Introduction: If XPeng Motors is the new power brand with the strongest application of intelligent technology, then NETA Motors is undoubtedly the new power brand with the deepest exploration of intelligent technology.
Not all new forces are assembly plants, some have core technologies.
Recently, NETA Motors officially produced the 5000th power domain controller. It is reported that the power domain controller is self-developed by NETA Motors. The production of the 5000th unit means that the self-developed power domain controller of NETA Motors has been implemented in batches.
According to NETA Motors, these 5000 power domain controllers have already been used in NETA V, U Pro and other models. At present, there is no quality problem reflected in these self-developed domain controllers of NETA.
Safety level is second only to airplanes
According to the definition of Baidu Baike, the domain controller refers to at least one server responsible for the authentication of every computer and user connected to the network in the “domain” mode, similar to a unit’s guard, called the “domain controller (DC)”.
Simply put, traditional car controllers are not connected to the network, while domain controllers are connected to the network. It has an IP identity, which is the iconic technology of intelligent cars.
According to the size of the domain scope, domain controllers are divided into many types. The first-generation power domain controller of NETA Motors includes the software and hardware functional integration and algorithm integration of VCU (vehicle control system) and BMS (battery management system).
It is said that in terms of hardware, the domain controller adopts a more powerful multi-core (triple-core) CPU/GPU chip, provides larger code storage space and stronger and safer computing power, and has rich input and output communication ports. It can support a variety of combination applications and OTA upgrade capabilities.
Powerful hardware iteration can enable it to realize more functions, including complex algorithms, higher-level control strategies, self-learning of driving habits, custom route simulation and low-energy consumption planning, and OTA updates without perception.
In terms of software, this power domain controller of NETA Motors has AUTOSAR architecture + MBD modeling application, which can effectively improve software reliability and portability.
It is reported that the development of this power domain controller is based on ASILC functional safety level, the level is only lower than the D level of airplanes, and the software failure rate is less than 0.3%.
The second generation is under development
The advantage of self-developed core technology is to control the pace of replacement.At the same time as the 5000th first-generation power domain controller was offline, NIO disclosed several pieces of information about the second-generation self-developed power domain controller.
NIO stated that the second-generation power domain controller will use the latest vehicle-grade microprocessors and intelligent processors that support AI computing, adopt a more advanced and highly-integrated hardware platform to support more intelligent functions.
In terms of safety and connectivity, the second-generation power domain controller will integrate more intelligent and secure functions, such as A/B partition seamless updates, software rollbacks, CMU reverse wake-up, Ethernet-based intelligent algorithms, intelligent learning, and self-calibration.
According to NIO, they are currently the only new car company that uses self-developed power domain controllers and one of the few whole vehicle companies in the industry that has the ability to design and develop hardware and software of self-developed power domain controllers.
In fact, in addition to power domain controllers, NIO is also developing intelligent cockpits and intelligent driving domain controllers in sync. The convergence of the three major domain controllers announced that NIO’s whole vehicle E/E architecture platform has entered the era of domain controllers.
If XPeng Motors is the new force brand with the strongest application of intelligence, then NIO is undoubtedly the new force brand with the deepest research into intelligent technology.
In addition to the power domain controller mentioned in this article, NIO’s globally pioneering transparent A-pillar has also left a deep impression on everyone.
At this year’s Two Sessions, as the only representative of new car companies, NIO founder and chairman William Li proposed to make a Chinese operating system for intelligent cars. It is reported that NIO has separately established a team to actively promote this mission.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.