Since 2018, ADI has been working with the BMW Group on a new concept to simplify bringing Ethernet to the edge. At the same time, the IEEE 802.3cg Group was defining a new 10Mbps Ethernet standard called 10BASE-T1S, with ADI and the BMW Group, among other companies, actively involved. By using ADI's 10BASE-T1S E²B technology to eliminate microcontrollers and move software from edge nodes to central processing units, the BMW Group enables a fully hardware-based edge node while reducing software development and qualification efforts.

“While working with ADI on 10BASE-T1S E²B, we combined our efforts on a number of key considerations, from simplifying implementation to cost analysis and design support. Our relationship with ADI has enabled us to move more quickly to market with a zonal architecture solution for software-defined vehicles,” stated the BMW Group.

“We continue to work closely with the BMW Group to understand their next-generation needs and deliver more optimized products that support next-generation architectures, as well as to continue cooperating on standardization,” said Yasmine King, Vice President of Automotive Cabin Experience at ADI. “10BASE-T1S E²B is a great new addition to our automotive connectivity and networking portfolio, innovated to drive success across a variety of use cases, with the flexibility and scalability needed to support zonal, domain, and hybrid architectures.”

The in-cabin experience remains critical for automakers as drivers and passengers' expectations become increasingly refined. This is especially true for ambient lighting within the vehicle.

However, many current lighting solutions are complex to implement, rely on legacy technologies, and are difficult to scale and upgrade as the number of compatible LEDs increases. By leveraging 10BASE-T1S technology with E²B, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can deliver a complete customer experience while simultaneously synchronizing lighting with other vehicle applications. Fully enabling a software-defined lighting system provides greater flexibility, ease of upgradeability, and ease of use.

"This approach to edge connectivity is in such high demand that the automotive industry, within the Open Alliance (opensig.org), is now aiming to standardize a similar solution. ADI, along with the BMW Group and other companies, is actively working with the industry to create an Open Standard implementation," said Yasmine King.