Wind River Helix Chassis, IoT & the connected car

To help auto manufacturers make the most of their opportunities in the era of the IoT, we have created Wind River Helix Chassis, a software framework for smart, connected and, most importantly, safe vehicles for the digital age.

As IoT continues to grow, vehicle functions are converging for seamless interconnected experiences that tie the driver to the outside world. In this new model, software systems can no longer be developed as isolated elements. Instead, software must have horizontal alignment across a vehicle platform.

At the same time, automakers must continuously evolve the digital systems of their vehicles to keep up with the pace of technology in consumer and other industries (telecommunication, infrastructure, networks).

To build the cars of the future, the auto industry requires an advanced, flexible, and reliable software foundation. As the market leader in delivering mission-critical software in more than 2bn devices across all major industries, Wind River is uniquely-positioned to help with this task.

Like a car’s chassis, Helix Chassis outlines a cohesive framework structure for tying together all the parts necessary for building a digital vehicle. It sets a foundation to unite the internal network of the car with the external IoT and, ultimately, to bridge the technology siloes within a vehicle to maximise reuse of software, minimise software-to-hardware dependency and improve overall system cost and quality.

Helix Chassis outlines a software framework for data, services and actions to flow from one environment to another, seamlessly and securely. The end result is safer, more efficient cars; a better driving experience; and new sources of brand differentiation and market opportunity for automakers and tier-1 suppliers.

The Helix Chassis offerings currently include these products: Wind River Helix Cockpit, Wind River Helix Drive and Wind River Helix Carsync.

Helix Cockpit is a Linux-based, GENIVI-aligned run-time platform specifically for the In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI), communications gateway and digital cluster markets. And importantly, it allows for connectivity and extensibility between those systems. Additionally, Cockpit customers will have access to Wind River Helix App Cloud, a cloud-based software development environment for building IoT applications across multiple development centres.

Wind River Helix Drive provides the foundation for developing the next generation of driver assist systems and autonomous driving innovations. Helix Drive is an AUTOSAR-oriented offering to help customers develop ISO 26262-certifiable automotive safety-critical applications. It is the basis for segment-leading platforms such as the zFAS from TTTech, used by the likes of Audi. Based on VxWorks, the industry-leading RTOS for mission-critical software systems, Drive is designed to perform at the highest safety levels to address the growing needs for safe, secure and certifiable software-driven driving applications.

Helix Carsync is an intelligent vehicle software management system that allows car manufacturers and Tier One suppliers to efficiently maintain and update the software and firmware for automobiles via OTA updates. As technology acquired from Arynga, Helix Carsync will help extend the automotive lifecycle, advance the connected car and autonomous driving, improve automotive security, reduce software-related costs and further accelerate IoT growth across other markets as well.

The Helix Chassis framework is designed to unite the internal network of the car with the external IoT world and, ultimately, to bridge the technology siloes within a vehicle to deliver new business opportunities.

By Marques McCammon.