Martin Krammer

Method Library Framework for Safety Standard Compliant Process Tailoring

The introduction of the new automotive standard on functional safety ISO 26262 raises different challenges from the process point of view. Hence, a standardized process mapping roles, activities and work products according to ISO 26262 needs to be defined. This process has to be tailored according to the automotive safety integrity level (ASIL) and to company specific practices and teams. In this work, we propose a method content approach modeled with SPEM in order to define and formalize development processes, enabling better management and easier tailoring activities.

Towards cross-domains model-based safety process, methods and tools for critical embedded systems: the CESAR approach

The CESAR project1 aims at elaborating a Reference Technology Platform usable across several application domains (Aeronautics, Automotive, Industrial Automation, Railway and Space) for the cost effective development and validation of safety related embedded systems. Safety and, more generally, dependability are therefore major topics addressed by the project. This paper focuses on the work performed on safety requirements and approaches to be supported by a common Reference Technology Platform. We analyse and compare the industrial practice, applicable standards and state of the art so as to identify which and how safety views should be supported. We focus in particular on the major axes investigated by the project, formal model-based techniques for requirements engineering and component-based engineering. Preliminary realisations and case studies confirm the interest and provide refined requirements for the final version of the platform.

Exploration of the FlexRay signal integrity using a combined prototyping and simulation approach

Ensuring a correct signal integrity within the entire FlexRay network and for all the possible environmental situations is mandatory for reliable operation of the distributed application. However, this is a goal difficult to reach due to the large number of parameters that influence the signal integrity. The use of simulation is a natural answer to efficiently support space exploration. We discuss in this work how the TEODACS test approach supports the validation process of the simulation models for FlexRay topologies and provides trustfulness for the simulation results even if hardware reference is not available. Further, we introduce a new method for the advanced analysis and evaluation of signal integrity in FlexRay networks.

Heterogeneous co-simulation platform for the efficient analysis of FlexRay-based automotive distributed embedded systems

Validation front-loading using simulation is required to save efforts and support decision making during the development process. For automotive distributed embedded systems, the fast increasing system complexity usually prevents the use of simulation encompassing the entire communication architecture. The simulation is then focused to single domain and/or components. We present in this work a heterogeneous co-simulation model of a FlexRay based system comprising simulation models from the software components down to the waveforms within the FlexRay electrical cables. This platform enables the efficient analysis of the assembled system and more especially of the interactions between the components. The description of the models is supported by three test campaigns in order to highlight the importance of holistic simulation as well as the potential of the proposed approach.

Improving methods and processes for the development of safety-critical automotive embedded systems

Electronic Control Units (ECUs) are implemented nowadays in safety-critical applications such as battery management or power control systems for hybrid vehicles. In this context, a critical product failure can harm people, environment or property and has therefore to be avoided. The challenge during the design of such components is to improve and guarantee the product quality while keeping flexibility for different variants and minimizing the development costs. We present in this paper first results of the newly started MEPAS project. The focus is set on improvements regarding requirements engineering as well as regarding the development of safety-relevant automotive embedded systems in the context of ISO 26262.

Standard compliant co-simulation models for verification of automotive embedded systems

The functional mockup interface (FMI) is a tool independent standard to support model exchange and cosimulation, as intended by the automotive industry to unify the exchange of simulation models between suppliers and OEMs. The standard defines functional mockup units (FMU) as components which implement the FMI. The creation and exchange of simulation models with customers and suppliers across the automotive supply chain is highly beneficial: In order to support early phases of development (requirement formulation, creation of executable specifications, and rapid prototyping) the creation of FMUs for co-simulation is reasonable. In this paper, we propose a structured method for generation of FMUs for co-simulation which are versatile, highly transportable and fast simulating. We show how to compile FMUs based on SystemC and SystemCAMS, representing digital as well as analog and mixed signal electric and electronic systems. This tool-independent method allows inclusion of existing simulation models with only minimal adaptations. Additionally, no modifications of the standardized libraries are necessary with the outlined approach. The resulting FMUs allow convenient exchange and fast co-simulation of automotive systems, as they may be integrated by any FMI compatible master tool. An automotive battery system use case is shown to highlight these advantages and to demonstrate the simulation performance of the resulting FMUs.

System design for enhanced forward-engineering possibilities of safety critical embedded systems

Due to the high overall complexity of embedded systems in the automotive domain, the concept and system design phases have shown to be important, as they lay the foundations for implementations. Therefore, front-loading principles are advantageous. In this work, we present a methodology for semi-formal notation based system design. In the end, we demonstrate a transformation scheme for the conversion from system models to executable code, featuring full traceability and support for hardware and software paradigms. An automotive use case demonstrates the capabilities of the outlined approach.

Improvement of inertial sensor based indoor navigation by video content analysis

Foot-mounted inertial systems for indoor positioning and pedestrian guidance are an elegant and cheap solution to track first responders within buildings and underground structures. They can run completely autonomous, i.e. they do not require preinstalled infrastructure installations. But there are some difficult problems to solve: Starting from a known position the positioning error increases with the travelled distance, if only a double integration of the accelerations is performed. Therefore it is necessary to cut down the integration intervals and to reposition the system from time to time vis-à-vis a known landmark. Several algorithms have been developed at TU Graz to reduce these errors. The precise recognition of the motion patterns allows for performing zero velocity updates (ZUPT) to achieve a high accuracy in distance. Further improvements are gained by the fusion of additional sensors like barometer or GPS. Different map matching algorithms are used to perform periodic repositioning. Since ground floors often are not available, HSLU has developed a video content analysis based repositioning method that increases the accuracy of the heading of the IMU system considerably.

Systematic Pattern Approach for Safety and Security Co-engineering in the Automotive Domain

Future automotive systems will exhibit increased levels of automation as well as ever tighter integration with other vehicles, traffic infrastructure, and cloud services. From safety perspective, this can be perceived as boon or bane - it greatly increases complexity and uncertainty, but at the same time opens up new opportunities for realizing innovative safety functions. Moreover, cybersecurity becomes important as additional concern because attacks are now much more likely and severe. Unfortunately, there is lack of experience with security concerns in context of safety engineering in general and in automotive safety departments in particular. To remediate this problem, we propose a systematic pattern-based approach that interlinks safety and security patterns and provides guidance with respect to selection and combination of both types of patterns in context of system engineering. The application of a combined safety and security pattern engineering workflow is shown and demonstrated by an automotive use case scenario.

Beyond HTML5 geolocation: A flexible concept to enable and easily use advanced positioning technologies for mobile indoor location based service web applications

This paper introduces a possibility for websites running in a standard web browser on smartphones to also use context adjusted technologies not supported by web technology, although strongly needed especially for location based service (LBS) application for. We outline surrounding conditions of the technologies used for the implementation of LBS. Inferred from identified limiting factors and the inflexibility of available location strategies, we show how e.g. an established IMU-sensor based positioning system library could be used by web applications with a standard HTML hyperlink. This extends the applications of available, specialized indoor positioning modules greatly to the domain of existing and upcoming location based online-services.