The Connected OS™ platform helps develop advanced automotive systems requiring seamless in-vehicle connectivity.

Mentor Graphics announced the launch of the Mentor Automotive Connected OS™ software platform, targeting next-generation automotive applications.

Connected OS software provides a scalable framework for IVI, driver information systems, and ADAS applications, leveraging experience gained from realizing award-winning Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) deliveries. This automotive-grade platform enables faster time-to-market by addressing vehicle-specific challenges at the operating system level.

Mentor Automotive's already proven Linux-based automotive system

Automotive manufacturers face the challenge of meeting not only consumers' demanding requirements for multimedia and network connectivity but also the specific requirements of particular markets. These challenges are exacerbated by the long product lifespan of vehicles, one of which is the need to support automotive network infrastructure and standards across multiple generations.

As automotive software content continues to grow, automakers are seeking mature yet flexible solutions that enable not only vertical deployment within a specific vehicle generation but also horizontal deployment across multiple generations. The answer provided by Connected OS solutions is to support longer-lasting automotive network communication standards through a scalable framework of a pre-integrated software platform. In addition, Connected OS software includes solutions to support the most modern and rapidly evolving in-vehicle consumer electronics connectivity features.



Mentor Automotive’s Linux-based automotive systems have already been successfully implemented in millions of production programs, and that number is expected to exceed 50 million by around 2018. As an increasing number of automakers choose Linux to meet their automotive software needs, Mentor Automotive has taken on a leading role as a provider of innovative technology solutions.

Connected OS software provides a modular GENIVI-based Linux platform featuring an enhanced board support package (SuperBSP™) and an optimized middleware layer (OPTstack™). The Fastboot, Instant-On, and optimized audio/video (A/V) capabilities implemented by this software stack are core technologies required for cutting-edge automotive applications. Through a high level of optimization and tight integration, Connected OS achieves the industry's fastest boot times and extremely high robustness.

Connected OS solutions support market-leading System-on-Chips (SoCs) and are developed and maintained on a platform-centric foundation to be closely integrated with SoC-specific functions. It can also be customized to support the specific requirements of OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Advanced In-Vehicle Networking for IVI and ADAS

Mentor Automotive announced that it has pre-integrated Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging (eAVB) into its Connected OS solution. In-vehicle data, particularly data related to safety applications, must mostly be transmitted in real-time with high Quality of Service (QoS). Since Connected OS products support the emerging connectivity protocol eAVB, these applications can meet the stringent requirements of sensitive applications requiring low latency and reserved data channels. The eAVB stack in the Connected OS solution was developed based on the IEEE AVB standard and complies with AVnu Alliance standards. Supported IEEE implementation standards include IEEE 802.1AS, 802.1Qat, 802.1Qav, 1722.1, and 1733.

Rainer Oder, General Manager at Mentor Automotive, stated , “The automotive industry is changing at a tremendous pace. We are enabling our customers to focus on innovative applications and user experiences. At the same time, we are building a solid software foundation that already includes automotive-specific standards and solutions. Connected OS was developed to keep pace with all new consumer electronics trends while rapidly integrating into automotive networks.”