Welcome to the official GitHub organization for Project Orion! Orion is an advanced, multi-node vehicle system designed to unify infotainment, cabin control, and AI-powered safety features into a single, seamless platform running on Android Automotive OS (AAOS).
Our mission is to address the fragmentation in modern automotive systems by creating a cohesive, scalable, and intelligent ecosystem that enhances driver experience, boosts safety, and reduces system complexity.
Orion integrates traditionally separate vehicle functions into one smart, responsive system.
- Unified Cabin Control:
- Multi-Zone AC: Allows the driver and passenger to independently adjust fan speed and temperature through the AAOS interface.
- Real-Time Seat Adjustment: The user interface on AAOS controls the servo motor for seat positioning via the CAN bus and FreeRTOS node, ensuring real-time synchronization.
- Interactive Ambient Lighting: The AAOS UI provides interactive controls for the color and brightness of the interior LED strip.
- Synchronized Navigation: A destination can be set in the AAOS application using OpenStreetMap. This information is then sent to the Qt cluster via CommonAPI, which calculates the shortest path and provides GPS-based re-routing.
- Modern Digital Cluster: The instrument cluster, powered by Qt6, features a 3D rotatable vehicle model that shows real-time states for doors and lights. It also displays vehicle data and navigation routes received from the AAOS node.
- Intuitive User Interfaces: The system provides modern UIs for both the main infotainment screen (AAOS) and the driver's instrument cluster (Qt6), complete with voice command support for hands-free operation.
- Seamless Communication: Utilizes industry-standard protocols like CAN bus for low-level, real-time actuator control and vSOME/IP with CommonAPI for high-level, service-oriented communication between the AAOS and Qt cluster nodes.
Orion's architecture is built on a distributed, multi-node design to ensure modularity and performance.
The system consists of three primary node types:
- AAOS IVI Node (Raspberry Pi 5): This is the central hub running Android Automotive OS. It hosts the main user interface, manages all vehicle functions, and runs the AI models for safety monitoring.
- Embedded Linux Node (Raspberry Pi 5): Running a custom Yocto Linux image, this node handles advanced visual processing. It operates the Qt6-based driver cluster and streams camera feeds on-demand using vSOME/IP.
- FreeRTOS Nodes (Blue Pill Boards): These nodes act as real-time gateways. They bridge the AAOS node to the CAN bus, allowing for precise, low-latency control of hardware like motors and sensors.
| Category | Technology |
|---|---|
| Hardware | Raspberry Pi 5, Blue Pill (STM32), Custom PCB, CAN Transceivers |
| Operating Systems | Android Automotive OS (AOSP), Yocto Linux, FreeRTOS |
| Communication | CAN Bus, vSOME/IP, CommonAPI, SPI |
| Key Software | Qt6, OpenCV, Vosk (Voice Recognition), Android SDK, CommonAPI |
The central infotainment display provides a rich, intuitive interface for all cabin and media controls.
The driver's instrument cluster provides critical information with a clean, dynamic display.
We have an exciting roadmap ahead to make Orion even more powerful:
- V2V Communication: Enable Vehicle-to-Vehicle data exchange for enhanced safety warnings.
- QNX Integration: Adopt the QNX real-time operating system for safety-critical applications.
- OTA Updates: Implement Over-the-Air updates for delivering software enhancements and security patches remotely.
- Encrypted CAN Messages: Enhance security by encrypting CAN bus communications to protect against cyber threats.
This project was developed by a dedicated team from the Information Technology Institute (ITI), Embedded Systems Department.
Team Members:
Watch our complete project demo to see Orion in action!
