CS&E Colloquium: "Software Defined Vehicles: The Hardware Challenge"

The computer science colloquium takes place on Mondays from 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. This week's speaker, Andrew Kotz from 3M, will be giving a talk titled, "Software Defined Vehicles: The Hardware Challenge."

Abstract

Automobiles are rapidly evolving from static, hardware-centric products to software-defined platforms. Driven by advances in ADAS & autonomous driving, on-vehicle AI, and infotainment needs, vehicle software requirements are defining the hardware specifications. Such changes require expanded edge computing, increasingly complex sensing & perception systems, and high bandwidth vehicle connectivity that allows vehicles to adapt over time, delivering new features post-sale and addressing recalls through data-driven monitoring and software updates. Combining 3M’s expertise in automotive with adjacent data centers and consumer electronics technologies, 3M is helping advance the next generation of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This presentation will cover the changes happening within the automotive industry, technical challenges & opportunities for innovation, and key 3M technologies & solutions for SDVs.

Biography

Andrew Kotz, PhD, is the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Applications Specialist at 3M, where he is leading 3M’s SDV portfolio development by partnering with industry and researchers to accelerate SDV capabilities and help 3M deliver leading solutions for next generation vehicle platforms. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, focusing on data-driven approaches to vehicle and transportation challenges. Before joining 3M, Andrew led the Commercial Vehicle Technologies team at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, directing advanced vehicle research in the medium & heavy-duty vehicle, off-road vehicle, rail, marine, and aviation sectors. Simultaneously, Andrew was the principal investigator at Exergi Predictive, which is a start-up developing energy management & prediction software. Andrew’s expertise includes data collection & analysis, data pipelines, and on-vehicle compute, helping translate vehicle operational data into actionable insights that improve energy efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.