Note: This article was first published on 23 October 2024.
Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Cockpit Elite (left) and Snapdragon Ride Elite (right). Image: Qualcomm.
Qualcomm, at the Snapdragon Summit 2024, today unveiled two new updates to its software-defined Snapdragon Digital Chassis automotive portfolio, the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite.
Snapdragon Digital Chassis
Snapdragon Digital Chassis, the comprehensive, multifaceted processing portfolio related to all things driven and driving. Image: Qualcomm.
Here’s a quick explainer so you know where the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite sit inside your car.
Snapdragon Digital Chassis is the name of its overarching automotive portfolio, which consists of four pillars, each with its domain of control and responsibilities. At CES 2024, Qualcomm celebrated a global milestone of 350 million cars carrying solutions from Snapdragon Digital Chassis.
- Snapdragon Auto Connectivity & Positioning governs the connectivity aspects of connected cars, such as telematics, satellite communication, and powerline communication.
- Snapdragon Cockpit handles everything communicated through a car’s dashboard. It relates to entertainment (like audio), interface (like map navigation), voice assistant capabilities, and more.
- Snapdragon Ride handles ADAS (advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) and AD (automated driving) capabilities. A car that can parallel park, reverse park, cruise, or stop without your input probably has this.
- Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud handles the software, and firmware updates for modern cars and security features. This component would be useful for carmakers who want to introduce new paid features to older vehicles.
The two new automotive platforms, which can be combined into one SoC if needed. Photo: HWZ.
Therefore, the summit’s announcement relates to Snapdragon Cockpit (dashboard) and Snapdragon Ride (assisted driving). Automobile manufacturers can opt for either or both platforms on a single processing platform when buying components from Qualcomm.
Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite
Summary slide of all upgrades to both Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite. Image: Qualcomm.
As mentioned above, Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite are separate automotive packages that can be combined into one system-on-chip. While the upgrades cover both platforms, they can lead to different outcomes based on their use cases and responsibilities.
Qualcomm's second-generation Oryon CPU is inside the new automotive platforms. Photo: HWZ.
Both use the second-generation Oryon CPU, which is also featured in Qualcomm’s flagship mobile chipset, Snapdragon 8 Elite. The CPU, now 3x more performance than its predecessors, helps to empower all the other moving parts of both packages, broken down below.
Similar to its mobile platform sibling, the automotive platforms also feature CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs to do all the smart car things that drivers and passengers enjoy. Image: Qualcomm.
The Hexagon NPUs in both units have a 12-fold performance boost compared to their predecessors. This boost in performance allows real-time processing of external environment and cabin data, enabling scenarios like live decision-making, adaptive responses, and proactive assistance.
Hexagon NPU is what helps drivers make even better decisions, or even offload driving chores based on the situation at hand. Photo: HWZ.
For example, in the Snapdragon Ride Elite, the improved capabilities of its Hexagon NPU allow it to “see” traffic and pedestrians in real-time and make on-the-fly decisions.
An important change is that the new automotive platforms also have the same concurrency and multi-tasking capabilities as their mobile platform sibling, which benefits automakers who want a simplified vehicle architecture and the ability to roll out updates or new features quickly.
Is it possible to have 16 4K resolution displays inside a typical sedan, even when you give every passenger two panels? Image: Qualcomm.
The Adreno GPU was also upgraded, giving both platforms 3x more performance than their predecessors. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite's improved audio and display processing means it can support up to 16 high-resolution displays, on top of AI-enabled zonal audio directed at individual passengers and drivers within a vehicle.
Adreno GPU powers many of its graphics and display-related components, for the ultimate driving and passenger princess experience. Photo: HWZ.
The platforms’ power consumption has also improved, which Qualcomm said helps vehicles (especially electric vehicles) “operate smarter and longer”, improving their range per full charge. The exact power savings was not specified.
Photo: HWZ.
These platforms also meet ASIL-D safety standards, thanks to a dedicated safety island controller that’s also isolated, allowing it to be free from interference.
Next-level in-car entertainment and driving assistance can be made possible with the new Snapdragon automotive platforms. Image: Qualcomm.
Also, to support assistive cameras that help elevate the driving experience, the platforms have support for up to 40+ multimodal sensors, up to 20 high-res cameras with 360-degree coverage, and in-cabin monitoring.
Many automobile partners (a.k,a. customers) shared a stage with Qualcomm during its keynote, such as Mercedes-Benz. Photo: HWZ
Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite will be available to car manufacturers and automobile makers for sampling in 2025.
One of many Qualcomm's automobile partners. Photo: HWZ.
Li Auto. One of many Qualcomm's automobile partners. Photo: HWZ.
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