Implementing a Custom HAL in AOSP

In this talk, I will walk through the process of implementing a custom Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The session is designed to provide a clear, practical understanding of how Android communicates from the application layer to low-level hardware through its HAL interface. 

I’ll use a real-world example involving hardware activation to demonstrate:

• Creating a HAL module and registering it with the Android system 

• Modifying the AOSP framework to communicate with the HAL 

• Establishing secure access to hardware nodes at the kernel level 

• Managing permissions and SELinux policies for hardware control 

• Developing a simple Android app and service to trigger HAL operations 

Whether you're working on sensors, indicators, or custom peripherals, this session offers a reusable blueprint for integrating the hardware layer into AOSP. 

• Understand the architecture and lifecycle of a custom HAL in Android 

• Learn how to connect application-layer components with hardware interfaces 

• With the hardware demo available, attendees will be able to develop their own custom HAL