Hardware vs Software Engineering

In the world of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the convergence of hardware and software engineering presents unique challenges and opportunities. Traditional hardware development has long been guided by the V-Model, a proven approach for managing the design, integration, and validation of mechanical and electrical/electronic (E/E) systems. However, as the automotive industry shifts towards more software-centric architectures, the need for agility and multi-speed development becomes essential.

While hardware workstreams often require long-term planning and stability, software engineering demands continuous iteration and rapid updates. This multi-speed approach requires decoupling hardware, E/E, and software development processes through clear technical interfaces like VHAL and organizational alignment. To fully realize this decoupling, automated CI/CD pipelines must be introduced and mapped effectively onto the V-Model, enabling seamless integration and validation across digital, E/E, and mechanical workstreams.

In this chapter, we explore how hardware and software engineering principles interact, the role of the V-Model in managing these complexities, and the ways CI/CD automation and agile methods can harmonize the different speeds of development.