A Model-Based Approach for Automotive Software Development

Integrated model-based specification techniques facilitate the definition of seamless development processes for electronic control units (ECUs) including support for domain specific issues such as management of signals, the integration of isolated logical functions or the deployment of functions to distributed networks of ECUs. A fundamental prerequisite of such approaches is the existence of an adequate modeling notation tailored to the specific needs of the application domain together with a precise definition of its syntax and its semantics. However, although these constituents are necessary, they are not sufficient for guaranteeing an efficient development process of ECU networks. In addition, methodical support which guides the application of the modeling notation must be an integral part of a model-based approach. Therefore we propose the introduction of a so-called ’system model’ which comprises all of these constituents. A major part of this system model constitutes the Automotive Modeling Language (AML), an architecture centric modeling language. The system model further comprises specifically tailored modeling notations derived from the Unified Modeling Language (UML) or the engineering tool ASCET-SD or general applicable structuring mechanisms like abstraction levels which support the definition of an AML relevant well-structured development process.