Vehicle APIs
Vehicle APIs play a central role in modern Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) by enabling standardized access to vehicle data and functions. They simplify development, enhance interoperability, and support new services, driving innovation within the automotive ecosystem.
Why Vehicle APIs Matter
Vehicle APIs matter because the offer Standardized Data and Function Access, Seamless Developer Integration, and Service Enablement and New Business Models:
Standardized Data and Function Access: Vehicle APIs allow developers to access essential vehicle data, such as sensor readings (e.g., vehicle speed or battery state of charge) and control actuators (e.g., moving mirrors, opening windows) in a consistent and standardized way.
Seamless Developer Integration: APIs abstract the complexities of underlying E/E architectures and automotive networks, enabling application developers to focus on creating features without requiring in-depth automotive engineering expertise.
Service Enablement and New Business Models: By facilitating easy access to vehicle functions, APIs unlock opportunities for on-board and off-board services, enhancing the vehicle experience and enabling ecosystem-driven business models such as personalized apps, remote diagnostics, and connected services.
Key API Standards in the Automotive Domain
There are a number of key API standards emerging in the automotive domain, including:
COVESA VSS (Vehicle Signal Specification): A signal-to-service API standard defining how vehicle signals are structured, enabling seamless data access and control through a tree-structured model.
Android Automotive HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer): Developed by Google, this API standard defines hardware abstraction for Android-based infotainment systems, ensuring consistent integration across different automotive hardware platforms.
ISO 23150: An international standard aimed at standardizing interfaces for automated driving functions, ensuring reliable communication between systems in the context of autonomous vehicle development.
Vehicle APIs are a key enabler for connected services, software-defined platforms, and automotive innovation, bridging the gap between complex vehicle systems and application developers while supporting scalable and interoperable automotive ecosystems.
Example: digital.auto VSS Browser
The digital.auto VSS Browser is an open source, free to use tool to explore the COVESA VSS API catalogue. For example, in the following we show a part of the API catalogue in its original tree structure.
The VSS browser also allows for navigation of the COVESA VSS tree along the VSS catalogue structure. The following shows the catalogue root:
When selecting a particular VSS signal, the details will be shown as follows:
Use the following link to try it out yourself:
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