Oct 16, 2018 — by Eric Brown
— 98 views
The Automotive Grade Linux project has released Unified Code Base 6.0 in-vehicle infotainment stack with new software profiles for telematics and instrument cluster.
The Linux Foundation’s Automotive Grade Linux project version 6.0 (“Funky Flounder”) of its Unified Code Base 6.0 distribution is now available for download. The new release for the first time expands the open source in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) stack to support telematics hooks and instrument cluster displays.
“The addition of the telematics and instrument cluster profiles opens up new deployment possibilities for AGL,” stated Dan Cauchy, Executive Director of Automotive Grade Linux at the Linux Foundation. “Motorcycles, fleet services, rental car tracking, basic economy cars with good old-fashioned radios, essentially any vehicle without a head unit or infotainment display can now leverage the AGL Unified Code Base as a starting point for their products.”
Key features for UCB 6.0 include:
- Device profiles for telematics and instrument cluster
- Core AGL Service layer can be built stand-alone
- Reference applications including media player, tuner, navigation, web browser, Bluetooth, WiFi, HVAC control, audio mixer and vehicle controls
- Integration with simultaneous display on IVI system and instrument cluster
- Multiple display capability including rear seat entertainment
- Wide range of hardware board support including Renesas, Qualcomm Technologies, Intel, Texas Instrument, NXP and Raspberry Pi
- Software Development Kit (SDK) with application templates
- SmartDeviceLink ready for easy integration and access to smartphone applications
- Application Services APIs for navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth, audio, tuner and CAN signaling
- Near Field Communication (NFC) and identity management capabilities including multilingual support
- Over-The-Air (OTA) upgrade capabilities
- Security frameworks with role-based-access control
Mercedes-Benz Vans Sprinter |
In June, AGL announced that Mercedes-Benz Vans was using UCB for upcoming vans equipped with next generation connectivity and robotics technology. The announcement followed Toyota’s larger commitment to AGL for its 2018 Toyota Camry cars, as well as some Prius models.
UCB 6.0 does not include the virtualization framework for UCB, which was announced in July. Destined for a future UCB release, the virtualization technology includes a novel bus architecture that can encompass both critical and non-critical systems and support a variety of open source and proprietary virtualization solutions running simultaneously.
In other recent automotive technology news, last month the Wall Street Journal reported that a fully featured version of Google’s Android Auto technology will be used for IVI systems built into Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance cars starting in 2021. The carmaker collective is the world’s largest, with 10.6 million vehicles sold in 2017. Earlier this year, Google and Volvo demonstrated a 2020 XC40 model that runs Android Auto together with Volvo’s Sensus skin.
Further information
AGL’s Unified Code Base 6.0 is available now for download. More information may be found on this UCB 6.0 release notes page.