Marelli, a global automotive supplier, and Microchip Technology, a broadline semiconductor supplier, have released a new solution that enables graphics and video content generated by a vehicle’s central computer to be streamed to automotive displays using ASA Motion Link (ASA-ML)
This demonstrator enables vehicle makers to simplify display architectures, optimise system costs, and increase sourcing flexibility while supporting the transition toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
ASA-ML is an open standard for automotive video connectivity and SerDes communication, defined by the Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA), a global consortium of vehicle makers, Tier 1 suppliers and semiconductor companies.
By facilitating secure, high-speed video and graphics transmission across products from multiple technology providers, the standard supports greater compatibility across the automotive ecosystem and provides a scalable alternative to proprietary video transmission technologies.
Microchip is a founding member of ASA, advancing the automotive industry’s transition from proprietary connectivity technologies to open, interoperable standards, and has demonstrated broad interoperability with its camera solutions, now extending those solutions to unlock display connectivity.
As vehicle architectures evolve towards centralised computing and SDVs, vehicle makers are seeking connectivity solutions that can support growing performance demands while reducing complexity, controlling costs, and enabling scalable vehicle electronics architectures.
In the joint demonstrator solution, the vehicle’s central computer processes graphics and video content and transmits it through Microchip’s VS7000 ASA-ML chipset over a high-speed standardised link.
Marelli pioneers display-side integration by enabling configuration and optimisation of the ASA ML deserialiser to decode standardised video streams at the display. This ensures accurate reception, synchronisation and delivery of centrally generated content, including camera feeds, navigation maps, infotainment graphics, and vehicle control interfaces, while facilitating display-side electronic architectures.
Kelei Shen, president of Marelli’s Electronics business, said, “The transition to software-defined vehicles is driving demand for more open, flexible and scalable electronic architectures. As an integrator within the automotive ecosystem, Marelli brings together best-in-class technologies from multiple partners to deliver complete solutions for vehicle makers. This collaboration highlights how open standards can accelerate innovation while providing interoperability needed for the next generation of vehicle architectures.”
Kevin So, vice president of Microchip’s Communications business unit, said, “Open standards play a critical role in accelerating innovation by reducing dependency on proprietary technologies. Our collaboration with Marelli demonstrates how ASA Motion Link provides automotive manufacturers with a secure, interoperable and scalable connectivity solution that simplifies integration across the ecosystem.”
Technology highlights:
- Open interoperability enabling seamless connectivity between cockpit systems and displays from multiple technology providers.
- Greater supplier flexibility thanks to open protocol specifications supported across the automotive ecosystem.
- Integrated security with link-layer authentication and encryption embedded in the communication channel.
- Robust data transmission with lossless communication and high immunity to electromagnetic noise.
- Scalable performance supporting data rates up to 16 Gbps to address a range of display requirements.
- Optimised efficiency enabled by embedded Time Division Duplex (TDD) functionality and simplified Forward Error Correction (FEC), contributing to lower power consumption.
- Path to increasingly Ethernet-centric vehicle architectures
The collaboration demonstrates how open-standard connectivity supports in-vehicle networking and electronics by enabling secure communication between centralised computing systems and displays. It also reflects Marelli’s broader commitment to adopting open standards that help simplify development, optimise system costs, and promote a more open automotive ecosystem.
