Qualcomm Technologies has introduced its latest automotive platforms powered by the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, marking the fastest CPU tailored for automotive use.
These Elite tier platforms belong to the Snapdragon Digital Chassis Solution portfolio and are designed to boost power and intelligence in next-generation vehicles, as showcased at the Snapdragon Summit 2024.
Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite
Automakers can opt for Snapdragon Cockpit Elite for enhanced digital experiences or Snapdragon Ride Elite for automated driving. These platforms feature a flexible architecture that allows for the integration of both digital cockpit and automated driving functions on a single system-on-chip (SoC) within the Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions.
Key Features
- Accelerated AI Performance: The dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) targets a 12x performance increase over previous cockpit platforms. It enables real-time processing of external environment and cabin data, facilitating live decision-making and personalized in-cabin experiences. With transformer accelerators and vector engines, the Snapdragon Ride Elite NPU is optimized for low-latency and efficient performance.
- Flexible Centralized Processing: The platform supports multiple applications without loss of performance, allowing seamless multitasking for various cameras, sensors, and advanced AI-enabled audio. This capability helps automakers develop configurable software-defined vehicles (SDVs), accelerating the deployment of innovations.
- Industry-Leading Power Efficiency: Designed to optimize performance while minimizing energy use, the solution combines intelligent power management hardware and software.
- Intuitive Experiences: The platforms support context-aware applications for hands-free automated driving and include enhanced object detection for improved ride confidence. The upgraded Qualcomm Adreno GPU aims for a 3x performance increase, catering to gaming and multimedia demands.
- Safety-Focused: Complying with ASIL-D automotive safety standards, the architecture ensures reliable operation of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) with robust hardware isolation.
- Software-Defined Architecture: Built for the shift to SDVs, these platforms emphasize upgradeability and continuous improvement through a unified software framework, streamlining development.
- Advanced Camera Subsystem: The platforms feature a powerful camera system with an Image Signal Processor (ISP) that supports over 40 multimodal sensors, including up to 20 high-resolution cameras for comprehensive coverage and in-cabin monitoring.
- Automated Driving and AI Software Stack: Snapdragon Ride Elite provides a full automated driving system with features like vision perception and path planning. Meanwhile, Snapdragon Cockpit Elite supports advanced multimedia features, optimized gaming, and 3D graphics while maintaining safety and long-term support.
Collaboration with Google
Qualcomm has announced a multi-year collaboration with Google to enhance digital cockpit solutions through generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI).
This partnership will leverage technologies from the Snapdragon Digital Chassis, Android Automotive OS, and Google Cloud to create a standardized framework for cockpit development.
Key elements of this collaboration include:
- Gen AI-enabled Digital Cockpit Framework: Designed for upgradeable digital cockpit experiences, enhanced in real-time.
- Unified SDV Car to Cloud Framework: A comprehensive infrastructure supporting vehicle-to-cloud development optimized for Snapdragon platforms, which enhances developer productivity and reduces time to market.
Availability
The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms will be available for sampling in 2025, allowing automakers to create innovative automotive experiences.
Collaborations with leading manufacturers, including Li Auto and Mercedes-Benz AG, are in progress to feature these platforms in future commercial vehicles.
Speaking about the new platforms, Nakul Duggal, group general manager, automotive, industrial and cloud at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said,
Qualcomm Technologies remains at the forefront of innovation with solutions like Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite, as the automotive sector shifts towards centralized computing, software-defined vehicles, and AI-driven architectures. With our most powerful compute, graphics, and AI capabilities, combined with industry-leading power efficiency and advanced software for digital cockpits and automated driving, these new elite Snapdragon platforms meet the industry’s growing demand for higher computing power, enabling automakers to redefine the driving experience for their customers.