Continental Is advancing Server-based Vehicle Architectures with Zone Control Units

With the series introduction of so-called Zone Control Units (ZCUs) for European and Asian car manufacturers, Continental has implemented another key component of server-based architectures in addition to high-performance computers. The technology company has received multiple customer orders for zone control units from car manufacturers worldwide. Continental’s electronics specialists are driving the development of software-defined vehicles worldwide. Zone control units form the middle tier of the server-based electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture in software-defined vehicles. Between the levels of sensors and actuators as well as the high-performance computers, they redistribute the vehicle architecture and ensure the electronics interact smoothly across domains, reduce complexity and are the key to over the air software updates in the vehicle. “With high-performance computers, we are pioneers in the top control tier of server-based vehicle architectures. With zone control units, we also offer a solution for the middle tier. Our platform-based and modular development approach enables us to start series production within just over a year of receiving an order. This is how we are bringing the software-defined vehicle to the road more speedily,” says Jean-François Tarabbia, Head of the Architecture and Networking business area at Continental. Optimized data links between ZCUs and electronic components