Sitting in your car, ready to set off on an exciting road trip, you start the engine. Different car parts begin interacting with each other, but what makes them run smoothly? Well, here AUTOSAR steps in.
You may wonder what is AUTOSAR. This abbreviation stands for Automotive Open System Architecture. It is a standardized software architecture for cars that helps different components in a vehicle work together smoothly. On top of that, AUTOSAR technology implies a set of rules and standards car manufacturers should follow https://lembergsolutions.com/autosar-engineering.
This article will shed light on what is meant by AUTOSAR. You will learn whether it's a tool or a framework and what are the benefits of using this architecture. Keep reading to get the full picture!
What is Meant by AUTOSAR?
Along with the increasing complexity of electronic systems in the automotive industry, car producers faced the challenge of integrating these systems within vehicles. It was difficult to merge body control modules with engine control units without standardized communication protocols.
Thus, car manufacturers felt the need to enter into a partnership. They developed a common framework in 2003, allowing them to integrate various vehicle components across different car brands and models. The name given to this framework was AUTOSAR.
AUTOSAR software was a revolution in managing electronic systems within vehicles. This framework allowed car giants to establish shared language and communication protocols for electronic systems. As a result, different software components became more compatible with each other.
- For example, Engine Control Units (ECUs) such as microcontrollers and diagnostic protocols can be seamlessly integrated within a car's electronic system. This means vehicle manufacturers can order ECUs from various suppliers and not worry about compatibility issues.
- Alternatively, AUTOSAR architecture enables the integration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) units. There's no incompatibility risk in using sensors from different suppliers any more. With AUTOSAR embedded software, all the electronic components interact smoothly to enable features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and collision warning.
Is AUTOSAR a Tool?
When discussing the nature of AUTOSAR meaning, it's important to note that it's not a tool. AUTOSAR is rather a standardized framework or architecture developed to serve as a base for vehicle electronic components development.
The term AUTOSAR also refers to the global partnership of automotive manufacturers, car parts suppliers, consulting companies, and research institutions who were focused on creating a common platform for designing vehicle software.
As a framework for vehicle software development, AUTOSAR provides a set of guidelines to follow. These guidelines define a standardized architecture, interfaces, and communication protocols that vehicle software manufacturers should comply with. Because if based on the same framework, different ECUs can interact seamlessly.
Although AUTOSAR cannot be considered a tool, it has set the rules for automotive software manufacturers. The companies were encouraged to develop AUTOSAR embedded systems, which would aid in the configuration of ECUs. Examples of such systems are
- authoring tools (code generators, software development environments)
- configuration tools (parameter configuration software)
- integration platforms (middleware frameworks)
- validation tools (test automation frameworks, simulation tools)
All of these help software developers generate code, configure software components and test the overall system.
What are the advantages of AUTOSAR?
The adoption of AUTOSAR has brought the automotive sector to a new level. This architecture helped car software manufacturers overcome the issues hampering industry development. Let's take a closer look at the benefits AUTOSAR has brought to the auto sector.
Compatibility
AUTOSAR has helped to overcome the main issue in the automotive sector - incompatibility of systems. It was challenging for car manufacturers to integrate software from different providers because of various coding styles. Now, they can easily merge different software units regardless of car brand or model.
Reduced Development Costs
With the modular approach to automotive software creation, AUTOSAR helps to reduce time and costs. This framework provides a set of standardized software components that can be reused during development.
Increased Safety
A standardized set of development rules eliminates the risk of software vulnerabilities. AUTOSAR framework includes safety-critical functions that reduce errors and improve software reliability.
Improved Quality
A set of rules for quality standards, such as coding guidelines and design principles, ensures the reliability of the final product. AUTOSAR guidelines include best practices for developing automotive software. By following them, car manufacturers minimize errors and deliver highly-competitive products.
Easier Diagnostics
With AUTOSAR architecture, it's easier to detect and resolve issues within vehicle's software. It enables standardized diagnostic practices, which simplify maintenance and reduces downtime. All this contributes to enhanced software reliability and customer satisfaction.
Streamlines the Industry Innovations
The main task of AUTOSAR is to support future innovations. This framework makes the integration of emerging technologies and features in the automotive industry spotless. For example, ADAS systems were difficult to imagine not so long ago, but now they make the driving process safer for many people around the world.
Conclusion
Commonly known as AUTOSAR, the Automotive Open System Architecture is a framework created to develop compatible and reliable automotive software solutions. Designed in 2003, this framework has significantly streamlined the automotive sector. In fact, it has
- resolved the components incompatibility issue with the standardized set of rules to follow
- reduced the development costs with a set of reusable software components
- increased software reliability providing ready-to-go safety-crucial features
- improved software quality with the series of guidelines car software providers must follow
- boosted the automotive software testing process by reducing downtime
- streamlined the auto sector by simplifying the innovations adoption process
With all these benefits, AUTOSAR has played a major role in shaping the automotive sector. Prior to the technological advancements we see today, many opportunities for the car industry are still looming.