Complexity of modern automotive software demands development methodologies that save time and ensure reliability. We at Embitel, achieve this by using modelling techniques powered by tools like MATLAB, Simulink and Simscape, and more.
Automation of processes like code generation, testing and documentation lead to faster time to market, something that automotive companies always aspire. Model Based Development (MBD) can result in average costs savings of 25%-30% and time savings of 35%-40% (according to a global study by Altran Technologies, the chair of software and systems engineering and the chair of Information Management of the University of Technology in Munich)
Over the past decade, our team of MATLAB programming experts has been delivering cost and time savings with Model Based Design approach for product development.
Use Cases for Model Based Development of Automotive Embedded Software
Embitel has successfully delivered automotive software developed using Model based design methodology. Our expertise in MBD powered automotive product development spans across the following areas:
MBD Software Code Generation: Compliant with Automotive Industry Standards
AUTOSAR compliant MBD code generation, with the help of tool-boxes like E-coder, AUTOSAR ERTL etc.
Complete conformance to Mathworks Automotive Advisory Board (MAAB) guidelines in module development using Model Advisor toolbox
Deployment of tools like Polyspace to ensure that the software code generated using the Model Based Design approach is MISRA C compliant
A Handbook on Model Based Development
Learn about the process of MBD and our capabilities in model based development of automotive solutions
MBD Software Services for Automotive Product Development
Requirement Maturation
- Model Based Design of System level architecture and solution services
- Identification of maximum possible issues/queries during H/W & S/W requirement analysis
- Requirement freezing after resolution of these issues
Migration from Non-MBD to MBD paradigm
- Architecture Development
- Modules/ Component Development in MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow as per MAAB guidelines
- Memory Optimization for RAM/ROM according to MAAB guidelines
- ISO 26262 Compliant Models Rapid Prototyping- Virtual Prototyping, External Bypass etc.
Verification & Validation Services
- Model in Loop Testing (MIL)
- Software in Loop Testing (SIL)
- Hardware in Loop Testing (HIL)
- Processor in loop testing (PIL)
- Simulink Design Verifier
- Verification and Validation (V&V) of MATLAB Simulink Models
ISO 26262 Compliant MBD approach
- Software development in compliance with ISO 26262 (part 6)
- Support for development focused on ISO 26262 requirements specific to Model Based Design
- All additional V&V requirements are fulfilled based on ISO 26262 standard
- Models are created based on the requirements as per the ISO 26262 modelling guidelines
Auto Code Generation
- Code Generation using Target Link (MATLAB model conversion to Target Link Model)
- Code Generation with Matlab E-coder
- MISRA, AUTOSAR compliant code
- Custom Code Generation with Custom Target Language Compiler and E-coder
Integration Services
- Application & LLD Interface Development
- Integration Testing in real time environment to ensure error free module interactions
- Testing on real-time hardware (bench testing) (HIL)
- Testing on a target processor if real-time hardware is not present (PIL)
Floating to Fixed Point Conversion
- Support for Conversion of Floating point models to Fixed point models as per customer requirements using Mathwork Fixed Point Converter Tool Box.
- Support for Conversion of floating point Matlab code to fixed point code.
- Code generation & testing of floating and fixed point models for the comparison of results, in order to ensure expected accuracy.
Customer Success Stories of Model Based Design and Development
Model Based Development of Automotive Seating Comfort System
About the Customer:
Tier-1 Automotive Supplier
Business Challenge:
- Customer was confronted with a unique challenge related to controller memory.
- Floating point library modelling turned out to be an inefficient method with respect to on-chip memory consumption
Embitel’s Solution:
- Conversion of floating-point models into fixed point models.
- Development of an automation tool to expedite conversion of a large number of such models .
MATLAB (Simulink) Based UI Development for an Automotive Application
About the Customer:
US based Tier-1 supplier of Automotive and Industrial products.
Business Challenge:
Need for a configurable interface for managing the Low-Level Drivers (LLD) settings, Application Model functionality testing and code generation.
Embitel’s Solution:
- We developed the required User Interface in MATLAB, Simulink using s-functions and GUIDE.
- S-Function Interface, supported by the UI, is a solution to manage configuration/settings of the low-level drivers
Partnership with a Tier-1 for Migration of an ECU Application Software to MBD Approach
About the Customer:
Tier-1 supplier of automotive ECUs for hybrid and combustion engine vehicles.
Business Challenge:
Customer wanted an ECU application to be migrated to the model-based design paradigm
Embitel’s Solution:
- Development and use of the custom-built Simulink library blocks to match the existing software functions.
- Fixed point modelling.
- Matching the MBD software functionality with the earlier software functionality by auto code generation
Development of a Motor Controller (Using MATLAB) for a BLDC Motor
About the Customer:
A leading supplier of Electric Motors
Business Challenge:
Customer wanted an ECU application to be migrated to the model-based design paradigm
Embitel’s Solution:
- We developed the algorithm using Model Based Design methodology and MATLAB tool.
- Our team deployed SimScape, as readymade simulation modules to reduce development time.
FAQ’s Regarding Model Based Development
Ans. Our Model Based Software Development team follow the industry accepted V-cycle SDLC Model. Over the last 12+ years, we have achieved ensured complete compliance and alignment of this V-model with enterprise level QA modules such as CMMI Level-3 and ASPICE.
The quality of the artifacts and documents generated throughout the development process are in compliant with CMMI Level-3 and/or ASPICE.
We have also worked on projects where we delivered the artifacts compliant to both CMMI Level 3 and ASPICE, as per the requirements of the customer.
