Embedded Systems and Design & Development - Feb 16, 2026 | Morning | VisionAstraa EV Academy

Automotive Architecture Overview

Introduction to Automotive Architecture

• The instructor introduces themselves and the topic of automotive architecture, emphasizing its importance in understanding electric vehicles (EVs).

• Acknowledges prior knowledge about batteries and motors, setting the stage for a deeper dive into automotive architecture.

Microcontroller (MCU) as the Foundation

• The MCU is identified as the fundamental component of automotive architecture, essential for vehicle functionality.

• Basic Software Layer (BSW) consists of three layers: Service Layer, ECU Abstraction Layer, and Microcontroller Abstraction Layer.

Understanding BSW Layers

• The coding dumped into the MCU is crucial for controlling vehicle functions; this process occurs within the Microcontroller Abstraction Layer.

• Complex Device Drivers (CDDs) facilitate communication between the MCU and application layer through an AUTOSAR runtime environment.

Components of Electric Vehicle Architecture

Key Components in EV Design

• Discussion on traction motors and their types; highlights their role in both four-wheel and two-wheel setups.

• Battery serves as a primary energy source, charged via a DC to DC converter from AC supply.

Battery Management System (BMS)

• Emphasizes the importance of BMS in safely managing battery voltage to prevent damage or hazards like fires.

Power Distribution in Electric Vehicles

Auxiliary Power Needs

• Auxiliary power requirements are discussed; smaller power consumption needs are met using buck converters to lower voltage from main battery levels.

Motor Control Dynamics

• Explains how power is supplied from battery to motor through a motor controller or vehicle control unit, highlighting efficiency losses such as IR square losses and eddy current losses that affect overall vehicle performance.

Domain Controllers in Modern Vehicles

Role of Domain Controllers

• Introduces domain controllers as critical components acting like the nervous system of modern vehicles, linking back to earlier discussions on microcontrollers and ECUs.

Understanding the Evolution of Vehicle Energy Management

Historical Context of Wiring Systems

• The energy transfer in vehicles has evolved significantly, particularly from the 1990s to the 2000s, where wiring systems were chaotic and complex.

• Early vehicle wiring made it difficult to diagnose issues due to the messy connections between Electronic Control Units (ECUs).

Introduction of Domain Controllers

• In the early 2010s, domain controllers began replacing traditional ECUs, utilizing CAN communication for better data management.

• By the 2020s, a shift towards centralized ECUs was observed, allowing for streamlined communication among vehicle components.

Advancements in Microcontroller Technology

• Traditional microcontrollers like Arduino and 8051 are now largely replaced by high-performance System on Chips (SoCs), which support multi-core processing.

• Modern domain controllers utilize shared power systems instead of isolated power found in older ECUs.

Safety and Connectivity Improvements

• Safety standards have advanced with ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level), ensuring higher safety measures in modern vehicles.

• The transition from CAN communication to Gigabit Ethernet and CAN FD reflects improvements in data transmission rates and reliability.

Key Functional Domains in Electric Vehicles

• The powertrain is identified as the heart of electric vehicles (EV), encompassing motors, battery management systems (BMS), and real-time constraints.

• Mechanical components such as chassis, steering, braking, and suspension are crucial for overall vehicle functionality.

Importance of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

• ADAS technologies rely heavily on sensors; their failure can lead to critical safety issues like airbags not deploying during accidents.

Infotainment Systems Integration

• Infotainment systems enhance user experience through multimedia features essential for modern travel comfort.

Overview of Domain Controller Hardware

• Domain controllers incorporate SoCs that manage various functionalities within a vehicle's system architecture.

Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMIC)

• PMIC regulates voltage levels necessary for connectivity within automotive electronics.

Role of Multi-Core Processors

• Multi-core ARM Cortex processors serve as the brain of modern vehicles, enabling efficient processing of inputs like acceleration commands.

This structured overview captures key insights into how vehicle energy management has transformed over time while highlighting technological advancements that enhance safety and performance.

Understanding Power Electronics in Electric Vehicles

Importance of Safety Standards

• The discussion begins with the mention of ISO 21434 and ISO 26262, highlighting their significance in ensuring safety protocols within the automotive domain.

• Emphasizes that without adhering to safety guidelines, vehicle execution is not feasible.

Differences Between Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and Electric Vehicles (EV)

• ICE vehicles have multiple moving parts, including various engine types and multi-gear transmissions, which are absent in EVs.

• In EVs, speed is directly proportional to throttle input without dependency on gear shifts; this contrasts with ICE where gear shifting affects speed.

Components of Electric Vehicles

• Key components of EVs include batteries (DC source), inverters for DC to AC conversion, and fewer moving parts compared to ICE—approximately 60% less.

• The inverter's role is crucial for converting battery-stored chemical energy into usable power for the motor.

Onboard Charger Functionality

• The onboard charger (OBC) facilitates DC to DC conversion essential for charging the battery from grid supply.

• Discusses high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV), explaining how buck converters adjust voltage levels as needed.

Circuit Design in Power Electronics

• Introduces circuit designs used in onboard chargers such as half bridge and full bridge circuits involving MOSFET configurations.

• Highlights efficiency improvements through specific MOSFET arrangements that reduce conduction losses during AC to DC rectification processes.

Challenges with MOSFET Implementation

• Addresses challenges related to paralleling silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET devices due to current imbalances caused by threshold voltage discrepancies.

Challenges in Gate Driving Protection and Power Management

Tolerance Power and Solutions

• The tolerance power is noted to be less than 1.2 volts, indicating a need for solutions like using a Calvin source connection to reduce the power supply.

• A recommendation is made to utilize inductance capacity of less than one nano-hertz Henry due to comparatively low decoupling gate loop.

Gate Driving Protection Challenges

• Discussion on gate driving protection introduces the term WDD V, which relates to operational amplifiers (opamps), suggesting familiarity with these components is beneficial for industry entry.

• Emphasis on the importance of gate driver ICs used in labs and industries, highlighting their role in circuit design implementation.

Active Clamping and Signal Integrity

• Active clamping against voltage spikes involves bi-directional power transfer from output to gate using sigmos technology.

• Signal integrity challenges are discussed, particularly regarding MCU supply at 3.3 volts and the use of level shifters for voltage translation between higher and lower voltages.

Efficiency Concerns in Low Voltage Applications

• High losses associated with normal diodes lead to recommendations for ideal diodes that minimize losses close to zero.

• Description of chip design within sigmos technology emphasizes copper clip topology (LF pack or CFP), which enhances thermal dissipation and reduces resistance.

Zonal Architecture Benefits

• Overview of zonal architecture highlights weight distribution benefits through reduced copper cabling by 50%, improving efficiency over distances.

• Importance of wiring harnesses is stressed as critical for transmitting voltage or current; improper harnessing can lead to significant safety risks such as vehicle fires.

Summary of Vehicle Architectural Velocity

• Recap includes discussions on vehicle architectural velocity, domain ECUs conversion into zonal structures driven by weight reduction and software-defined features.

• Introduction of new standards for density from vehicle-to-grid capabilities, emphasizing the significance of silicon-based components like sik MOSFET operating at 800 volts requiring precise gate drivers.