Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1499865
High-Speed Data in Industrial, Automotive, Healthcare, and Data Centers 16 The effect on vehicle manufacturing will be enormous. Not only will the volume of copper wiring become far smaller, but its reduced size will also greatly simplify cable harness installation (Figure 5). Instead of handling harnesses that stretch over the entire length of the vehicle, each zone can be installed in a modular fashion. The reduced weight of these new cabling systems will also impact vehicle efficiency, allowing electric vehicles greater range and improved performance for a given motive power. This modular functionality will also bring about a new era of standardization. In contrast to current techniques that require a bespoke harness for each model of vehicle, or even between different options within the same model, the hardware of zonal architecture can be universal. The connection between the central computing cluster and the zonal gateways can remain unchanged between different types of vehicles, and devices can be added in a modular fashion to each gateway to enable variations. This flexibility will be driven from the central computing cluster, as much of the power of zonal architecture will be derived as a result of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Unlike traditional ECUs, which are designed to perform one function, software-driven functionality will allow zonal gateways to be adapted and updated to accommodate new functions as required. In turn, zonal architecture will enable more efficient integration of these functions. Individual components such as sensors and motors can be swapped or added using plug-and-play functionality. This will allow repairs or updates to be applied easily within the dealer network rather than in complicated workshops. The connection of the vehicle to the 5G cellular network will enable software to be updated remotely, a feature that is already being employed by some manufacturers. Challenges of Implementing Zonal Architecture The arguments for the adoption of zonal architecture in vehicle design are compelling, but its implementation does present challenges. The automotive environment itself is tough on components, especially the sophisticated electronics that zonal systems will employ. Even normal conditions will expose equipment to rain, wind, and weather, along with the dirt and dust found on the road surface. At the same time, consumers demand a quite remarkable level of reliability from their vehicles. Drivers expect all the features of their vehicle to perform flawlessly, whether they are driving a few hundred meters or as many kilometers (Figure 6). The shock and vibration that cars experience in everyday use are (Figure 7) a challenge to the functions, reliability, and long-term quality of vehicle electronics—and especially to high-speed data connections. With data speeds in excess of 1Gbps, even a momentary break in connection caused by vibration can lead to the loss of huge amounts of information. In safety-critical applications, this loss of connection has the potential for disaster, so connector design must overcome the risks caused by vibration. After all, the architecture of the central computing cluster will require a range of board-to-board connector solutions that are tolerant of vibration, even while providing connection speeds many times higher than those seen in the automotive world today. Figure 6: Automobile manufacturers perform many different tests to ensure the vehicles perform reliably under a variety of conditions. (Source: Molex) Figure 7: Connectors must tolerate vibration while providing higher speeds. (Source: Molex) Figure 5: A zonal wiring architecture could simplify the installation of cable harnesses. (Source: Adobe Stock)