DCU Method, easy to implement autonomous driving
Requested to Korean part company in sensor field
Design their own AP…Chips manufactured by TSMC
Huge impact on post-process ecosystem
Apple is also developing autonomous vehicle with centralized operating system (OS) like Tesla. Like smartphone, it is a single OS that controls every function in autonomous vehicle. Apple will design application processor (AP) for autonomous vehicle, and Korean part cooperative company will take charge of some of the post-processes.
Apple shared their brief development strategy of their centralized OS for Apple Car to core Korean cooperative companies.They have decided to adopt Tesla-type autonomous vehicle architecture. It is a Domain Control Unit (DCU) method that manages several electronic control units (ECU) in an AP that serves as a brain. Currently, Tesla is the only onein global autonomous vehicle market to choose the DCU method.
If they adopt this method, they are able to integrate different software by parts, and reduce number of electronic control units (ECU).It contrasts to the existing car, which had different operating software for each vehicle part. The centralized architecture has powerful computing power, and it makes them easier to implement complex autonomous driving functions. This is also excellent for complex computational processing, over-the-air software updates (OTA), and IT implementations such as cloud computing.
It has been confirmed that Apple requested a Korean part company to develop DCU in the autonomous-driving sensor field. DCU architecture of autonomous vehicles are usually designed into three areas: infotainment, motor control, and sensors. Sensor DCU integrates and manages cameras, radars, and LiDar. Korean cooperative company will be in charge of developing DCU in sensor fields.
A Korean parts company that received a development request from Apple recently placed an order for high-performance semiconductor post-processing equipment. Itwas the first time this company has purchased post-processing equipment for high-performance semiconductors. It is knownthat they have been working very closely with Apple Car's working group.
Apple will most likely also jump into the development of their own autonomous vehicle AP. The M1, a central processing unit (CPU) designed by Apple, is expected to be exclusively used for autonomous vehicles following mobile and PC. Production of the chips will be handled by TSMC.
The background of reason Apple adopted method of Tesla was to gain competitiveness to go against Tesla in short period of time. If Apple Car is released, the industries are predicting that the world of autonomous driving will become ‘Tesla vs Apple Car’. Apple is planning to design their own AP and adopt an integrated OS to release a Level 3 autonomous-driving car for the first time. Apple is developing an Apple car with a goal of launching it in 2025. An official from the part cooperative company said “Many from Apple Car’s working group are already in Korea in order to discuss research and development with Korean cooperative companies. Both Tesla and Apple car are working closely with Korean cooperative companies regarding the part supply, which has been impacting Korean post-process ecosystem.”
By Staff Reporter Sora Park (srpark@etnews.com)