Android Automotive Implementations

Three Automotive Implementations in Android

1. Android Auto
2. Android Automotive OS
3. Exterior View System (EVS) stack

1. Android Auto

• CarPlay和Android Auto上的应用程序并没有直接安装在车载系统上，而是在你的移动设备上运行并投影至车载屏幕上。如果你在手机上安装了一个适配车载系统的应用程序，那么应用程序将会显示在车载系统上。
• 它包含了Google地图、电话、信息（以及Hangouts）和Google Play Music（以及第三方音乐/播客服务）。
• Android Auto可以使用屏幕上的按钮或方向盘上的专用按钮来激活Google Now从而进行语音控制。
• Announced in Google I/O June, 2014. API supports: Android 5.0 (L) API level 21.
• Hyundai Sonata first supported Android Auto in 2015.
• 缺点: 

(1)分辨率和反应速度还远达不到手机端的流畅和易用。
(2)车载系统的处理器和感应器没有统一的技术规范，
     不同的规格给适配带来了难度。

2. Android Automotive OS

• Android Automotive is tightly integrated with the features of a car Android-based operating system designed for use directly on vehicle head units as part or all of the vehicle system and/or infotainment functionality (e.g. VMS - Vehicle Map Service , EVS - Exterior View System, IVI - In-Vehicle Infotainment, HVAC - Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning etc.) 
• Features:
• Google 智能助理、Google 地图等应用程序，甚至还可以通过 OTA 更新下载新系统，也可以从 Google Play 下载更多应用程序。
• 全局夜间模式.所有子菜单都将支持纯黑色显示，并且支持按自然时间/用户自定义时间段自动切换。
• 全新的导航通知栏.如果驾驶员在导航的过程中接了个电话，那么新版的导航通知栏将会在系统最上方固定显示通话的相关按钮, 所有导航按钮都被移到了屏幕的左下角，也就是最接近驾驶员的位置。
• 支持屏幕尺寸自适应调节
• 谷歌在汽车行业并没有选择做得尽量多，与之相反的是，谷歌选择了做得尽量好
• Supported after Android 8.0 (O), API level 26.
• 2017 Google 宣布Audi及Volvo将以Android作为车载信息娱乐系统的平台
• 2019 Google I/O open 3rd party app development. Volvo Polestar 2 demonstrated  Android Automotive OS
• 2018 Starting with the cars manufactured from 2021, the three brands that make up the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will be using Google’s Android to power their infotainment systems.
• 2019 April, FCA、谷歌、三星合作研发车机系统，在2022年之前让旗下全部车型搭载Android Auto车机系统和三星电子云服务。

2.1 Android Automotive OS Architecture

*Car API: CarxxxManager interfaces directly called by APPS.
*Car Service: Functionalities for HVAC, Car info, media playback…
*VehicleNetworkService: Controls vehicle HAL with built-in security.
*Vehicle HAL: Interface that defines the vehicle properties OEMS can implement.

•  Car Services

*Located at packages/services/Car/service/src/com/android/car

•  Car App and Car API

*Car App located at packages/apps/Car/
*Car API located at packages/services/Car/car-lib/src/android/car

3. EVS

• An automotive HIDL Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that provides for imagery capture and display very early in the Android boot process and continues functioning for the life of the system. 
• Evs app: located at packages/services/Car/evs
• App: evs应用层，负责初始化操作，监听倒车状态，OpenGL 显示, 倒车UI更新等逻辑处理        Name: evs_app  
• Manager: evs管理器，负责与HAL层的交互，实现HAL层的一些接口，例如openDisplay()，openCamera()等操作。Name: android.automotive.evs.manager@1.0
• SampleDriver:驱动层实现，基于v4l2实现的一个驱动Demo程序，供HAL层调用，Camera操作和display操作核心，涉及到摄像头设备操作和display设备操作。 Name: android.hardware.automotive.evs@1.0
• Evs HAL: hardware\interfaces\automotive\evs\1.0

  - default：提供一个模拟倒车测试，显示静态图片模拟倒车；用于测试功能逻辑，不是真实的倒车；
  - Types.hal文件：提供了hal接口，供驱动层实现；

Automotive OS Pros

• Minimize developing efforts. Focus on our specializations.
• Leverage Android latest technology: e.g., google access, map, multi-screens, Bluetooth 
• Unified user interfaces and behavior on all IVI.
• Features collected from all eco system.
• Well tested and approved framework from world wide.
• Allow applications from third party.
• Easy maintenance.  Fast to update to latest Android AOSP.

Automotive OS Cons

• Less uniqueness to other IVI solution providers .
• Existed features and future new features may conflict with Automotive OS framework.
• Is it safe to install 3rd party App?

Conclusions

• EVS is independent of Automotive OS framework. It can be deployed separately for fast rear-view camera or surround view displays in an Android-based IVI system.
•  Apply Automotive OS to reduce lag to latest Android version and take advantage of its new features.
• Seamless and tightly integrate with vehicle related functions: HVAC, cabin, engine, energy.
• Minimize customization for easy upgrade. For example, skin, launcher. 
• Well control and manage 3rd party App.
• Value-added services: cloud, membership, shopping, customer services…

References

Hyundai car demo https://player.youku.com/embed/XODM3NjMzNDEy
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/google-android-to-power-nissan-renault-and-mitsubishi-cars-from-2021-128702.html
https://chejiahao.autohome.com.cn/info/3779942/
https://source.android.google.cn/devices/automotive