Model Based Design in automotive

Published by EEVAM Technologies on 19/10/202219/10/2022

In previous articles we have mentioned the use of Model Based Design (MBD) at EEVAM, providing examples of its application, such as the simulation of control loops in the direction system of an electric vehicle. But,what is MBD? 

MBD is a software development and math-based visual method for designing complex control system. MBD is a model math-based method which uses simple blocks to visually represent a real environment. It is widely used in embedded software development of complex control systems.

Moreover, it is based on the V-model, mentioned in this post, which accelerates product development and reduces time-to-market. With this method , system specifications can be clearly defined, requirements can be verified during development, and code can be generated automatically to achieve a rapid prototyping and software development.. 

In industries where technology and electronics are a vital part of the product, such as automotive and aerospace industries, the system complexity has increased dramatically in recent years.

MBD has been implemented in automotive in order to abord software complexity and challenging safety requirements, replacing the traditional methodology.

In traditional methodology, system development starts with requirements definition, followed by the prototype implementation and manual coding to implement the necessary algorithms, and finally with the verification and validation phases. In these last phases, errors in the implementation are detected, when it is too late and costly to correct them.  

With the MBD methodology, after requirements definition, a model is elaborated to develop a detailed system design. Using MBD tools, including Simulink, simulations are carried out at all development stages, with verification and validation phases being executed continuously. In this way, errors are corrected in early stages, in time to avoid delays, and reducing the total development cost. To perform verification and validation phases, MBD facilitates the use of Software In the Loop (SIL), Model In the Loop (MIL), Processor In the Loop (PIL) and Hardware In the Loop (HIL) methods, which allows testing to be performed even when hardware is incomplete.

Finally, once the design is completed, production code is automatically generated to program it. This allows programmer for abstracting out the complexities of programming languages as C or C++ and design better control algorithms. In MBD the model remains at the centre of the development, contrary to traditional methodology, which focuses more on the code development than on the code functionality.

Furthermore, generated code is adapted to requirement such as ROM or RAM efficiency, compliance with safety and AUTOSAR standards, etc. 

Quality management and functional safety are critical in automotive. Tools as Embedded Coder support code generation according to various safety standards, such as ISO 26262.

As proof of the MBD implementation in the automotive industry, the creation of the Japan Automotive Model-Based Engineering centre (JAMBE) was announced in 2021, to contribute to making Japan’s automotive industry more competitive internationally through the MBD implementation.

At EEVAM, we have been using MBD in our projects hand in hand with our clients on the successful development of their vehicles, promoting the development of EV new technologies.