Success Story


Breaking New Ground in High-End Digital Instrument Cluster Market

Here is how Acsia entered the high-end digital instrument cluster market, leveraging advanced boot time optimization and human-machine interface development to significantly enhance functionality and user experience for a global automotive supplier.

Business & Technology Landscape

The quest for offering a top-notch driving experience to customers has always been the driving force behind continuous innovations in the automotive industry. A critical question posed was: “Is it possible to develop a Linux-based IC/IVI that boots up in just one second?” This challenge was paramount as OEMs sought solutions to significantly enhance digital instrument clusters, offering improved functionality and interactive experiences that boost driving safety and comfort.

Key Trends:

Boot Time Optimization: Automotive manufacturers are striving to achieve faster boot times for IC/IVI systems, aiming to reduce industry norms from 10-30 seconds to less than 5 seconds.

Advanced Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI): The adoption of sophisticated HMI technologies, such as Rightware Kanzi, is crucial for creating seamless and intuitive user interfaces in digital clusters, infotainment systems, and heads-up displays (HUDs).

Real-Time Graphics and Performance: There is a growing need for real-time graphics rendering on constrained hardware platforms, driven by the desire to deliver high-quality animations and visual effects without compromising performance.

Customer Problem Statement

The leading Tier-I automotive supplier faced multiple challenges:

FastBoot Development: Required a Linux-based IC/IVI system with a boot time of just 1 second, a significant reduction from industry norms.

Kanzi Expertise: Needed deep expertise in Kanzi for developing advanced digital instrument clusters.

Animation and Boot Time Issues: Struggled with animation glitches and poor boot-up performance in a Kanzi-based instrument cluster for a sports car.

Acsia Solution

Acsia was selected due to their proven expertise in Boot Time Optimization and HMI development using Rightware Kanzi.

 
FastBoot Solution:

  • Reduced boot time from 20 seconds to 6 seconds by optimizing Bootloader and Kernel configurations.
  • Further reduced to 4.6 seconds by customizing the boot loader and optimizing the Kernel.
  • Achieved a 1.2-second boot time using innovative, proprietary techniques.

Kanzi-Based HMI Development:

  • Acsia’s team underwent advanced training in Kanzi at Rightware, Finland, earning the Rightware Partner title.
  • Built a strong partnership with Rightware, enhancing their expertise in Kanzi for IC development.

Sports Car Project:

  • Resolved a long-standing animation glitch within a week.
  • Reduced boot-up time from 7.5 seconds to 4.5 seconds in three months.

Cluster Program:

  • Developed the full instrument cluster software stack and HMI layer in Kanzi for five variants.
  • Implemented a “Problem-based Training” methodology for efficient team ramp-up.
  • Took on complete development responsibility, including sprint planning, handling change requests, and bug fixing.

Business Outcome & Impact

  • Achieved Faster Boot Times: Delivered a boot time of 1.2 seconds, setting a new industry standard.

    Enhanced Customer Experience: Solved critical animation and boot performance issues, meeting OEM targets and improving user satisfaction.

    Successful Project Completion: Helped the Tier-I supplier meet critical production milestones, ensuring timely vehicle rollouts.

    Strengthened Partnerships: Built a strong relationship with Rightware and established Acsia as a trusted problem solver in the automotive software domain.

Key Learning

  • Deep Expertise in Boot Time Optimization: Demonstrated ability to significantly reduce boot times through innovative techniques.

    Mastery of Kanzi for HMI Development: Advanced training and partnership with Rightware enhanced Acsia’s capabilities in developing sophisticated digital clusters.

    Effective Problem-Solving: Successfully resolved complex technical issues quickly, establishing a reputation for reliability and expertise.

    Efficient Team Ramp-Up: Implemented effective training methodologies to quickly scale up and meet project demands.

    Complete Development Responsibility: Proven capability to handle comprehensive development tasks, from planning to execution, ensuring project success.

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