Paul Fernando, senior director at Analog Devices (ADI) and president of the recently launched OpenGMSL Association, discusses the role of OpenGMSL technology in transforming vehicle connectivity and why it matters for the auto industry.
Let’s start by covering the essentials – what is GMSL technology?
GMSL stands for Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link. It’s a high-speed data transmission technology that efficiently moves video, audio, control signals and even power over a single cable. Think of it as the central nervous system of modern vehicles, connecting cameras, displays and sensors to the compute units. The real magic? It handles huge amounts of data almost instantaneously while cutting down on all that complex wiring that you would otherwise need.
How mature is this technology?
We’ve had GMSL links in market since 2004. To put that in perspective, there are now over a billion GMSL links on the road, used by more than 25 auto makers worldwide and about 50 major suppliers. Those links have transmitted data over something like 20 trillion kilometers. The technology is definitely road-proven. And we keep improving it to handle the ever-growing bandwidth needs of modern vehicles.
What’s the significance of the new OpenGMSL Association?
What we’re doing with the OpenGMSL Association is exciting. We’re taking what used to be proprietary Analog Devices tech and turning it into an open standard that anyone in the automotive industry can use. The association is a non-profit entity run by an independent board of industry leaders. The whole point is to create a framework where different vendors can draw upon a unified, open industry standard to make components that work together seamlessly. This improves development cycle time, makes integration much simpler, and speeds up innovation throughout the automotive world.
Why would ADI push for an open standard when you’ve developed this proprietary technology?
We’re certainly proud of what we’ve built with GMSL for our customers and partners. However, the future of automotive tech isn’t about walled gardens. It’s about collaboration. By opening up a standard, we’re creating this ecosystem where many companies can innovate together. That’s good for everyone. It speeds up development, enables integration, expands applications, makes supply chains more resilient and ultimately gives consumers better products. And it fits right in with what we’re all about at ADI, accelerating those breakthroughs that improve people’s lives.
How does GMSL technology enhance vehicle safety?
Safety is non-negotiable for today’s vehicles. GMSL enables high-resolution, real-time video from multiple cameras around the vehicle, showing front, rear, surround view and even driver monitoring systems. These cameras serve as the eyes for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), helping prevent accidents by detecting obstacles, monitoring driver attention and supporting features like automatic emergency braking as the industry evolves along the autonomous driving spectrum. The low latency of GMSL technology is crucial here. When safety is concerned, every millisecond counts.
Beyond safety, how does GMSL impact the in-car experience?
For passengers, the modern car is becoming what we call a theater on wheels. In addition to sophisticated safety features, today’s consumers increasingly expect premium infotainment experiences with high-resolution displays throughout the vehicle. GMSL enables this by efficiently connecting multiple displays, supporting features like rear-seat entertainment systems, digital instrument clusters and center console displays. It allows for daisy-chaining of displays, which significantly reduces wiring complexity while maintaining high-quality video transmission.
How does OpenGMSL support the industry’s move toward software-defined vehicles?
Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) represent the future of automotive design, where functionality is increasingly determined by software rather than hardware. These vehicles require flexible, high-bandwidth data networks to support over-the-air updates and reconfigurable features. OpenGMSL provides the robust, standardized connectivity backbone needed for this architecture, enabling seamless communication between various vehicle systems and supporting the massive data throughput required for advanced features.
What competitive advantages does OpenGMSL offer compared to alternative technologies?
OpenGMSL stands out for several reasons. First, it’s a mature, road-proven technology with an established ecosystem. Second, it offers superior performance, supporting cable lengths up to 15m with high bandwidth and low latency. Third, it’s designed specifically for automotive applications, meeting stringent requirements for reliability, electromagnetic interference (EMI), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance and functional safety. Finally, as an open standard, it offers original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers greater flexibility, such as reduced dependency on single-source solutions.
What’s your vision for the future of OpenGMSL?
We envision OpenGMSL becoming the industry standard for in-vehicle connectivity, powering the next generation of automotive innovation at the intelligent edge. As vehicles become more autonomous and digitally interconnected, the demand for high-speed, reliable data transmission will only increase. OpenGMSL is positioned to meet these demands while fostering collaboration across the industry. By transforming signals into action, we’re helping create smarter, safer and more enjoyable vehicles that truly enrich people’s lives. The automotive industry has long been a catalyst for innovation in adjacent markets. As AI-based machine vision continues to advance, OpenGMSL may also enable other non-automotive applications such as factory automation and robotics. Keep checking on OpenGMSL to see how our future evolves.
In related news, ASAM has shared updates on its positioning for SDV, AI and open-source at its annual Technical Seminar in Munich, Germany