Requirements-Driven Automotive Electrical/Electronic Architecture: A Survey and Prospective Trends

Zhu, Hailong; Zhou, Wei; Li, Zhiheng; Li, Li; Huang, Tao · 2021 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1109/access.2021.3093077

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Summary

This survey paper addresses the paradigm shift in automotive Electrical/Electronic (E/E) architecture driven by the increasing complexity of automated driving, connectivity, and electrification. The authors identify that traditional architectures, characterized by dispersed Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and point-to-point wiring, are insufficient for modern requirements regarding high bandwidth, low latency, and software flexibility. The study aims to review the historical evolution of E/E architectures from a requirements-driven perspective, analyze current state-of-the-art technologies, and propose prospective trends for next-generation systems. The authors conduct a comprehensive literature review and analysis of industrial developments, categorizing the evolution of E/E architecture into five stages: point-to-point, vehicle bus-equipped, centralized gateway, domain-based, and zone-based architectures. The analysis evaluates these architectures based on design methodologies (bottom-up vs. top-down), physical and logical topology, communication standards (such as CAN, FlexRay, and Ethernet), and software platforms. The paper also examines the roles of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and IT companies in shaping these architectures, highlighting the transition from hardware-centric designs to software-defined systems. Key findings indicate that the automotive industry is moving away from excessive decentralization toward domain-based and eventually zone-based architectures to reduce wiring complexity and weight. The survey highlights that while domain controllers alleviate gateway bottlenecks, they introduce challenges regarding deterministic latency and cross-domain communication. Consequently, the authors identify universal acceptance of software-defined, hierarchical, reconfigurable, and customized E/E architectures. Specific technical trends include the adoption of Automotive Ethernet for high-bandwidth needs, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for deterministic latency, and Power over Data Lines (PoDL) to integrate power and communication in zone-based designs. The paper notes that current bottlenecks include bandwidth limitations, wiring harness weight, and the difficulty of online upgrades. The significance of this work lies in its comprehensive mapping of the transition from mechanical-dominated vehicles to mobile servers with complex E/E infrastructures. By analyzing the trade-offs between cost, performance, and scalability, the authors conclude that future architectures must prioritize flexible decoupling of hardware and software. The proposed trends suggest a convergence of computing units and domains, facilitated by standardized protocols and collaborative development between OEMs and suppliers. This survey provides a critical framework for understanding how automated driving requirements are reshaping automotive engineering, offering insights for future research and industrial implementation of scalable, secure, and efficient E/E architectures.

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