Aptiv PLC was recognized by Automotive News as a 2019 Innovation Partnership Award winner for its work with Audi on the Aptiv Automated Driving Satellite Compute Platform.

Aptiv says it is “democratizing active safety” through the efficient and scalable Automated Driving Satellite Compute Platform. Most systems have the computing power integrated into the sensors, processing the information at the source, which makes each sensor expensive to build and to replace when damaged. Aptiv’s Automated Driving Satellite Compute Platform takes processing and electronics out of individual sensors, instead sending the information to the central platform, allowing the sensors to be smaller, more cost-efficient, lighter and easier to package in a vehicle. The reduced mass and volume also eliminates sensor heat dissipation concerns. In one application, Aptiv’s technology reduced the camera footprint from the size of a deck of playing cards to the size of a pack of chewing gum.

“As a global technology company with a rich history of developing safer, greener and more connected solutions, we are honored to be recognized for our collaboration with Audi in development of the Automated Driving Satellite Compute Platform,” said David Paja, Aptiv’s senior vice president and president of Advanced Safety & User Experience. “This industry-first platform, developed with our strong Audi partnership, enables our customers to apply a simplified sensor footprint to scale features for advanced levels of safety automation. It truly is a game changer in the industry.”   

From basic ADAS to Level 4 autonomous vehicles, this compute platform is scalable for increasing automated driving levels and complexity demands. The concept has had a revolutionary impact on Aptiv’s customer’s vehicle architecture.

The Automotive News PACE panel of judges recognized the Aptiv-Audi team working on the Automated Driving Satellite Compute Platform with an Innovation Partnership Award, for their “special levels” of supplier and OEM collaboration. 

The judges found that Aptiv’s systems integration capabilities and strong collaboration with Audi led to the development of a platform that incorporates several different components into a single, affordable ECU controlling the advanced safety features. The judges cited Aptiv’s Automated Driving Satellite Compute Platform as a great example of the new level of collaboration needed as the industry moves toward more autonomy.