BlackBerry Strengthens QNX Advanced Virtualization Framework

BlackBerry Limited has released an upgraded version of the QNX Advanced Virtualization Frameworks (QAVF) as well as compatibility for Google's newest Android Automotive OS (AAOS) reference implementation (Trout 1.0). This latest version of QAVF, which is now in use by OEMs across several production projects, will allow embedded automotive software developers to simplify development, expedite time to market, and decrease costs when designing Android Automotive OS-based IVI systems. This new invention extends BlackBerry's leading position in the embedded vehicle software industry by providing a framework for the development of both safety and non-safety applications.

QNX Advanced Virtualization Frameworks extends the functionality of the QNX Hypervisor and the QNX Hypervisor for Security to support the complex sharing and abstraction of the underlying hardware in a hypervised environment for systems such as digital cockpits, domain controllers, and other high-performance compute applications that require a combination of safety and non-safety functions. The QNX Hypervisor solutions, QAVF and Trout 1.0, work together to offer a quick application development environment while exploiting the capabilities and benefits of the Android operating system.

Virtualization is an essential necessity in present and future cockpit technologies. Trout 1.0, QNX Hypervisor for Safety, and QNX safety-certified shared device drivers work together to simplify Android integration for clients while also offering a suitable platform for designing mixed-criticality systems.

QNX is upgrading QAVF to correspond with the current VIRTIO standards and provide USB management, filesystem sharing, and specialized graphics sharing for mission sensitive situations, in addition to supporting Trout 1.0.

The advancement is yet another important automotive milestone for the company, whose BlackBerry QNX technology is in production programs with 45 different OEMs and 7/7 of the top Tier 1s, securing over 195 million vehicles globally. BlackBerry QNX is the market leader in automotive safety-certified embedded software. BMW, Aptiv, Bosch, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Volkswagen rely on BlackBerry QNX software for a wide variety of safety-related systems. These include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Digital Cockpits, and Secure Data Gateways, which are becoming more common in automobiles. Moreover, with design wins with 24 of the top 25 electric vehicle automakers and providing a safe, reliable, and secure software foundation for autonomous drive vehicle systems, BlackBerry QNX is critical to the future of the automotive industry.