Modular zone controller design platform for automotive

Accelerate the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with a robust, scalable, and production-ready design platform

Consumer demand for more intelligent vehicles and the physical limitations of legacy electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures are driving a rapid transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). At the heart of this shift are zonal E/E architectures, where centralized computing utilizes zone controllers that act as intelligent hubs for power distribution, data routing, and load control. To excel at SDVs, automakers must manage complex systems where each zone controller can support hundreds of connected and powered peripherals. The Flex modular zone controller design platform is a game-changing solution for flexible, scalable implementation.

The optimal zone controller solution

In the rapidly evolving SDV market, variability, technical complexity, and long development timelines can hinder innovation and agility. The Flex modular zone controller design platform, featuring a customizable microcontroller unit (MCU) architecture and common hardware building blocks, streamlines implementation, accelerates time to market, and scales across vehicle models for significant cost savings and competitive advantage.

Flex collaborates on Zone Controller Development Kit for Software-Defined Vehicles

A powerful design platform for SDVs

Robotic arms on an automotive manufacturing line

An innovative approach to zone controller development, the Flex design platform simplifies a range of functions through a standardized hardware architecture with customizable building blocks that feature:

Power distribution and management
Sensor data aggregation, processing, and analysis
Actuation and control of various vehicle systems
Communication with central computing and other zone controllers or ECUs
Diagnostic and fault detection capabilities

Features and capabilities

Building block configuration

Power and e-fuses

63 ECUs and actors

Communication

49 busses*

General-purpose IO

48 zone-typical,
GPIO

Power distribution capability

Continuous current convection

85 amp

Peak current capability

185 amp

Sum of all current distribution

688 amp

*Can, Lin, Flexray, 10Base-T1s, 100M..1G Base-T1, SENT, PSI5, DSI3

Accelerate time to market with a development kit

Flex, Infineon, and Vector have partnered to deliver a zone controller development kit that enables rapid implementation in SDVs.

Designed and manufactured by Flex using Infineon MCUs and components alongside embedded software and development tooling from Vector, the development kit empowers automakers to design zonal architectures with greater efficiency using a production-ready, automotive-grade design, advanced software testing and integration, and chipsets optimized for cost and performance.

Quickly customize, test, and prototype zone controller configurations
Rapidly adapt to automaker- and region-specific requirements
Reduce engineering timelines and complexity
Accelerate validation and development cycles
Efficiently scale across vehicles, platforms, or entire lineups

The Flex advantage

The Flex modular zone controller design platform offers a robust, scalable, and production-ready solution that empowers automakers to embrace the SDV revolution with confidence.

Scalable approach — The zone controller can be configured with any combination of building blocks for maximum flexibility and integration across multiple vehicle platforms
System-wide benefits — Simplifies wiring and enables key SDV benefits like over-the-air (OTA) updates, feature deployment via software, and new revenue opportunities
Development kit available — Supports early prototyping and software development for rapid implementation of zone controllers across vehicle makes and models

Key benefits:

Verified hardware platform ready for application development
Building blocks for all relevant zone controller functions
Best-in-class automotive grade components and electronic control unit integration
Designed for manufacturing excellence across a broad range of factors to custom specifications
Pre-validated to optimize costs and time to market

Pave the way for next-generation mobility with the Flex modular zone controller design platform

Flex Automotive

Order a development kit