A zone controller is a critical component in modern vehicles, responsible for managing and controlling various functions within a specific geographic zone of the vehicle. Within its zone, the ZCU acts as a hub, integrating and coordinating the functions of various local electronic control units (ECUs) and sensors to ensure seamless communication and operation and thus enables optimization of the vehicle’s hardware and software architecture.

A zone controller typically covers a range of functions, including:

• Power distribution and management
• Actuation and control of various vehicle systems
• Sensor data processing and analysis
• Communication with other ECUs and systems
• Diagnostic and fault detection capabilities