An Integrated Approach Enabling Cross-Domain Simulation of Model-Based E/E-Architectures

Abstract

The increasing complexity of electric/electronic architectures (EEA) in the automotive domain raised the necessity of model-based development processes for the design of such heterogeneous systems, which combine different engineering principles with different viewpoints. High-level simulation is a great means to evaluate the EEA in the concept phase of the design, since it reduces costly real-world experiments. However, model-based EEA design and analysis as well as its simulation are often separate processes in the development lifecycle. In this paper, we present a novel approach that extends stateof-the-art model-based systems engineering principles of EEA by a behavior specification reusing library components. The specification is seamlessly integrated in the development process of a single source EEA model. Therewith, the starting point is the abstract logical function architecture of the EEA. Based on this single source EEA model we synthesize a unified high-level simulation model, which is capable of linking the behavioral model with lower level implementation details of other domains, e.g. the network communication of the underlying hardware topology. This cross-layer simulation enables an early but holistic system's behavior analysis of the dynamic changes which typically depend on the scenarios applied. Moreover, the integrated approach enables the potential to feedback the simulation results into suitable EEA metrics and benchmarks for further analysis and optimization as well as the seamless traceability of the behavioral specification to requirements and other abstraction layers. A driver assistance system use case demonstrates the proof-ofconcept and the benefits of our methodology.

Electric Circuit- and Wiring Harness-Aware Behavioral Simulation of Model-Based E/E-Architectures at System Level

“…Moreover, SystemC-AMS does not incorporate QSS solver methods compared to our approach. Further references and more detailed descriptions of the mentioned works can be found in [13].…”

“…Cross-layer mappings establish a seamless traceability across all layers. The main idea proposed in [13] is to use the already available EEA data model information in order to synthesize an integrated, unified and executable high-level simulation model which is capable of linking the functional network specified at the LA layer with lower level implementation details e.g., the network communication Fig. 1: Overview of the baseline methodology for cross-domain EEA simulation model synthesis [13] of the underlying hardware topology and execution time of functions.…”

“…In this section we first give a brief introduction to the already developed baseline methodology [13] shown in Fig. 1.…”

“…The latter simulations are performed in an aspect-oriented way along with the behavioral simulation. More details can be found in [13].…”

“…A novel approach was proposed in [13] to address the mentioned challenges by means of a cross-domain Ptolemy II [14] (PtII) simulation model synthesis out of an EEA system-level model and is described in more detail in Sec. III-A.…”