Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
Software-Defined Vehicles
Hardware Abstraction Layer
software-hardware decoupling
automotive software architecture
modularity
Evaluating Hardware Abstraction Layer Concepts for Software Defined Vehicles: Insights into Applicability and Effectiveness
🤖 AI Summary
This study addresses the limitations of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) stemming from tight hardware-software coupling, which hinders modularity, interoperability, real-time performance, and over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities. The work presents the first systematic evaluation of hardware abstraction layer (HAL) mechanisms across automotive and non-automotive domains—including smartphones and industrial automation—and establishes a standardized assessment framework tailored to SDV requirements. Comparative analysis reveals that hypervisor-based HALs excel in security, OTA support, and hardware efficiency, whereas middleware-based HALs offer superior portability and modularity. Building on these insights, the paper proposes a hybrid HAL architecture that synergistically combines the strengths of both approaches, delivering a scalable, lifecycle-aware hardware abstraction solution for SDVs that ensures secure isolation while providing standardized interfaces.
📝 Abstract
The emergence of Software-Defined Vehicles represents a fundamental shift in automotive design, prioritizing software-centric architectures over traditional hardware-driven models. SDVs require modularity, interoperability, real-time processing, and over-the-air update capabilities throughout the vehicle lifecycle. However, current vehicle systems, characterized by tightly coupled software and hardware, struggle to meet these demands due to their complexity and heterogeneity. A critical first step toward enabling SDVs is the decoupling of software from hardware, which can be facilitated through a robust Hardware Abstraction Layer. While existing HALs offer hardware independence and standardized interfaces, their applicability and effectiveness in SDV contexts remain uncertain. This paper systematically evaluates current automotive HALs and explores HAL mechanisms from non-automotive domains, including smartphones, networking, and industrial automation, to extract cross-domain insights relevant to SDV development. A criteria-driven evaluation framework is developed to assess HALs against SDV-specific needs. Findings reveal that while middleware-based HALs offer portability and modularity, hypervisor-based approaches better support safety, OTA readiness, and hardware efficiency. Limitations in both approaches are identified, prompting recommendations for a hybrid HAL design that integrates hypervisor isolation with middleware standardization. This paper contributes to the ongoing developments in automotive software architecture by offering insights into the applicability and effectiveness of current HAL strategies. It provides actionable guidance for designing flexible, scalable, and future-ready HALs to support SDVs across their lifecycle.
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
Hardware Abstraction Layer
Software-Defined Vehicles
Hypervisor
Middleware
Cross-domain Evaluation
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