Virtual CANBUS and Ethernet Switching in Future Smart Cars Using Hybrid Architecture

Abstract

Smart cars have gained much attention in recent years due to the introduction of several safety and convenience features. In this paper, we propose a virtual CANBUS architecture that will improve the safety and data processing in future smart cars with the hybrid use of Ethernet technology deployed in conjunction with a CANBUS system to take advantage of the virtualization, speed, and quality of data processing. Data will be routed intelligently across the dual data paths of the traditional CANBUS and the Ethernet. The virtualized nature, with the help of a series of smart nodes and network traffic analyzers, will allocate the needed resources at the right time during the execution of different processes. This enables the possibility of routing data traffic over both Ethernet and CANBUS connections. The architecture is backward compatible with older vehicles and therefore takes advantage of the existing CANBUS system. The proposed architecture ensures that different segments are isolated from each other so that a breakdown in a segment does not bring down the entire system. The experimental results demonstrate the benefits of the proposed solution, which is to switch between two data pathways depending on the traffic loads. While the CANBUS is sufficient with low-bandwidth data, the Ethernet will create a better performance with high-bandwidth processes. The virtualized environment creates virtual topologies among communicating nodes, greatly simplifying the network management and enhancing the data traffic performance as the bandwidth requirement and the number of processors in future smart cars continue to scale.