Qualcomm-4th Generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform

Technical description:

The fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform is a leading cockpit solution launched by Qualcomm in 2021. As the hub of high-performance computing, computer vision, AI and multi-sensor processing, it meets the computing, performance and functional safety requirements of the corresponding partitions or domains through flexible software configuration, and supports the evolution of the cockpit to a regional system electronic and electrical computing architecture. The fully scalable fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform has three levels, including the Performance level for entry-level platforms, the Premiere level for mid-level platforms, and the Paramount level for supercomputing platforms. The platform uses a 5nm process technology to enhance the performance of graphics, multimedia, computer vision and AI, and is designed to support optimized, context-aware and adaptive cockpit systems that can evolve according to the preferences of drivers and passengers. The new platform uses the sixth-generation Qualcomm Kryo CPU, Qualcomm Hexagon processor, multi-core Qualcomm AI engine, sixth-generation Qualcomm Adreno GPU and Qualcomm Spectra ISP to provide a true platform-level chip. With enhanced features, the fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform has become one of the most comprehensive top solutions in the automotive industry, bringing excellent in-car user experience as well as safety, comfort and reliability, setting a new benchmark for cockpit solutions in the automotive industry. Jidu Auto's first model, JIDU ROBO-01, uses the fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, and its mass-produced version will be officially launched in 2023.

Unique advantages:

High-performance computing: The sixth-generation Qualcomm Kryo CPU is designed to provide the power and performance required for the next generation of automotive digital cockpit computing, support multiple virtual machines, and provide the isolation required for domain convergence. Rich graphics and multimedia support to create an immersive in-car experience: The Adreno GPU is optimized to support high-performance, low-power graphics, video, and display processing units, which can render multiple high-resolution displays and provide excellent visual 3D graphics, allowing drivers and passengers to experience top entertainment content on different displays. The new platform uses enhanced pixel processing capabilities to support multi-channel high-definition camera access, which can support visualization of the car or the surrounding environment after splicing and processing. In addition, the new platform can support up to 16 cameras through a serial interface and more cameras through an Ethernet interface. The performance and safety improvements of the visual and multimedia processing units are designed to provide a full range of media experiences for future cockpits while ensuring the safety and comfort of drivers and passengers. Highly intuitive AI experience: Using advanced AI engines, it supports personalized settings for drivers and passengers, in-car virtual assistants, natural voice control, language understanding, driver monitoring, driver and passenger recognition, and adaptive human-machine interfaces. The AI ​​engine enables the system to continuously learn and adapt to the preferences of the driver and passengers, covering not only media or information audio and video content, but also vehicle control functions such as seat and mirror positions, HVAC (air conditioning control), personalized temperature settings for different seats, audio content and volume preferences, providing drivers with an interactive interface that suits their preferences and the atmosphere of the vehicle. · Situational awareness and safety enhancements: For intelligent, distraction-free driver assistance systems, including in-car monitoring, child and driver recognition, and ultra-high-definition surround monitoring that improves roadside safety through object detection. By adopting the AI ​​engine and ISP module, the platform can support the integration of in-car and external cameras to provide basic support for ensuring the safety and comfort of drivers and passengers. This safety foundation covers key computing modules and is strengthened by an integrated safety management program to provide a higher level of ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) required for domain fusion. · Immersive audio: Designed to provide an excellent audio experience, including personalized multi-sound zones customized for each user, clear in-car communications, and active noise reduction and echo cancellation, the powerful audio subsystem integrated in the fourth-generation platform can provide engine and road noise suppression functions. · Connectivity support: Pre-integrated Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, providing premium in-car wireless experiences, including hotspots, high-speed gaming, and phone mirroring technologies such as wireless Android Auto. · In-vehicle networking and cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) support: Pre-integrated Snapdragon Automotive 5G Platform with C-V2X technology, providing the high bandwidth required for seamless streaming, OTA upgrades, and multi-gigabit upload and download capabilities. · Software support: Scalable software architecture and multi-board support package (BSP) configuration, including architecture and distribution of upper-layer operating systems (HLOS) and applications, real-time operating system (RTOS) hypervisors, and Linux containerization technologies (LXC and other containerization technologies).

Application scenarios:

The fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform meets the computing, performance and functional safety requirements of smart cars for partitions or domains through powerful performance and flexible software configuration, bringing diversified functions such as high-performance computing, rich graphics and multimedia, highly intuitive AI experience, situational awareness and safety enhancements, and immersive audio, aiming to meet the different preferences of drivers and passengers, and provide excellent in-car user experience as well as safety, comfort and reliability. With the continuous growth of on-demand media consumption and OTA application content, the next generation of cars will adopt multiple high-resolution displays for media, navigation and high-definition instrument panels, while still requiring several lower-resolution displays, such as column or mirror displays with corresponding safety requirements. The fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform supports high-performance, low-power graphics, images, video and display processing units, and can render multiple high-resolution displays, allowing drivers and passengers to experience top entertainment content on different displays. Passengers can share the same entertainment experience on different displays, or enjoy their own high-resolution displays and media content. The fourth-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform can also support the integration of multiple ECUs and domains in the vehicle, including instrument panel and cockpit, AR-HUD, information audio and video, rear display, electronic rearview mirror and in-car monitoring functions; at the same time, the platform supports the integration of multiple distributed computing components in the vehicle from the beginning of its design, which can perfectly match the central computing electronic and electrical architecture, and further support the evolution of intelligent connected vehicles to a central computing architecture.

Future prospects:

Through the fourth-generation Snapdragon cockpit platform, Qualcomm is committed to providing the industry's most advanced digital cockpit solutions, aiming to revolutionize the experience of drivers, passengers, rear entertainment and contextual awareness, while helping automakers cope with the migration to regional system computing architectures through the integration of computing, performance, AI and security. Qualcomm plans to continue to support automakers in expanding such high-performance car cockpits in diverse automotive market segments, and help them popularize advanced information and audio-visual technologies to make every driving experience safer, more comfortable and personalized. At present, Jidu ROBO-01 has announced the use of the fourth-generation Snapdragon cockpit platform. At the same time, partners such as PATEO Car Network, ArcherMind Technology, Neusoft Group, Unity China, Thundersoft, Autolink, Jueying, Arkamys, Baidu Apollo, Aptiv, ArcSoft, Bosch, Hangsheng, and Valeo brought solutions and demonstrations based on the fourth-generation Snapdragon cockpit platform to the 2023 Qualcomm Automotive Technology and Cooperation Summit, providing excellent in-car user experience as well as safety, comfort and reliability, setting a new benchmark for digital cockpit solutions in the automotive industry. Qualcomm's integrated automotive platform is continuously enhancing the company's leadership in in-vehicle networking, infotainment and in-car connectivity, and driving business growth. Currently, all major automakers in the world have selected the Snapdragon cockpit platform.