Careers in the Electric Vehicle Industry: The Role of Computer Science Engineers

Can a computer engineer work in the automobile industry?

The answer is a resounding YES!

Software applications assist all the operations carried out in a vehicle, right from the ignition to locomotion. 70% of the total cost of manufacturing goes into developing electronics and its associated software systems.

Modern vehicles are more intelligent and require minimum human intervention. The vehicle is programmed to self-diagnose and predict shortcoming events like brake failure, charging level, etc.

Can a Computer Science Engineer Make a Car?

As the saying goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, a computer science engineer, or even a mechanical engineer, alone cannot make a car, but they can enhance its features. Here are a few areas where a computer science engineer's contribution is necessary during automotive design:

• User Interface for Driver

Initially, the user interface of automobiles had minimal features. The old model cars had a rotating lever to lift the windscreen. The speedometer of vehicles displayed speed and gas level. Later it was incorporated with some entertaining features like radio.

But now, the advanced user interface systems are fully digitalized, and all the controls are provided on the steering wheel. With less effort, the driver could easily operate the windscreen, wipers, music, etc. This development not only needs the expertise of electrical engineers but also the equal efforts of a software developer. Top OEMs like Tesla are looking for innovative software engineers who could enhance the UI of the vehicle.

• On-Board Diagnostics (OBD)

On-Board Diagnostic system is a comprehensive electronic unit to track the vehicle's performance. OBD was initially developed to track and control the emissions of a vehicle. It diagnoses the minor issues of an engine that contributes significantly to emissions. Whenever the technician needs it, they can pull data directly from OBD to detect the failed components or those that need replacement. Later, when the electronic parts of the vehicle increased, a more sophisticated system came into being. The OBD system controls the ECU, sensors, cameras and many other units.

• Battery Management System Software Architecture

In electric vehicles, the BMS(Battery Management System) deploys OBD protocols to manage its functions effectively. A BMS oversees the SOC, SOH, SOE and many other factors of a battery. To carry out this task, the BMS must proactively communicate with different sub-units and sensors. The system is integrated with microcontrollers and effective monitoring software. Depending on the system's complexity, different tools are used for coding. For electric vehicles, you can use Simulink to generate C codes.

• Automotive Cybersecurity

With the increase in connectivity is the need of the hour to protect your vehicle from harmful attacks. Since vehicles are becoming more complex to enhance their features, many electronic components and software are being integrated into the system. There is a possibility of a breach into these systems, which can lead to undesirable results.

It has become a challenge for OEMs to address this issue and ensure the vehicle remains intact from malicious attacks. It is important to protect your data, like location. As a software engineer, you can develop robust cyber security systems and guard the vehicle's software systems from a data breach.

• Vehicle System Integration

Softwares drive most innovations in automotive. The software system integrated with the hardware parts of a vehicle results in enhanced features. The life cycle of software is different from that of the mechanical subsystems, and unique approaches are followed for its development. The validation and testing of software are done at different checkpoints.

In this process, the ECU, wiring, and controllers are verified. Software engineers validate whether the system fulfils the intended purpose.

Automotive Parts That Rely On Computer Technology

The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) is a computer inside a vehicle and is more informally known as the ‘car's brain’. It collects data from different sensors and controls its functionalities. The PCM takes care of the health of the car. It has inbuilt programs to warn drivers in case of a system failure or need replacement.

We have a motor controller compatible with CAN-bus technology in electric vehicles and integrated with BMS. If you are a computer science engineer and asking how can I become an EV engineer? You should start by watching videos on the topic to learn how an electric vehicle works. Moreover, you can learn about autonomous vehicle technology to deepen your knowledge on this line.

Conclusion

The global autonomous vehicle market is innovating rapidly by the minute. Most autonomous vehicles currently on the roads are either EVs or HEVs. The upcoming trends in automotive include vehicle connectivity, AI, IoT, electrification and shared mobility and many others.

All these are possible only with equal contributions of the automotive software industry. Companies like Faurecia, Qualcomm, Bosch and many other OEMs hire automotive software engineers. Start upskilling yourself to make your mark in the automotive industry with your contributions.