Communication Systems in Automotive Systems

Abstract

Communication networks in general, can be divided into 4 different classes: Ring (one directional or bidirectional), Star (active or passive), Tree, and Bus (passive). These 4 classes of communication networks are also used in transport systems. The main properties of these networks are overviewed. Then, the most important automotive networks are discussed: LIN, CAN, MOST, Ethernet, and Flexray, as well as their implementations in cars. For the MOST and Ethernet networks, different physical layer implementations are possible. The different factors determining the choice of a network are discussed. Cost is a major driver for automotive networks. For avionics networks, different standards for the network protocols and the physical layer implementations exist. In most cases physical layer implementations are proprietary, although, due to cost reduction pressure, more and more standardization is ongoing, and a tendency exist to adapt automotive network standards, and for the pressurized part of the airplane, also automotive physical layer implementations.