Vehicle Computing:An Emerging Computing Paradigm for the Autonomous Driving Era
With rapid advancements in edge computing,sensing,AI,and communication technologies,vehicles are undergoing an unprecedented transformation.We introduce a new computing paradigm for the autonomous driving era—vehicle computing.In this paradigm,data and control layers are separated,creating an open computing platform that supports multi-party collaboration and data sharing,breaking away from the limitations of traditional,closed vehicle systems.This paradigm enables vehicles to transcend conventional transportation roles,evolving into versatile mobile computing platforms that support a wide range of advanced applications and third-party services.We define the core concepts of vehicle computing,analyze the revolutionary evolution of software and computing architectures within vehicles,and present promising application examples,as well as a novel business model enabled by this paradigm.The five core functionalities of vehicle computing,i.e.,computation,communication,energy management,sensing,and data storage,and their related cutting-edge technologies are thoroughly explored.We conclude by discussing key technical challenges and promising opportunities within vehicle computing,aiming to inspire further academic and industry research in this innovative field.