Infineon Flex SDV Zone Controller Kit

Infineon Technologies and Flex have come together to introduce a joint development platform with the goal of expediting the transition towards zonal E/E architectures in software-defined vehicles. The upcoming zone controller development kit, set to be unveiled at CES 2026, is positioned as a modular reference for initial ZCU evaluation and system design, catering to the evolving automotive electronics landscape.

For automotive electronics professionals, this collaboration sheds light on how suppliers are striving to standardize and mitigate risks associated with zonal controller development. It also underscores the practical considerations surrounding scalability, cost-effectiveness, and reusability in the context of next-generation vehicle platforms.

Embracing a Modular Approach to Zonal E/E Design

Zonal architectures are gaining traction as a means to streamline vehicle wiring and curb the proliferation of ECUs. However, they introduce a wide array of peripheral requirements across different vehicle segments. Infineon and Flex point out that existing zone control units often fall short or exceed specifications due to the lack of customization for individual vehicle platforms.

The zone controller development kit adopts a building-block approach, incorporating approximately 30 reusable elements that can be tailored to create various ZCU configurations. This strategy empowers developers to fine-tune power distribution, connectivity, and load control functions with precision, while allowing room for accommodating future vehicle iterations.

In its default setup, the platform boasts support for over 50 power distribution channels, more than 40 connectivity channels, and around 10 load control channels. For advanced configurations necessitating enhanced I/O density and processing power, a dual-MCU plug-on option is available, offering the flexibility to streamline to fewer microcontrollers as feature requirements evolve.

Focus on Hardware, Software, and Integration

The hardware platform integrates a range of Infineon automotive components, including AURIX microcontrollers, OPTIREG power supplies, PROFET and SPOC smart power switches, and MOTIX motor control devices. Flex brings its expertise in system design, integration, and industrialization to the table, leveraging its standing as an automotive manufacturing and design collaborator.

From a software perspective, the development kit incorporates inputs from Vector to align the platform with established embedded software, testing, and integration workflows. Functional capabilities encompass aspects such as current and voltage protection, capacitive load switching, reverse polarity protection, secure data routing with hardware acceleration, A/B partitioning for over-the-air updates, and cybersecurity functionalities.

Infineon and Flex emphasize that the development kit is structured to support a "start with the superset" approach, enabling early assessment before components are selectively removed to meet cost constraints and platform specifications, ensuring a tailored fit for diverse automotive applications.