Wind River Powers TTTech’s Autonomous Driving Software with VxWorks

Wind River’s VxWorks real-time operating system is the power behind the latest versions of MotionWise, TTTech Auto’s safety-software platform for autonomous vehicles. Wind River and TTTech Auto, known for their safe software and hardware solutions, have teamed up once again. Together, they’re creating scalable ECUs that utilize networked multi-core systems-on-chip (SoCs) for critical automotive safety applications.

VxWorks plays a crucial role as the base software in Audi’s zFAS architecture, which ensures the safety of important functions. The zFAS platform supports driving assistance features like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and intersection assist, seen in advanced vehicles such as the 2018 Audi A8.

The TTTech Group specializes in providing real-time networking platforms and safety controls across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, energy, and industrial automation.

“In the fast-approaching future of autonomous vehicles, car makers must keep up with rapid innovation,” said Marques McCammon, Vice President of Automotive at Wind River. “Partnering with leaders like TTTech, we’re helping automakers speed up development while maintaining top-notch safety. When it comes to passenger safety, relying on proven technologies and expertise in critical applications is paramount.”

VxWorks is built to run safety-related and non-safety-related software components side by side within the car’s architecture. TTTech Auto’s platform caters to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, and vision applications based on automotive video cameras. It can connect to multiple cameras and features deterministic Ethernet networking capabilities.

“With the rise in connectivity and autonomous driving, the automotive landscape is getting more complex,” said Georg Niedrist, Senior Vice President at TTTech Auto. “By collaborating with a software expert like Wind River, TTTech can deliver advanced platforms that help OEMs meet their strict requirements and deadlines, ultimately achieving their goals.”

VxWorks is engineered for determinism and quick responsiveness. Its modular architecture separates the OS kernel from applications and other packages, allowing easy updates and fixes with minimal rework or recertification. Its advanced multicore safety scheduler manages time, resources, and space partitioning, ensuring different criticality applications can run simultaneously while adhering to safety standards.

On top of providing VxWorks software, Wind River also supported TTTech Auto with board support packages, middleware development, and network stack integration. They prepared artifacts and work products for the sensor system host to comply with the functional safety standard ISO 26262.