The megatrends of zonal architectures and the software-defined vehicle (SDV) are creating a surge in demand for automotive-grade operating systems. As in the enterprise computing world, Linux has emerged as a dominant OS in the automotive sector. But how does an OS with its roots in open source adapt to a world where compliance with functional safety and security standards is paramount?
EE Times Europe spoke to sources at Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative open-source project of the Linux Foundation, and automotive software developer Elektrobit to learn how Linux is rapidly gaining adoption in the automotive industry.
According to research from Mordor Intelligence, the automotive OS market is set to grow at a 23.2% CAGR over the 2019–2029 period to reach a market value of US$44.89 billion. The growth is no surprise, given the increase in vehicle electronics for functions such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), battery energy management and feature-rich infotainment. With the transformational trends of zonal architectures, software-defined vehicles and increasing electronic control unit (ECU) consolidation, many vehicle manufacturers and OEMs are working to ascertain which operating system will become the automotive norm, as each of these trends places specific requirements on the OS. For example, using a single ECU for multiple functions highlights the need for virtualization to provide separate execution environments.
No single automotive OS has become the de facto choice thus far, with proprietary offerings, Linux and Android all finding adoption. Android has become a favorite for infotainment head units, with Linux more suited to other demanding ECU functions. Then there are the considerations of functional safety compliance and cybersecurity, both increasingly important for today’s connected automotive systems.
