The technology "Automotive TSN networks" addresses the requirements of dynamic vehicle networks through new driver assistance systems and sensors. The focus is on the secure reconfiguration of data streams in real-time networks. Developed at the Institute for Data Technology and Communication Networks (IDA) at TU Braunschweig, this solution enables dynamic adjustment of network parameters in real time, based on current applications, operating modes and vehicle conditions. The architecture consists of a central network management unit and distributed resource management clients. This enables efficient coordination of data streams and secure reconfigurations.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving require a variety of new, high-resolution sensors that place high demands on the in-vehicle communication networks. These include high bandwidth requirements and a dynamic communication profile caused by environmental and situational influences to which the vehicle is exposed during operation. In addition to the high bandwidth and the dynamic behavior of the data connections, the vehicle network must be efficient, cost-effective and lightweight, while also meeting safety requirements.
In order to use existing network resources flexibly and efficiently, a secure, lossless and reliable reconfiguration of data streams during operation is required.
However, the reconfiguration of the dynamic and resource-intensive data connections is not possible with the current network configuration mechanisms of the TSN standards at packet level. These mechanisms are too slow and do not reach the speed required to perform a reconfiguration within a packet deadline. Such data connections can only be reconfigured losslessly and reliably at runtime if the application properties of the data streams are taken into account.
As a solution, the Institute for Data Technology and Communication Networks (IDA) at the Technical University of Braunschweig has developed a central network management system that is presented under the "Automotive TSN Networks" technology and enables fast, reliable and secure reconfiguration of in-vehicle networks based on the current operating mode, the properties of the running applications and the global vehicle status. The slack created by the application data transfer is used for the reconfiguration.
The architecture consists of a central resource manager, which is used by resource management clients at each network participant. The central control unit monitors and controls the applications and the use of network resources. The global overview enables efficient coordination of data flows and a quick response to network problems. Central decisions can also be made quickly for the secure reconfiguration of network parameters, taking into account the running applications and the current system status. In addition, a dynamic shifting of data flows in the network is possible. This allows unused network capacity to be bundled and made available for new data connections.
This technology was developed as part of the trend outlook on September 27, 2023 in the Transformation Hub Leitungssatz presented by Dominik Stöhrmann from the Institute for Data Technology and Communication Networks (IDA) at TU Braunschweig.
