PR91293

BERLIN Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/

OpenSynergy introduced today the company's new automotive reference platform

for virtual Android(TM) 11 (based on Trout). With technology from Google and

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the reference platform features the integration of

the Virtual I/O (VIRTIO) framework into Android Automotive OS, which allows

Android to run on any hypervisor supporting the upcoming VIRTIO devices and any

system on chip (SoC). The reference platform contains Android 11, a board

support package (BSP) from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and the VIRTIO-based

COQOS Hypervisor SDK, all of which are running on a Snapdragon(R) Automotive

Development Platform (ADP).

VIRTIO is an established virtualization standard maintained by the OASIS Open

consortium that provides a device sharing framework for devices such as Block,

Network, Console, graphics processing unit (GPU), Input, etc. As active members

of the consortium, OpenSynergy and Google have worked to expand the scope of

the open standards in the automotive domain. As there are missing

automotive-specific VIRTIO devices, the two companies are working within the

OASIS consortium to close the gap. Furthermore, the collaboration between

OpenSynergy and Google aims to allow flexibility to automakers and Tier-1

suppliers to switch between SoCs and hypervisors to best match their needs.

The reference platform showcases an Android Automotive OS-based Cockpit Domain

Controller (CDC) architecture. Similar to other CDCs, the underlying hypervisor

guarantees the secure coexistence of Android (typically a QM system) with

systems of higher criticality, such as the real-time OS displaying the

telltales on an Instrument Cluster (typically ASIL B).

The novelty lies in deploying a fully virtualized Android Automotive OS

(Trout), i.e., an Android version with no dependencies on the hardware. Instead

of directly accessing the hardware devices, Android accesses these devices

using the standardized VIRTIO framework provided by the underlying virtual

platform.

A fully virtualized Android Automotive OS can easily be ported onto any

hardware supported by the underlying virtual platform. In the case of the COQOS

Hypervisor SDK, the hardware is any automotive relevant ARMv8-A-based SoC. The

clean architectural separation introduced by VIRTIO makes updating Android and

the BSP easy.

The reference platform and the usage of virtualized Android Automotive OS were

showcased over the last year in several promotional events. Now, customers can

access it and develop their specific applications on it.  The released

reference platform is intended only for research and pre-development purposes

and not for series production. Customers can acquire the Snapdragon ADP through

Qualcomm Technologies' distribution channels. The reference platform software

is now available at OpenSynergy.

Jonathan Siegel, Portfolio Manager of OpenSynergy: "It has been an honor to

work with Google and Qualcomm Technologies on such a game-changing project for

the automotive industry. After intense years of development, the day has come

in which we at OpenSynergy are finally releasing the virtual Android Automotive

OS reference platform to the community. We are confident that this will ignite

a new dynamic features we did not think of will be developed; easier deployment

processes will be implemented. And we look forward to what comes next for

VIRTIO-based Android. The community will guide us!"

Find more on our website:

www.opensynergy.com/coqos-hypervisor-sdk-trial-for-android-reference-platform/

About OpenSynergy

OpenSynergy provides embedded software products for the next generation of

vehicles. Its hypervisor and communication products pave the way for an

integrated driving experience.

The automotive virtual platform COQOS Hypervisor SDK integrates a mix of

real-time applications and open source solutions on powerful domain

controllers. It supports a large bundle of features corresponding to the

virtualization standard VIRTIO, creating maximum flexibility: guest operating

systems can be used and reused on different Systems on Chips.

The automotive leading Bluetooth(R) stack Blue SDK is one of OpenSynergy's

communications platforms. It is the reference Bluetooth(R) implementation for

many OEMs around the world. The variant Blue SDK Fusion offers a reliable

Automotive-Grade Bluetooth stack for Android(TM) Automotive OS.

OpenSynergy further provides complimentary Automotive-Grade software components

tailored for the AndroidTM Open Source Project (AOSP) to boost Android's

adoption in the automotive domain.

OpenSynergy also provides engineering services to support the customization of

its products.

Read more on www.opensynergy.com

Contact

OpenSynergy GmbH

Sabine Mutumba

Director of Marketing

Rotherstr. 20

D-10245 Berlin

Tel.: +49 (0)30.60 98 540-41

Email: marketing@opensynergy.com

Google and Android are trademarks of Google LLC.

Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm

Incorporated.  

The Snapdragon Automotive Development Platform is a product of Qualcomm

Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

SOURCE: OpenSynergy GmbH