Karlsruhe (Germany) September 4, 2013 – At the 16th International VDI Congress “Electronic Systems for Motor Vehicles” on October 16 to 17, 2013 in Baden-Baden (Germany), the MOST Cooperation (MOSTCO) will exhibit the latest technology highlights at Stand F. Besides celebrating the ongoing rollout of MOST150, the standardization organization for the leading automotive multimedia network Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) will present a slim and low-cost HD multimedia network solution that especially targets the high-volume medium- and small-sized vehicle market. Thus, the MOST network technology meets the requirements for mass-produced models of the mid-range and small cars sectors. The demo system will show a MOST50 infotainment system that includes a head unit, two interactive displays, an amplifier, and a camera. The electrical physical layer is based on a simple and low-cost unshielded twisted pair (UTP) of copper wires. The implemented remote control feature further simplifies the system and reduces cost, since the whole system needs only one single microcontroller which is located in the head unit. This remote control feature allows the reduction of the number of microcontrollers and amount of memory in small and mid-size systems by obsoleting them in peripheral nodes such as displays, cameras, amplifiers and the like. Instead of having a microcontroller in each node, the other nodes can be controlled remotely by a central microcontroller – for example, the one in the head unit.
“Leaving out the other microcontrollers and memory can drive system cost down significantly,” stated Rainer Klos, MOSTCO Administrator. “Performing all control centrally in the head unit also simplifies the development process considerably, as only one piece of software needs to be developed. Amplifiers and displays run without a local microcontroller and without local software.” Besides significantly lowering costs on the side of the remote devices, this type of architecture helps to optimize system partitioning, board space, and even power dissipation in the remote device. Typical examples for peripheral devices are cameras and rear seat entertainment devices, including auxiliary I/Os, displays, etc.
About MOST Technology
MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) is a multimedia networking technology optimized for use in cars and other applications. It enables the transport of high Quality of Service audio and video together with packet data and real-time control over a single transmission medium. MOST can use plastic optical fibers (POF), coax based electrical physical layer, and shielded and unshielded twisted pair (STP/UTP) copper wires that meet automotive environmental requirements. Today, MOST is used in over 145 car models as the communication backbone for their information and entertainment equipment.
About MOST Cooperation
The MOST Cooperation (MOSTCO) is the organization through which MOST Technology is standardized and refined so that it continues to stay abreast of the latest industry requirements. Today it consists of 16 international carmakers and more than 60 key component suppliers. They have joined together to work with the MOST Technology and to contribute to its innovation. The MOST Cooperation is prepared to embrace efforts to further develop and standardize the technology for other industries and to establish the corresponding work structures. The MOST Cooperation was founded in 1998 to standardize MOST Technology as a global standard for multimedia networking. Audi, BMW, Daimler, HARMAN and Microchip Technology are its core partners and constitute its Steering Committee. For more information see http://www.mostcooperation.com.
