AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) is an open and standardised automotive software architecture, jointly developed by automakers, suppliers and tool developers. In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Frank Kirschke-Biller about AUTOSAR and the next steps.
What is the feedback today about AUTOSAR? Do you have the feeling that the auto industry succeeded to join main companies around a common standard?
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The automotive industry has recognised that a technological breakthrough is required to master the growing complexity of automotive electronic architecture. The development and standardisation of AUTOSAR addresses these challenges. Since these issues cannot be handled by individual companies with the goal to create a standard, the approach was to include as many players as possible into these efforts to be jointly successful in creating an international standard, which is beneficial for all. The openness, the modularity of the AUTOSAR standard, along with the elaboration of methodologies and processes up to testing have all allowed a very rapid contribution of industrial actors at all levels – software modules, integration, tools, testing – providing a further improvement of the base for the future.
Did this standard change, according to you, the way OEMs, suppliers and developers work together today?
Standardisation of the ECU architecture is needed in order to manage increasing functional complexity in a cost efficient way. It enables a high amount of functional integration and the reusability of software applications.The AUTOSAR standardisation results in a higher degree of reuse of components. This will basically increase the maturity and thus also the quality of these components. Car makers and suppliers are able to reduce their development costs and to optimise their electronic architecture. In particular tool developers can benefit from standardised exchange formats, which enable common interfaces with development processes. The AUTOSAR motto “Cooperate on standards, compete on implementation” offers various benefits to automotive manufacturers, automotive suppliers, tool providers, and even new market entrants.
Is AUTOSAR a European initiative or already more than this?
With more than 160 members participating in the development partnership AUTOSAR is the standard for automotive software. AUTOSAR has been gaining remarkable momentum regarding application in series projects at many members and partners. Today, over 80 percent of all cars sold worldwide are manufactured by members of AUTOSAR and the development partnership expects a rapid market penetration of AUTOSAR. The migration plans of the AUTOSAR Core Partners and Members are proving that it will become the standard for E/E systems in the automotive domain. Several OEMs have started the development of high volume vehicle platforms which apply AUTOSAR at most of their ECUs. This comes along with many AUTOSAR series projects at suppliers and tool providers.
A focus will also be on the markets India and China, which show a high interest in AUTOSAR as the international automotive software standard. Exchanges on technical collaborations with the Chinese Automotive Electronics Standardisation Committee (AESC) and Indian organisations are currently ongoing. With the support of a Core Partner, local AUTOSAR representatives have been established in India and China. The ongoing close cooperation with JasPar is well established.
The full interview is available on just-auto’s QUBE research platform.
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