AutoSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture) is an open and standardized software architecture for automotive electronics that provides a common framework for the development and integration of in-vehicle software. The goal of AutoSAR is to promote the reuse of software components, reduce the development time and cost of automotive software, and ensure compatibility and interoperability between different electronic control units (ECUs) in a vehicle.
History of AutoSAR
AutoSAR was founded in 2003 as a partnership between several major automotive manufacturers, including BMW, Daimler, and Volkswagen, as well as leading Tier 1 suppliers. The aim of AutoSAR was to establish a common software architecture for the rapidly increasing number of electronic control units (ECUs) in vehicles and to reduce the cost and complexity of developing software for these systems.
Since its inception, AutoSAR has grown to include more than 300 members from the automotive and electronics industries, and its software architecture has been widely adopted by vehicle manufacturers and suppliers around the world. AutoSAR has also evolved to address the growing demands of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving and has become an important platform for the development of new vehicle technologies.
AutoSAR Architecture
AutoSAR is a modular software architecture for automotive electronic control units (ECUs). The architecture is designed to be flexible, scalable, and reusable, with a focus on promoting the integration of software components from different suppliers and reducing the time and cost of developing software for vehicles.
The key components of the AutoSAR architecture include:
- Basic Software (BSW): This component provides a set of services and functions that support the development and execution of application software on an ECU. It includes modules for communication, resource management, and diagnostics.
- Runtime Environment (RTE): This component acts as a bridge between the application software and the basic software, allowing the application to access the services and functions provided by the BSW.
- Application Software (ASW): This component consists of the functional software that implements the specific features and functions required for an ECU. It communicates with other ECUs and the outside world through the RTE.
- Configuration Description (CDD): This component defines the specific configuration of the BSW and RTE for a given ECU, including the communication interfaces, data types, and software components to be used.
- Specification of Interface Requirements (SIR): This component defines the interfaces between the application software and the RTE, including the data types and functions that are available for use by the application.
- Implementation of Interface Requirements (IIR): This component implements the interfaces defined in the SIR, providing a concrete implementation of the communication and data exchange between the application and the RTE.
The AutoSAR architecture is designed to be platform-independent and can be used with different operating systems and microcontrollers. It is also designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing new features and functions to be added over time as the needs of the automotive industry evolve.
Benefits
AutoSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture) is designed to provide several cost benefits to the automotive industry. Some of the key benefits of AutoSAR include:
- Reuse and standardization: Promotes the reuse of software components and encourages standardization, reducing the time and cost of developing new software for each vehicle model or variant.
- Improved efficiency: By providing a common framework for the integration of software components, AutoSAR helps to improve the efficiency of the software development process and reduce the number of errors and bugs.
- Lower development costs: By reducing the time and complexity of software development, AutoSAR can help to lower the overall costs of developing new vehicles and ECUs.
- Better collaboration: Provides a common platform for collaboration between different suppliers, manufacturers, and systems integrators, making it easier to integrate software components from multiple sources.
- Easier integration of new features: The modular and flexible nature makes it easier to add new features and functions over time, reducing the time and cost of incorporating new technologies into vehicles.
In summary, the adoption of AutoSAR can lead to increased efficiency, lower development costs, and better collaboration between different stakeholders in the automotive industry.
Adaptive AUTOSAR
Adaptive AutoSAR is a variant of the original AutoSAR architecture that was developed to support the development of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functions. The key difference between Adaptive AutoSAR and the original AutoSAR architecture is that Adaptive AutoSAR is designed to support the development of software systems that can dynamically adapt to changes in their environment and to the behavior of other vehicle systems. Adaptive AutoSAR includes additional components and functions to support the development of adaptive and self-configuring software systems, such as:
- Dynamic Reconfiguration: Allows software components to be dynamically reconfigured at runtime, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions and requirements.
- Self-Diagnosis and Recovery: Provides tools and functions for the detection and correction of errors and faults in the system, helping to ensure reliable and safe operation.
- Safety Management: Provides a framework for the development and implementation of safety-critical software systems, helping to ensure that these systems meet the strict safety requirements of the automotive industry.
- Model-Based Design: Supports the use of models and simulations to design, test, and validate software systems, reducing the time and cost of the development process.
In summary, Adaptive AutoSAR provides a flexible and adaptable software architecture that is well-suited to the development of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functions.
Future
The future of AutoSAR is likely to be shaped by the growing demands of the automotive industry for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies. In particular, it is likely to play an important role in the development of software systems that can support the safe and reliable operation of these new technologies.
Some of the key areas where AutoSAR is likely to play a significant role in the future include:
- Connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT): AutoSAR is likely to play an important role in the development of connected vehicle systems, including the integration of vehicles into the Internet of Things (IoT).
- Advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving: AutoSAR is well-suited to the development of software systems for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functions, and is likely to be widely adopted in this area.
- Electrification and alternative powertrains: AutoSAR is likely to play an important role in the development of software systems for electric and hybrid vehicles, helping to ensure the safe and reliable operation of these new powertrain technologies.
- Cybersecurity: As vehicles become increasingly connected and reliant on software, AutoSAR is likely to play an important role in the development of secure and reliable software systems that can protect against cyber threats.
In conclusion, the future of AutoSAR is likely to be shaped by the growing demand for advanced technologies in the automotive industry, and it is well-positioned to play a significant role in the development of these new technologies.
