As the intelligence of next-generation vehicles is increasingly migrating to a few central high-performance computers, software running on them should be easy to update and expand with new functions, like a smartphone. In addition, it must have the highest functional safety standards for mobility systems. In order to avail of these requirements, global technology company ZF has strengthened its automotive software business by acquiring a 5% stake in the software company Apex.AI.
In addition to the financial support, ZF will also develop software solutions based on the Apex.OS meta-operating system, a press release from the company said.
Apex.OS is written in new standards of the C++ programming language, which enables high reusability of individual building blocks. This approach is an alternative communication framework to the Adaptive Autosar standards widely used in the automotive industry. ZF can supply its customers with both approaches, depending on which variant the respective vehicle manufacturer prefers.
Nico Hartmann, Head, ZF Global Software Center, said, “Based on the Apex.OS, we can offer our customers an additional ZF Middleware option. This solution is certified to the highest standards of functional safety for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Thus, we offer our customers an alternative to Autosar Adaptive.”
Jan Becker, CEO and Co-founder, Apex.AI, said, “We are proud that ZF, as one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world, will also offer software solutions based on Apex.OS. We hope that this core software, which is a non-differentiating software for vehicle users, will become a standard in the automotive industry.”
Middleware Solutions
High-performance computers and software play a central role among the ZF solutions for the software-defined vehicle. The electric and electronic architectures of the next-generation vehicles will control all essential functions and connect them with both the vehicle systems and the outside world.
ZF Middleware is an open software platform that acts as a ‘mediator’ between a vehicle computer’s operating system and its software applications. Key functions of the middleware are the abstraction of the computer hardware from software applications and the communication between these applications. The actual software functions, such as autonomous driving functions, can then be built on top of this middleware.
Functional Safety
Apex.OS is a meta-operating system derived from the Robot Operation System (ROS), initially developed for robotics applications. Apex.AI has further developed this operating system for the automotive sector and gained ASIL D certification according to ISO 26262 functional safety standards for vehicles. As a result, this core software for high-performance automotive computers, including the associated software development kits, is readily available, thereby offering car manufacturers the option of deploying scarce human resources more in other areas that provide significant differentiation for the end customer. Apex.OS can be used in all types of vehicles, such as passenger cars, robotaxis, shuttles and commercial vehicles, independent of their automation level.