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High-Performance Computers for Vehicles. A true game changer.

Continental’s High-Performance Computer for assisted  and automated driving (AD HPC) performs the computational tasks required for perception, human vision, driving and parking functions. It also provides scalability of resources and hardware-accelerators from Level 0 to Level 4 (L0-L4) autonomy.
 
In addition, it also ensures flexibility in the setup of the sensor suite. This is being driven by the need for the increasing functionality concerning ADAS, mainly from safety and perception functions. At present, functionalities include decentral cruising and parking, and sensor systems for safety functions, which are expected to grow to the level of a centralized HPC for cruising and parking functions hosting perception of satellite cameras in the future.
 
Autonomous Driving brings together numerous technologies and systems to enable the act of autonomy that is required of the vehicle to drive itself in the real world. While there are five levels of AD, even the first level requires the integration of multiple sensors and systems. It combines features of safety, connectivity and human machine interface (HMI) to provide the desired output of sensing, planning and acting to situations on the road.
 
This combined effort of multiple systems calls for superior computing power, and this is addressed by Continental’s High-Performance Computers (HPCs). Specifically, in the area of autonomy, the company’s AD HPCs play an integral role in handling very large amounts of complex data. HPCs will, therefore, play a significant role in adopting new approaches to vehicle architectures.
 

Cruising. City Driving. Parking.

Functions that make driving an even greater pleasure.

The AD HPC is focused on functions of ADAS and AD, which include cruising for L1-L4 autonomy and parking for L2-L4. It also enables functions of active safety that come under the purview of the NCAP regulations, as well as that of perception that is required to enable responses automatically for various road and traffic conditions.
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Cruising. City Driving. Parking.

Functions that make driving an even greater pleasure.

The AD HPC is focused on functions of ADAS and AD, which include cruising for L1-L4 autonomy and parking for L2-L4. It also enables functions of active safety that come under the purview of the NCAP regulations, as well as that of perception that is required to enable responses automatically for various road and traffic conditions. In addition, AD HPCs, combined with Safety and Motion HPC s make it possible to initiate cross-domain functions such as comfort, body and HMI.
 
When we take the example of cruise systems, AD HPC usage can be showcased for L2 AD assistance, wherein smart sensors (including third party sensors) with ADCU (Autonomous Driving Control Unit) for the base ADCU functions. The safety function developed here is that of Highway Assist that involves automated lane change that is driver initiated, which achieves a full 5-star rating as per NCAP 2025.
 
Taking it a step ahead, the AD HPC enables L2+ Companion functions for performance and premium systems. Under performance, the configuration includes ADCU with computer vision, with satellite cameras and additional sensors to achieve the function of Hands-Off Highway, limited to under 80 km/h. This assistance system comprises of Automated Stop & Go, as well as L2+ Parking: Remote Basic Garage, which also receive full score as per NCAP 2025. Under the premium category, ADCU with computer vision including high-end sensors form the configuration. It offers driver assistance in the form of Hands-off highway or separated lanes without intersections, limited to under 130 km/h. The assistance system offers Highly Automated Driving readiness with all highway and interurban scenarios.
 

Not just one, but a whole family of HPCs

Different performance levels

The AD HPC family is highly scalable from low to high levels of functionality. The low-scalability HPC covers assistance systems below L2 autonomy, while the mid-level HPC covers L2+ main ECU functions, as well as backup functions of ECU for L3 systems. Finally, the high-level HPC encapsulates assistance systems coming up to below L-4 autonomy, thereby enabling functions such as ECU for Cruising Chauffeur.

 
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Not just one, but a whole family of HPCs

Different performance levels to match car manufacturer’s needs

The AD HPC family is highly scalable from low to high levels of functionality. The low-scalability AD HPC covers assistance systems below L2 autonomy, while the mid-level AD HPC covers L2+ main ECU functions, as well as backup functions of ECU for L3 systems. Finally, the high AD HPC encapsulates assistance systems coming up to below L-4 autonomy, thereby enabling functions such as ECU for Cruising Chauffeur.
 
The cruise functions of AD HPC enable L2 AD assistance, where smart sensors (including third party sensors) combine with ADCU (Autonomous Driving Control Unit). The Highway Assist safety function developed here includes automated lane change that is initiated by the driver. This function achieves full 5-star rating as per NCAP 2025.
 
The AD HPC also enables L2+ Companion functions, where the ADCU with computer vision, which consists of satellite cameras and additional sensors achieves the function of Hands-Off Highway, limited to under 80 km/h. This system comprises of Automated Stop & Go, as well as L2+ Parking: Remote Basic Garage, which also receive full score as per NCAP 2025. Furthermore, ADCU with computer vision including high-end sensors form the configuration under the premium category. It offers Hands-off highway or separated lanes without intersections as the functionality, which is limited to speeds of under 130 km/h. The assistance system offers Highly Automated Driving readiness with all highway and interurban scenarios.
 

Increasing functionality calls for more scalability

The primary driver for the adoption of AD HPCs is the increasing functionality of the systems themselves, which need to support the functions of ADAS, Safety and Perception.
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Increasing functionality calls for more scalability

The primary driver for the adoption of AD HPCs is the increasing functionality of the systems themselves, which need to support the functions of ADAS, Safety and Perception. Currently, the AD HPCs enables functionalities concerning decentral cruising and parking, comprising sensor systems for safety functions. As we go ahead, these systems will transition into centralized HPCs for cruising and parking functions that will host the perception of satellite cameras.
 
There are a few enablers that support the evolution of AD HPCs and their functional distribution. Higher automation levels are leading to an increase in the number of sensors in a vehicle and this is a major enabler. Secondly, the scalable approach of these AD HPCs in one platform from L1 to L2+ (2030: L3) acts in favor of the evolution further. The high computation power required for the purpose off perception in AD requires HPCs, especially since sensors will not be able to achieve the same results due to their limitations concerning thermal issues. Finally, services such as over-the-air (OTA) updating, Software as a Product (SaaP), NCAP safety regulations and the need to Managing Complexity also push for the evolution of the functional aspects of AD HPCs.
 

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