Continental Online Portal Automates Software Integration for Digitally Connected Vehicle Architectures

News

January 28, 2020

Continental Cooperation Portal shortens development time by automating software validation and integration
System integration is a key competency for the development of complex hardware and software for future generations of vehicles
Continental Cooperation Portal provides a central communications platform for software projects and can be individually customized

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., January 28, 2020. The technology company Continental has a new online platform that automates and standardizes software development and integration into the vehicle. With the Continental Cooperation Portal, carmakers and suppliers save time and money in the vehicle development process, reduce costs for all involved parties, and increase software quality. As a system integrator, Continental simultaneously creates the conditions for the development of connected vehicles, whose electronic architecture focuses on high-performance computers (HPCs) and replaces the traditional, distributed control unit architecture.

Due to many manual processes and a lack of standardization, the traditional process to integrate software can be extremely time-consuming. For example, the applications are tested manually after their delivery, possible errors are corrected, and then the whole cycle starts from the beginning again – an inefficient process in modern vehicles that use software from up to 50 suppliers. The Continental Cooperation Portal will automate this to-ing and fro-ing with the wide variety of software suppliers, only transferring error-free applications into the actual development system. Additionally, the online platform will reduce the need for correction loops and free up capacity for implementing other control unit functions.

"The importance of software for vehicles is rising at a rapid pace. By developing the Continental Cooperation Portal, we have created a tool for implementing software and services from a wide range of in-vehicle server providers," said Michael Crane, vice president of Connected Car Networking for Continental, North America. "As a system integrator and strategic partner, we are working with manufacturers to simplify the increasing complexity of software integration in modern vehicles."

Automated software integration in HPCs: a milestone for digitally connected mobility

Automated driving, increasingly complex infotainment applications and services in the cockpit, cloud services, shared mobility, connectivity in the Internet of Everything—these trends are revolutionizing the E/E architecture of vehicles. As a system integrator and software and hardware supplier, Continental is a pioneer in this transformation. One milestone is the technology company’s HPC, which centrally networks the new Volkswagen ID electric vehicles by serving as an in-car application server. It makes a high level of vehicle connectivity possible, which can be used for purposes such as installing new functions and safety updates by radio, and keeping the vehicle’s software up-to-date throughout its entire lifetime.

The Continental Cooperation Portal can be individually customized for each software project. By allowing documents such as logs and manuals to be saved, the portal becomes the central communication platform and gives all project participants access to all of the latest information. Encrypted data transmission also enables the portal to provide a high level of security. The portal even makes it possible for the continuous integration and delivery concepts commonly used in agile software development to be applied across multiple development parties in vehicle development.

High-Performance ECU — High-performance computers enable a high level of vehicle connectivity and can be integrated and updated thanks to the separation of hardware and software applications from automotive manufacturers as well as software from third-party companies.
Continental AG

About Continental

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. Continental generated sales of €44.4 billion in 2018 and currently employs more than 240,000 people in 60 countries and markets.

Connect, inform, integrate: Along these strategic pillars the business area Vehicle Networking and Information (VNI) develops building blocks and end-to-end systems for the networked mobility: hardware, software and services. With solutions for connectivity, human-machine interaction, systems integration and high-performance computing for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and fleets, VNI enables proper networking and a seamless information flow.