Dependable architectures for automotive electronis - philosophy, theory and practice

Abstract: Dealing properly with electronics will be a strongcompetitive advantage in the automotive sector in the nearfuture. Electronics are driving current innovations but are atthe same time becoming a larger part of the cost of thevehicle. In order to be successful, innovations must beintroduced in the vehicle without compromising the final pricetag. Also, the electronics have to compete with, and win over,the dependability of well known and proven mechanicalsolutions.A problem with automotive electronics is that the approachwithin industry is to manage electronics in the same way asmechanical components with well defined boundaries andproperties. With the freedom introduced by software new ways tomanage the design process are necessary, components mayinteract differently depending on the context and have hiddenbehavior exposed only at rare occasions. The system design mustbe performed more explicitly; it is not enough to rely on welldefined boundaries and interfaces. The content and behavior ofinteracting components must be designed, analyzed and verifiedin the design process.For future success, by-wire systems must handle theintegration of internal systems with a high degree ofcomplexity and increased dependencies between parts. This mustbe performed in line with a stronger agenda of cost anddependability, where the dependability of internal integrationshould focus on safety, reliability and maintainability. Thisthesis provides a comprehensive background on this topicthrough the first two appended reports.As a support for new ways to deal with system design theMonty model for system engineering is proposed in the thirdappended report. The Monty model structures the need formodeling efforts in a general systems framework and alsoindicates related activities in the design process.Modeling is a supporting technique that should improvecost-efficient dependability, but the modeling must beaccompanied by an extended reuse of designs. Modeling can beapplied formally or tacitly. In order to support modeling anddesign of either type the Monty model can be used. The Montymodel underlines the types of models necessary at differentdesign stages and suggests a way to separate design stages inthe design process. At every stage, it is necessary to havelinked models of the function, the implementation and theenvironment of the system. Related activities to manage thiswork are also necessary.In future work, building on the ideas of the Monty model,the goal is to find a structured approach to master the art ofsystem design and improve the engineering of dependable andcost efficient drive-bywire architectures.Keywords:Automotive, Embedded systems, Architecture,Dependability, Cost, X-by-wire