Introducing a Dynamic Link for Hybrid E/E-Architectures of Modular Electric Autonomous Vehicles

The U-Shift II project aims to revolutionize mobility through modular electric vehicle architectures. The vehicle can be disjointed into two separate units, a drive unit (Driveboard) and a vehicle body (Capsule). This guarantees high flexibility in different use cases. The current software architecture, like AUTOSAR, faces cost and speed limitations. To address these problems, this paper proposes a new hybrid software architecture that combines Signal-Oriented Architecture (e.g. CAN-Bus) with Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) for higher flexibility. A dynamic link system (DLS) bridges the two, enabling seamless integration of Capsule-specific components within the Driveboard software stack that can be adjusted during runtime. The performance and functionality of the dynamic link were assessed using a hardware setup within a Driveboard prototype. The DLS was evaluated incorporating latency tests as well as functionality test measurements. The results indicate a promising hybrid E/E architecture that aims to create a robust transition towards a pure Service Oriented Architecture required in future electric autonomous vehicles.