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In-Vehicle Communications
Data and network integrity and interoperability across protocols
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eCall / ERA GLONASS Testing
Emergency safety through end-to-end functional and standard conformance
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C-V2X Emulation and Testing
C-V2X development, simulation, and analysis from lab to the field
In-Vehicle Communications
Keysight in-vehicle communications products offer high-performance design and test platforms to ensure the functionality, performance, and interoperability of modern automotive networking systems. Automotive Ethernet provides a single, universal medium for high-speed communication that allows different components to coexist on the same switched network. Keysight automotive Ethernet test products ensure network integrity for compliance, decode, TSN, TCP/IP stack testing, as well as safe and secure performance of the connected car. SerDes connections convert parallel data to serial data (and vice-versa), enabling faster communication between devices like cameras, sensors, and other autonomous driving systems. Need help selecting? Check out the resources below.
eCall / ERA GLONASS Testing
The Keysight eCall / ERA-GLONASS conformance test solution simulates the required four vehicle system elements for emergency safety testing: the in-vehicle system (IVS) module, global network satellite system (GNSS), cellular network, and public service answering point (PSAP) to compile the minimum set of data (MSD). This setup makes it possible to verify if the in-vehicle system or modem can trigger an emergency call, send the correct raw MSD data and establish a voice connection with the PSAP. This platform tests both Pan European and ERA-GLONASS platforms, fully independent of any real-world mobile network, using a UXM/8960 and MXG to emulate a cellular network. Need help selecting? Check out the resources below.
C-V2X Emulation and Testing
Keysight C-V2X emulation and testing solutions are critical enablers for the development and deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles. They provide comprehensive capabilities for testing C-V2X modules and systems across various layers, from RF to application, in a controlled lab environment. By offering these capabilities, Keysight C-V2X emulation and testing solutions play a pivotal role in accelerating the safe, reliable, and cost-effective development of the next generation of connected and autonomous vehicles, ultimately paving the way for a more intelligent and safer mobility experience. Need help selecting? Check out the resources below.
Fast communication with low latency
The automotive industry is adding greater complexity with more and more ADAS sensors and systems, while at the same time trying to simplify the networks that carry the data within vehicles. Higher bandwidth and lower latency networking will play a critical role in addressing time-sensitive and complex automotive technologies to come like Automotive Ethernet and standardized Automotive SerDes. However, there will undoubtedly be a place for the lower speed serial protocols like CAN and LIN for many years to come. Keysight addresses all these technologies and more.
Find compatible software and accessories for your automotive solution
Choose from a wide variety of automotive Ethernet test, SerDes compliance, and application-specific software or accessories like test fixtures, cables, adapters, and more.
Explore automotive communications solutions use cases
Automotive communications solutions support a range of measurements across various industries, discover them all
Automotive
How to Test Automotive Ethernet Channel Compliance
Verify Automotive Ethernet harness assemblies, cables, and connectors.
Automotive
Verify the Automotive SerDes harness, connector, and cable conformance.
Automotive
Verify RF, protocol, and functional performance of Uu and PC5 interfaces.
Automotive
Use a wireless network emulator to verify eCall/ERA-GLONASS module conformance.
Automotive
Perform automotive protocol analysis using an oscilloscope and decode software.
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Frequently asked questions
Automotive communication protocols are the standardized formats that enable different electronic components and systems within a vehicle to exchange information. They are crucial for everything from basic engine control to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. The primary protocols for automotive communications include:
- Controller Area Network (CAN)
- Local Interconnect Network (LIN)
- Automotive Ethernet
- Automotive SerDes
The automotive communication landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by the shift towards software-defined vehicles, increasing automation, and greater connectivity. Here are the latest and most significant trends:
- Dominance of Automotive Ethernet: Automotive Ethernet is rapidly becoming the primary in-vehicle network (IVN) for high-bandwidth applications.
- Zonal architectures: The transition to software-defined vehicles is heavily influencing network topology. Vehicles are moving from a distributed ECU architecture to centralized or "zonal" architectures, where powerful domain controllers or a central computer process data from sensors in specific zones.
- Software-defined vehicle (SDV) impact: SDVs fundamentally change how vehicle functions are developed and implemented. Software updates enable continuous improvement and feature updates through OTA communication.
- Focus on cybersecurity: The increasing connectivity and software complexity of modern vehicles, particularly SDVs, significantly expand the potential attack surface for cyber threats and necessitates a move towards comprehensive, end-to-end cybersecurity measures.
The future of automotive communications is strongly linked to the ongoing transformation of vehicles into highly intelligent, connected, and autonomous mobility platforms. This future will be defined by an exponential increase in data, demanding ultra-high bandwidth, near-zero latency, and unparalleled security across all communication layers. Here are the key technologies shaping the future of automotive communications:
- Dominance of multi-gigabit Automotive Ethernet with TSN: The move to software-defined vehicles (SDV) drives higher data rate requirements and makes Automotive Ethernet the go-to form for high-speed communication within the vehicle. SDVs will be built on service-oriented architectures (SOA), where vehicle functionalities are exposed as software services that can communicate and interact seamlessly across the network. This will enable dynamic feature updates, personalized experiences, and efficient resource allocation. While bandwidth increases, the goal is to consolidate and simplify the physical wiring harness, reducing weight, complexity, and cost.
- Pervasive and proactive cybersecurity: Cybersecurity will be fundamentally integrated into every layer of automotive communication, from chip to cloud. All communication, whether internal or external, will operate under a "zero-trust" principle, meaning no entity is trusted by default, and every communication must be rigorously authenticated and authorized. Secure over-the-air (OTA) updates will be standard for deploying security patches and new features, coupled with continuous monitoring of vehicle networks for vulnerabilities.
- AI-driven communication optimization: AI will manage and optimize the communication network dynamically within the vehicle and between vehicles and infrastructure. This includes intelligent routing, bandwidth allocation, and fault detection/recovery. AI will predict communication needs based on driving conditions, route, and anticipated events, proactively adjusting network resources.
In summary, the future of automotive communications is a highly integrated, intelligent, and secure ecosystem. It will move beyond simply connecting devices to creating a living, breathing network that learns, adapts, and makes real-time decisions, ultimately enabling truly autonomous mobility, hyper-personalized in-car experiences, and a safer, more efficient transportation system.
Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) represent a paradigm shift in the automotive industry, moving from hardware-centric designs with many dedicated Electronic Control Units (ECU) to a software-driven, zonal architecture. This fundamental change has profound impacts on automotive communication, both within the vehicle (in-vehicle networking) and with the external transportation ecosystem.
The IVN transformation focuses around a shift to a zonal architecture with more powerful domain controllers rather than a multitude of independent ECUs, a need for higher bandwidth and lower latency due to the increase in data generation from sensors, and programmable networks that can be updated after a vehicle is produced.