Following the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm unveiled two new smart platforms in the form of the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite, both of which are designed for automotive systems. Qualcomm is no stranger to automotive technology though, having developed earlier software and hardware solutions for electric vehicles like its Snapdragon Digital Chassis portfolio, for example.
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One standout feature of the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite is that they’re both powered by Qualcomm’s own Oryon CPU, a variant of which is also present within the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It’s a custom CPU designed by Qualcomm which packs significant upgrades for overall computing performance. The new chips also allow for a flexible architecture that lets manufacturers integrate digital and automated driving functions on a single SoC.
The new platforms feature a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which Qualcomm says is designed for multimodal AI and is capable of up to 12x performance boost over previous cockpit platforms. This essentially means that vehicles get access to features such as real-time external environment and cabin data processing for more personalized driving experiences. The setup also allows for centralized processing and multi-OS support, with reduced slowdowns during multitasking. This makes the Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite ideal for vehicles with multiple cameras, sensors, and advanced features including AI-powered voice control.
Qualcomm also promises minimal energy consumption with the new chips, which feature intelligent power management hardware alongside software that keeps an eye on power consumption. There’s also an added emphasis on safety, and the new platforms are designed to comply with automotive safety standards for ASIL-D systems, with a safety island controller as well as hardware design that ensures interference-free usage for a reliable user experience when needed.
Hands-free driving is something that Qualcomm has also worked on with the new chips. They’re designed to work with context-aware applications as well as real-time driver monitoring and enhanced object detection. There’s a newer Qualcomm Adreno GPU onboard that can deliver up to thrice the performance (versus older models) with advanced graphical rendering for multimedia and visual UI elements while on the go. Qualcomm adds that the elite-tier platforms are designed to help manufacturers accelerate feature development via a cloud-based approach for streamlined software development.
Qualcomm’s new automotive platforms also support comprehensive vehicular camera systems, and include an advanced Image Signal Processor (ISP) for clear visuals even in less-than-ideal driving conditions. This also includes support for 40 multimodal sensors, up to 20 high-resolution cameras for 360-degree external coverage and in-cabin monitoring. AI-enhanced imaging tools are also present for better image quality.
Qualcomm states that the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite will be available for sampling in 2025. The company is also working with several auto manufacturers including Li Auto and Mercedes-Benz AG, both of which will feature the Snapdragon Elite tier automotive platforms in upcoming commercial models.
