In today’s era of rapid technological advancement, autonomous vehicles are no longer just fantasies from science fiction movies but cutting-edge technology gradually becoming reality. However, many people still have numerous questions about the internal structure of autonomous vehicles, particularly how those seemingly complex electronic devices work together. Today, we will unveil the mystery of the “neural center” of autonomous vehicles—the vehicle gateway. Using the SV900-5G vehicle network gateway as an example, we will provide a detailed analysis of how it connects various devices to make the entire vehicle “smart.”

What is a Vehicle Gateway? Why Do Autonomous Vehicles Need It?

Imagine if we compare an autonomous vehicle to a human being: various sensors would be the eyes and ears, controllers would be the brain, and the vehicle gateway would be the central nervous system. It is responsible for enabling various “organs” within the vehicle to “communicate” with each other while maintaining connection with the external world.The SV900 vehicle gateway is essentially a high-performance router designed specifically for automotive applications, but its functionality far exceeds that of ordinary routers. It must not only handle data transmission between in-vehicle devices but also ensure stable connection between the vehicle and external networks, supporting multiple connection methods including 5G/4G mobile networks, WiFi hotspots, and various industrial communication protocols.

The “Multi-talented” Identity of the SV900 Vehicle Gateway

The SV900-5G vehicle network gateway is specifically designed for vehicle networking, V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), and WiFi network applications 

. It supports dual-mode 4G/5G networks, features M12 aviation connector design, is fully sealed, and has a design life of several years, capable of stable operation in harsh automotive environments.This “small box” integrates numerous functions: it supports 5G network access, wired and wireless dual-network redundancy, dynamic routing protocols, firewall security features, and remote upgrades . It can be said that it is an indispensable core device in autonomous vehicles.

Interface Analysis: The Mission of Every Cable

Network Interfaces—High-Speed Channels for In-Vehicle Devices

The SV900 is equipped with multiple network interfaces, all using M12 aviation connectors . These connectors feature waterproof, dustproof, and vibration-resistant characteristics, making them highly suitable for automotive environments.The WLAN interface (1 unit) is a software-defined LAN/WAN interface that can be configured as either a local area network or wide area network interface as needed . Connected via network cables, it can connect to upstream routers or other network devices, providing flexible network architecture configuration for the entire vehicle network system.The LAN interfaces (4 gigabit ports) are the primary connection channels for vehicle devices .

Through network cables, these interfaces can connect vehicle computers, cameras, LiDAR, displays, and other devices requiring high-speed data transmission. Each interface supports 10/100/1000Mbps transmission rates, fully meeting the demands of autonomous vehicles for real-time processing of large amounts of data.Imagine an autonomous vehicle equipped with dozens of cameras, multiple LiDAR units, millimeter-wave radars, and other sensors—the amount of data these devices generate per second is staggering. These LAN interfaces act like highways, ensuring data can be transmitted quickly and reliably to vehicle computers for processing.

Communication Interfaces—Bridges for “Conversing” with the Vehicle

In addition to network interfaces, the SV900 is equipped with various communication interfaces for connecting different types of devices.

The RS232 interface (1 unit) is a traditional serial communication interface primarily used for connecting GPS modules, traditional sensors, or debugging equipment . Through RS232 serial cables, the gateway can obtain precise positioning information or communicate with some legacy devices. Although this interface has limited transmission rates, it remains irreplaceable in certain specific applications.The RS485 interface (1 unit) is an industrial-grade communication interface supporting long-distance transmission and multi-device connections .

Through RS485 twisted pair cables, it can connect various industrial sensors, actuators, and other devices. This interface also supports the Modbus RTU protocol, which is widely used in industrial automation.

The CAN interface (1 unit) may be one of the most important communication interfaces . CAN (Controller Area Network) is the standard communication protocol in the automotive industry, and almost all automotive electronic control units (ECUs) support the CAN protocol. Through CAN bus cables, the gateway can directly connect to the vehicle’s CAN bus network, communicating with engine controllers, transmission controllers, chassis controllers, and others to obtain real-time vehicle status information such as speed, steering angle, and braking status.This is like installing a “translator” for the gateway, enabling it to understand the vehicle’s “language” and thereby achieve monitoring and control of vehicle status.

Antenna Interfaces—Windows to the External World

The SV900 is equipped with multiple antenna interfaces, all using Fakra connectors, which are standard RF connectors in the automotive industry .The cellular network antenna interfaces (8 units) support 5G/4G network connections through 50Ω impedance RF cables connected to external antennas .

These 8 interfaces support multiple frequency bands, including 5G bands N1/N3/N5/N7/N8/N20/N28 and 4G bands B1/B3/B5/B7/B8, among others.Why are so many antenna interfaces needed? This is because 5G/4G networks use multiple frequency bands, and different bands require different antennas to optimize signal reception. Multi-antenna systems can also implement MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, significantly improving data transmission rates and signal quality.

The WiFi antenna interfaces (4 units) support 2.4G/5.8G dual-band WiFi with maximum transmission rates up to 1774Mbps, supporting the latest WiFi6 standard . These interfaces can provide high-speed WiFi hotspot services for vehicle passengers and can also be used for vehicle connections to surrounding WiFi networks.

Other Interfaces—Complete Functional Configuration

The SIM card slots (2 units) support standard SIM cards and ESIM cards . The dual-card design enables network backup or switching between different carriers, ensuring network connection reliability.The GPIO interface (optional) can connect various digital input/output devices, such as control relays and switches, providing expansion capabilities for special applications .The reset button is used to restore the device to factory settings, which is very useful for maintenance and troubleshooting .

Practical Application Scenarios: Bringing Autonomous Vehicles to “Life”

In practical applications, the SV900 vehicle gateway acts like a command center, coordinating the work of various devices within the vehicle.When an autonomous vehicle starts up, the gateway first connects to the vehicle’s control systems through the CAN interface, obtaining basic vehicle status information. Simultaneously, cameras, LiDAR, and other sensors connected through LAN interfaces begin working, with the large amounts of data they generate transmitted to the vehicle computer for processing via gigabit networks.The vehicle computer analyzes this data, makes driving decisions, and then sends control commands to corresponding actuators through the gateway. Throughout this process, the gateway maintains connection with cloud servers through the 5G/4G network, obtaining real-time traffic information, map updates, and other data.If there are passengers in the vehicle, they can access the internet for entertainment through the WiFi hotspot provided by the gateway. Meanwhile, the gateway can also obtain precise location information through GPS modules, providing support for navigation and dispatch systems.

Security and Reliability: Essential Safeguards

As a critical vehicle device, the SV900 has implemented extensive security and reliability measures . It supports firewall, anti-DDoS attack, access control list, and other network security functions, as well as VPN, SSL encryption, and other technologies to ensure data transmission security.The device itself has passed IP40 protection level certification with good dust and water resistance . The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) exceeds 100,000 hours, ensuring long-term reliable operation.

Conclusion: The Foundation of Smart Mobility

Although the SV900 vehicle gateway appears to be just a small “box,” it carries the important responsibility of enabling autonomous vehicles to communicate with the external world. Through various interfaces and connection cables, it organically connects various devices within the vehicle, forming an efficient, secure, and reliable vehicle network system.With the popularization of 5G technology and the development of vehicle networking, vehicle gateways like the SV900 will play increasingly important roles.

They are not only the technical foundation for achieving autonomous driving but also important components for promoting the development of smart transportation and smart cities.In the near future, when we sit in autonomous vehicles enjoying convenient transportation, we might consider that behind all of this, a small “neural center” is working silently, connecting the intelligent world of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and vehicle-to-cloud communications.