In today’s rapid development of intelligent cockpits and autonomous driving, Etherford Information Technology (Etherford), as a leader in in-vehicle communication technology, deeply analyzes the technical differences and application scenarios of the two mainstream solutions – AVB/TSN and A2B, helping car companies and Tier1 to accurately select models and reduce costs and increase efficiency。
Currently, there are two main remote communication technology solutions in the field of in-vehicle audio: AVB (Audio Video Bridging) and A2B (Automotive Audio Bus). A2B network is daisy-chained (Figure 1) with a simple structure. AVB is more flexible and can support daisy-chaining, star-shaped, and hybrid topologies (Figure 2), providing a solid foundation for complex in-vehicle networks. AVB and A2B are reshaping the future of in-vehicle communications.
Figure 1: VehicleA2B system topology diagram
Figure 2: Topology diagram of the automotive AVB/TSN system
AVB/TSN: The cornerstone of future-proofing deterministic networks
The AVB/TSN protocol based on Ethernet is the “neural network” of smart cars, and its core value is to ensure the millisecond-level bounded latency and transmission stability of audio and video data. With Etherf’s proven AVB/TSN stack (Avnu certified), customers can quickly build highly reliable automotive Ethernet to meet the demanding demands of future central computing architectures.
Core benefits of the Etherford AVB/TSN solution:
1. High-bandwidth support in all scenarios：
● Easily carry 4K video (≥500Mbps), multiple audio and intelligent driving data streams (such as LiDAR point clouds);
● Etherford exclusive protocol stack It supports multi-protocol convergence (CAN/LIN gateway, SOME/IP, DDS) to break down information silos.
2. Standardized extensions：
● Etherford is compatible with and continues to evolve the TSN standard, which is naturally suitable for the stringent requirements of deterministic communication for future autonomous driving, such as multi-sensor fusion.
3. Flexible topology and rapid deployment：
Switches support the construction of complex, redundant network architectures, ideal for vehicle-wide communication.
Etherford Information’s mature AVB/TSN protocol stack provides automotive companies and Tier1 with a powerful tool to quickly build high-performance and reliable automotive Ethernet networks. However, AVB/TSN also presents certain challenges, such as cost considerations and technical development complexity. That’s where Etherford Information comes in – our experienced team and certified stack products significantly reduce our customers’ development barriers and risks, and reduce time to market.
A2B: Specialized in audioLightweightsolution
Compared to AVB/TSN, A2B focuses on audio transmission, daisy-chaining a single topology and using UTP cables for connection. This technology is only suitable for centralized management of in-car audio systems and is often used for in-car radios and multi-channel audio data transmission. The core advantage of A2B is its ultimate simplification and efficiency,
Etherford InformationThe A2B solution also has excellent performance, especially in terms of cost control and system simplification.
Selection suggestions：Demand-oriented, accurate matching
summary：The future of integration and hierarchical collaboration
With the rapid development of AVB/TSN technology and its continuous enhancement in deterministic communication, the number of in-vehicle buses will continue to decrease, and various buses are expected to gradually converge and unify on the backbone network of Ethernet As a deep cultivator in the AVB/TSN field, Essef Information is committed to providing you with the most advanced and reliable solutions.
Comparing the performance of AVB/TSN and A2B in a single audio scenario, A2B does win with its lightweight and low latency. However, it must be recognized that AVB/TSN is designed to meet the global needs of diversified, high-bandwidth, deterministic communications in the vehicle This is why the AVB/TSN solution from Etherford Information is designed to avoid developing separate hardware and software solutions for each subsystem.
In the upcoming wave of Central Computing (CC) architecture, AVB/TSN as the backbone network is bound to shine. At the same time, AVB/TSN and A2B are not mutually exclusive, and they can form efficient functional complementarity and performance layering in in-vehicle infotainment systems:
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AVB/TSN is the “highway”: it is built by high-performance switches to carry high-bandwidth audio and video streams, core control data, and future autonomous driving sensor fusion information Etherfu Information is committed to providing you with the cornerstone of stable, efficient and future-proof communications.
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A2B is a “dedicated channel”: it accurately solves the pain points of distributed audio acquisition and playback with extreme efficiency and cost-effectiveness Etherford Information’s A2B program is equally excellent and meets your specific needs.
Choosing Etherford Info means choosing an experienced partner. We provide not only Avnu-certified protocol stack products, but also full lifecycle services covering consulting, integration, and testing, helping you build a layered in-vehicle network that strikes the optimal balance between cost, performance, and reliability, and provides a complete, future-proof solution for the multimedia and communication needs of smart cars.