Ans. For one of our Model Based Development projects, we developed an automation tool that could convert libraries of floating point to fixed point model. This conversion was the step prior to generating the code and integrating it with the low-level drivers.
Completion of this conversion manually would have taken more than a week for a developer. Also, it would be error prone, as a lot of data type changes and I/O port name changes would have been required.
However, with the help our Automation Tool, we could convert 16 such libraries to fixed point in 1-2 days.
The benefits for the customer were
- More accurate conversion, better quality of the code and very less turn-around time.
Ans. Yes, post-integration support is part of the Service Level Agreement (SLA). Any kind of bug fixes and change requests, during or post the integration in production environment are part of our model based design support and maintenance services.
If required, our Model Based Design experts can also travel to the customers’ location for an Onsite Support.
Ans. Yes, Embitel has all the necessary skill-sets to help you setup Model Based Software Development process.
Our MBD experts will help you with the following processes:
- Support for Documentation related to each and every phase of V based SDLC model.
- ISO 26262 compliance
- AUTOSAR based model development
- Test plan, test cases creation
- I/O documentation for every phase of V-cycle as an evidence for CMMI or other QA audits
Ans. We have expertise in designing both Non-AUTOSAR as well as AUTOSAR based MBD models.
Our MBD experts have worked on projects where standard AUTOSAR guidelines have been followed for model creation, data type nomenclature, I/O names, vehicle diagnostics and more.
Ans. When you partner with Embitel for Model Based projects, you can expect to collaborate with an expert core team of Model Based Development Consultants, Project Managers and Automotive Engineers.
Here is the team hierarchy that is most commonly followed in the Model based software development project.
- Veteran Model Based Development Managers, who ensure end to end V cycle based MBD project execution. Compliance to the organizational process execution model is also ensured by them to the highest level possible.
- Senior MBD Consultants with 14+years of experience, to partner with you for critical automotive projects for product (ECU)/application development and consulting support.
- Senior MATLAB programming experts proficient in developing automotive ECUs/applications as per the latest industry standards including MAAB, AUTOSAR, and ISO 26262.
Ans. We can help you with a phased adoption of Model Based Development paradigm after in-depth review of the architecture of your existing product line.
Here is a brief overview of how a MBD adoption/migration approach may turn out be:
- Getting ready for the migration: Includes assessment of current state of the development process and learning the core MBD tools.
- Feature selection as per project scope: Understanding and fin-tuning of scope and requirements at every phase of development, selection of features, modeling and simulation and code generation.
- Component selection and physical modelling: Activities include Expand modelling, simulation at component level and introduction of plant modelling.
- Standardization: Performing Simulation at system level and full model based verification and validation. Best practices like introduction of tool automation and creation of reusable libraries also come into picture.
- Optimization: The final phase is to align the MBD approach with enterprise vision and goals. Objective is to make the processes fully automated and optimized.
Our Expertise in MBD Tools and Technologies
- Target Link for MIL Testing and SIL Testing
- E-coder for code generation
- GT-Power, Amesis, Tesis for Environment Model Development
- ASCET, Statemate and SCADE for functional development
- AUTOSAR ERTL (for AUTOSAR compliant code)
- Custom Target Language Compiler (for customized compilation)
- Vector tools for Hardware in Loop (HIL) Testing
Embitel’s Model Based Development Methodology
Related Blogs & Webinar: Learn More About Model Based Development
- [Video] How a Transition to Model Based Development can Save your Product Engineering Teams from Manual Coding Syndrome
- Why the Transition from Code Based Development to Model Based Development is a Necessary Paradigm Shift in Automotive
- [Video Blog] How Model Based Development Works: A Step-by-Step Analysis
- [Webinar] Model Based Development Tutorial: How to Create Models using MATLAB/SIMULINK
- [Webinar] Model Based Development Tutorial: How to generate code from the models using MATLAB/SIMULINK
Knowledge Bytes
Why choose Model Based Development Over Manual Coding
- Reduced system complexity
- Test suite reusability
- Design reusability to multiple hardware target deployment
- Automatic code generation
- Continuous error identification and correction
- Enhanced efficiency of up to 50%
- Reduced time-to-market and overall cost of development
What is Model Based Development?
- Model based development (MBD) is a software development methodology based on V-cycle.
- The model based approach enables a developer to simulate the models for the complex control processes.
- These software models can be tested to assess the performance in real-time. Once finalized, the code can be auto-generated from the models, using code generation tools.
- This way, the product can be tested at every stage of its development before the code is generated.
Here is a snapshot of Model Based development process:
- Requirement Maturation: Hardware and Software requirement analysis is performed as the first step to weed out maximum number of design issues.
- Model Simulation: The desired functionalities are expressed in the form of mathematical formula which eventually become models using simulation tools like MathWorks Simulink.
- Testing and Validation: Software-in-loop, model-in-loop and hardware-in-loop testing are performed on the model. As it is an iterative cycle, any issue found at any stage is rectified by tracing it back to its previous stage.
- Code Generation: Code is auto generated from the tested and verified models.
What are the Advantages of Model Based Design and Development?
- The advantages are many that have made model-driven approach, a method of choice for automotive software development. Model Based Design approach renders a great value-add for development of powertrain and chassis control applications, in particular.
A few of MBD’s advantages:
- Continuous testing of the software at every stage ensures that it is free from bugs/ errors and is of the highest quality.
- Time-to-market is reduced considerably as code doesn’t have to be written manually.
- MBD makes it easier to design Complex functions, as it requires less iterations.
- Cost of development is reduced.
- Test suites can be reused for different production programs.
