Every generation of vehicle electrical/electronic architecture moved the compute and dragged the wiring along with it. This infographic maps that path in one view, then shows what a genuinely centralized architecture looks like.

‍01 Distributed. One microcontroller per function, dozens of them, none of them in charge. Point-to-point copper with a bespoke harness for every model and trim. Limit: every new feature means new hardware, and there is no way to update the car after it ships.

‍02 Domain. A few domain controllers group compute by function — powertrain, body, infotainment. CAN and LIN still run the length of the car to reach scattered ECUs. Limit: compute is grouped, not centralized, and each controller still runs its own software stack.

‍03 Zonal. Controllers move to physical zones and a central computer starts to take over. Local runs get shorter, but automotive Ethernet now sits between every zone and the center. Limit: still several computers, each thinking for itself. The wiring got centralised; the brains didn't.

04 The Drako architecture: one brain, one backbone, simple I/O. The result: OTA, ADAS natively, off-the-shelf hardware, supplier freedom, data ownership and AI flexibility.