Android Automotive uses the following terms and acronyms.
Android application package (APK)
The archive (package) file format used by the Android operating system to distribute
apps.
Android Auto
Smartphone projection developed by Google to allow mobile devices running Android 5 or higher
to project apps into the car.
Android Automotive
Embedded operating system and platform on which to develop automotive apps.
Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
Repository for the Android software stack. Led by Google, the AOSP repository offers the
information and source code for creating custom variants of the Android stack, porting devices
and accessories to the Android platform, and ensure Android devices meet compatibility
requirements.
Application programming interface (API)
Set of protocols that enable users to programmatically access tools and services and
create software apps.
Audio video bridging over ethernet (ethernet AVB)
Set of extensions to the core IEEE 802.1 standards that provide time-synchronized low-latency
streaming services.
Automotive safety integrity level (ASIL)
Risk classification scheme defined by the ISO
26262
(Functional Safety for Road Vehicles) standard.
Automotive test suite (ATS)
Test suite designed for verifying Android Automotive implementations work as expected. For
example, ATS tests might exercise Car Manager APIs to verify vehicle HVAC integration.
Board support package (BSP)
SoC-specific firmware for a device.
Controller area network (CAN)
Vehicle bus standard that allows microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other.
Compatibility definition document (CDD)
Document that enumerates the software and hardware requirements of a compatible Android device.
For details, refer to Android Compatibility.
Compatibility test suite (CTS)
Suite of tests to establish compatibility with the upstream Android Platform. For details,
refer to Compatibility Test Suite.
Critical user journey (CUJ)
The path users take to achieve a critical (important) goal.
Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) and Terrestrial-DAB (T-DAB)
Audio broadcasting in which analog audio is converted into a digital signal and transmitted on
an assigned channel in the AM or (more usually) FM frequency range.
Digital rights management (DRM)
System for protecting the copyrights of data circulated on the Internet or other digital media
by enabling secure distribution and/or disabling illegal distribution of the data.
Digital signal processor (DSP)
Specialized microprocessor (or a SIP block), with architecture optimized for the operational
needs of digital signal processing. Designed to measure, filter, and/or compress continuous
real-world analog signals.
Driver-distraction (DD)
Driving while engaged in activities that take the driver's attention away from the road.
Firmware over the air (FOTA)
Firmware over the air refers to wireless firmware updates for embedded systems.
Google Automotive Services (GAS)
Google Mobile Services (GMS) for automotive implementations. Provides a set of Google services
and apps that can be integrated into Android Automotive devices.
Hardware abstraction layer (HAL)
Software layer that all other higher level modules must interact with to access hardware
functionality. Only the HAL can directly call the device drivers for the various hardware
components on the device.
Head unit (HU)
Computing unit that powers the main display in the vehicle center console.
Heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
Set of mechanical infrastructure functions designed to maintain a specific operating
environment. HVAC systems perform activities such as warming homes, cooling data centers,
and controlling fan speed in vehicles.
Integrated head unit (IHU)
The computing unit that powers the main display in the vehicle center console.
In-vehicle infotainment (IVI)
Set of vehicle hardware and software functions that provide audio and/or video entertainment.
Often used synonymously with Head Unit (HU) when describing the user-facing functionality of an
Android Automotive device.
Key performance indicators (KPI)
Business metrics for evaluating factors crucial to the success of an organization.
Local interconnect network (LIN)
Serial network protocol used for communication between components in vehicles.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
Automaker (or suppliers) who create integrated IVI software for vehicles.
Real-time operating system (RTOS)
OS for real-time apps that process data on receipt with minimal or no buffering delays.
Processing time requirements (including OS delays) are measured in tenths of seconds or shorter
increments of time.
Service-level agreements (SLAs)
Service contract between two parties that defines an agreement about the provided service in
measurable terms such as performance, availability, reliability, etc.
System on chip (SoC)
Integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system
into a single chip.
Telematic control unit (TCU)
Telematic control unit refers to a module in a vehicle responsible for off-board peripherals
such as wireless cards or SIM module.
Trusted execution environment (TEE)
Environment created by a small OS that runs beneath the regular kernel and is supported by
special hardware. This OS can run special apps that are kept safe from each other and from the
regular OS and programs (even when the regular OS is controlling the regular hardware). It can
access cryptographic credentials in hardware to let specific programs prove their identity, either
over the network or to secure storage hardware.
Vehicle HAL
Interface that defines the properties OEMs can implement and contains property metadata (for
example, whether the property is an int and which change modes are allowed).
Vehicle mapping service (VMS)
In-vehicle data exchange service supporting advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Enables
the sharing of road and navigation data with other vehicle systems, allowing many vehicle
components and systems to behave more intelligently as they gain awareness of the road around
them.
Vehicle network service (VNS)
Controls vehicle HAL with built-in security. Access restricted to system components only
(non-system components such as third party apps should use car API instead).
Park, reverse, neutral, drive and low (PRNDL)
Gears available in most vehicles.
