1. Really fast Android: AMG Performance Media
Jörg Pleumann
Project Manager Mobile Solutions Android
MEDION AG
DroidCon
Berlin, March 14th, 2012

2. Me
● Until October Need help?
Need help?
● Head of Android Development Contact them!
Contact them!
● Noser Engineering, Winterthur, CH
● Lots of cool Android projects!
● Since November
Want to join?
Want to join?
● Android SW Project Manager Contact me!
Contact me!
● MEDION AG, Essen, DE
● Lots of cool Android projects! :)

3. Android so far...
● Phones
● Tablets
● Media Players
● Set-Top Boxes
● Connected Home
● Watches
What could be the next big thing?
What could be the next big thing?

4. Project Setting
● Mercedes-AMG GmbH
● German maker of high-end sports cars
● SLS-AMG (571 PS V8 @ 317 km/h)
● Approached Noser in 2009
● Goal: Supplementary on-board system
● Telemetry
● Racing
?
● Internet / Apps
● Should be based on Android

5. Hardware (I)

6. Hardware (II)

7. Hardware (III)
● Minimally invasive approach
● Modification of the head unit impossible
● System had to co-exist with head unit
● Shared WVGA display and controls
● Additional ARM-based board
● Freescale i.MX 35 with 256 KB RAM
● Already used within Daimler
● Linux drivers existed
● UMTS / WLAN router

8. Software
● Feasibility & stepwise refinement
● Modified Android 2.x
● Challenges
● Porting and modifying Android
● Extensive, attractive application on top
● Special automotive requirements
● From evaluation to mass production
Some interesting points to follow
Some interesting points to follow

9. Screen & Controls
● Display & controls shared with Head Unit
● User switches explicitly using a button
● System can also switch on-demand
● Head unit messages appear in popup
● Not a touchscreen
● Controls serve as cursor pad / trackball
● Standard Android keys exist
● Virtual mouse mode

10. Telemetry
● System needs to access CAN data
● Additional CAN board acts as firewall
● Events come in via SPI
● Delivery to application layer via service
● Loosely modeled after Android sensor
interface
● Class CanManager
Not public, sorry! :)
Not public, sorry! :)
● Class CanListener

11. Security
● Theme is distraction-free driving
● Minimum font sizes
● Maximum response times
● Special challenge: Apps
● Imagine Angry Birds at 300 km/h
● System enters „DriveMode“ when in motion
● Only specially signed apps allowed to run
● Others have limited access to display

12. Testing
● Automated JUnit
tests
● Manual click-
through tests
● Software CAN
simulator
● Tests with the real
hardware

13. Results
● It works!
● Officially unveiled at IAA 2011
● Available for AMG-SLS Coupe and Roadster

14. Impressions (I)

15. Impressions (II)

16. Impressions (III)

17. Impressions (IV)

18. Impressions (V)

19. Impressions (VI)

20. Impressions (VII)

21. Impressions (VIII)

22. Impressions (IX)

23. Impressions (X)

24. Video
Action!
Action!

25. What are the others doing?
● Automotive Android
● SAIC: Roewe 350
● Continental: AutoLinQ
● SAAB: Iqcon
● Renault: R-Link
● Google & General Motors: Electro mobility
● Connected Android / iPhone
● Harmann: Android Accessory Development Kit
● BMW Mini Connect

26. Summary
● Android suitable for automotive
● Some modifications needed
● Telemetry data
● Security requirements
● You get a lot of things for free
● Complete, extensible software stack
● Modern, touch-based user interface
● Good time-to-market (thanks to Java)
● My guess is: It will happen

27. NOSER ENGINEERING AG
Talackerstrasse 99 Thank
Thank
CH-8400 Winterthur you!
you!
+41 52 23456 11 (phone)
thomas.chassaing@noser.com
www.noser.com
joerg.pleumann@medion.com
www.medion.com