalized experiences, safety features, and connectivity, thereby redefining the driving paradigm for modern vehicles.
Q: What embedded technologies drive the digital cockpit?
Digital cockpit platforms represent a fusion of automotive-grade embedded systems, domain controllers, and intelligent high-performance computers (HPC) designed to deliver a connected, responsive, and immersive in-vehicle experience.
These systems are multicore SoCs that integrate heterogeneous compute elements such as multiple cores, DSPs, and GPUs to handle diverse workloads efficiently, and these systems run on platforms like RTOS, Yocto-based Automotive Linux, or Android Automotive OS, with hypervisors ensuring isolation between critical and non-critical domains. For entry-range & mid-range vehicles, the general trend is to design a digital cockpit on top of a single SoC solution on which both entertainment & ADAS are integrated. Whereas in luxury vehicles, the general trend is to consider multiple SOCs, one SOC is dedicated to entertainment, another SOC is dedicated to ADAS integration.
High-speed interconnects, including PCIe, LPDDR5, and MIPI/CSI, are crucial in meeting bandwidth demands for high-resolution displays and camera feeds. Specialized hardware accelerators are integrated to support AI inference through NPUs, enhance graphics, and manage multimedia via codecs like H.264, H. 265, Dolby, and DTS.
Security and safety are foundational, with secure boot mechanisms, Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), and adherence to ASIL-B/D compliance standards enabling both cybersecurity and functional safety.
Together, these technologies deliver the performance, safety, and real-time responsiveness that modern digital cockpits demand.
Q: What protocols and interfaces do digital cockpit systems use for connectivity and communication?
Digital cockpits rely on a layered communication architecture combining in-vehicle networking, external connectivity, and inter-process protocols. For in-vehicle domain and peripheral communication, automotive standards like CAN and Ethernet Audio Video Bridging (AVB) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) handle messaging between ECUs, sensors, and actuators. SPI, I2C, and UART manage onboard low-latency data transfers with touch controllers, audio codecs, and other peripherals.
High-bandwidth multimedia interfaces use MIPI CSI/DSI to drive advanced displays and camera systems, while legacy standards like MOST and FlexRay still appear in premium vehicles. For external and wireless connectivity, the cockpit integrates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CarPlay, Android Auto, Miracast, and AirPlay, ensuring seamless device pairing, media sharing, and location precision.
On the software side, frameworks and protocols like AUTOSAR and Android HAL enable communication across components. Meanwhile, MQTT and REST APIs are widely adopted for telemetry, OTA updates, and remote diagnostics.
Q: What is the transition from In-vehicle Infotainment (IVI) to an integrated digital cockpit like?
The shift from IVI systems to modern digital cockpits marks a move from discrete ECUs for infotainment, telematics, and cluster functions to a more unified and centralized architecture. Integrated digital cockpits consolidate these domains onto fewer high-performance compute units with virtualized environments, supporting multiple displays and user interfaces from a single software stack. This transition reduces wiring complexity through zonal architectures while enabling a consistent software platform across vehicle lines. As a result, manufacturers benefit from faster time-to-market, easier software maintenance, and enhanced in-vehicle user experiences.
Q: How are digital cockpit systems evolving with the rise of AI?
The digital cockpit is evolving with the integration of GenAI and LLMs, enhancing in-vehicle experiences. AI-driven multifactor authentication, such as voice, facial recognition, and fingerprints, ensures secure access. Voice assistants now support contextual commands, improving hands-free interaction, while AI-enabled voice navigation allows seamless routing to locations like charging stations. Real-time traffic data empowers AI to suggest optimal routes, while personalized infotainment adapts content based on user preferences. Adaptive AI adjusts cabin features—lighting, music, and temperature—based on the driver’s mood. For parking and tight spaces, AI uses fisheye cameras and object detection to enhance manoeuvring. Advanced driving safety features powered with AI/ML algorithms, like ADAS and vision enhancements, assist in low-light conditions. Driver behavior monitoring detects phone use, drowsiness, and gaze direction to improve safety. Lastly, AI-powered predictive maintenance monitors engine health and predicts part failures to ensure reliability.
Q: What lies ahead for digital cockpit platforms?
As the industry shifts toward EVs, autonomous fleets, and connected services, digital cockpits will play a pivotal role in defining brand identity and user loyalty. We expect:
- Immersive HMI with 3D/AR overlays, AI-guided UX, and spatial audio
- Vehicle-to-driver continuity enables seamless transfer of user profiles across vehicles, delivering a consistent and personalized cockpit experience regardless of the vehicle being used or owned.
- Fully decoupled software-hardware stacks allowing cloud-driven updates and feature monetization (For example, integrating a digital cockpit theming engine. With the theming engine, dashboard themes and user experiences can be updated over-the-air in less time.)
- Homogeneous cockpit architectures scaling across model lines—from entry to flagship
- Smart Home integration with Digital Cockpit—enabling remote home control, real-time security monitoring, and automated environment settings upon vehicle arrival
As we move toward a future characterized by increased connectivity and autonomy, the digital cockpit emerges as a crucial facilitator of innovation, enhancing safety, convenience, and brand identity throughout the driving experience. Digital cockpits have evolved beyond mere interfaces; they now serve as sophisticated experience layers that integrate technology with human interaction within the automotive ecosystem. Leveraging embedded systems equipped with advanced AI, these platforms are pioneering advancements in mobility through enhanced personalization and intelligent features, effectively redefining the landscape of automotive user experience.