Quantifying and predicting the effects of AUTOSAR meta-model changes and utilizing them in car projects

Important results from the project

The main objective of this project was to facilitate the management of architectural updates in the development of automotive software systems based on the AUTOSAR standard. We achieved this objective by developing methods and tools for automated assessment of the impact of using new AUTOSAR features on the development projects in order to assist system designers in planning their use. The assessment is based on measuring the evolution of domain-specific meta-models, architectural models and system design requirements related to relevant AUTOSAR features.

Expected long term effects

We developed three new methods and software tools for automated impact assessment. The first method and the tool (QTool) show the complexity increase in the architectural models after adding a set of new AUTOSAR features to the system. The second method (MeFIA) and the tool (ARCA) assess the impact of using these AUTOSAR features in the system on the used modeling tools. Finally, the third method and the tool (SREA) identify a subset of AUTOSAR requirements that are affected by the use of the new features.

Approach and implementation

We showed in practice that our methods and tools enable faster use of new AUTOSAR features in the development projects. More concretely, we showed that quantitative analysis of evolution of domain-specic metamodels, architectural models and system design requirements related to new architectural features can be a valuable indicator of which features shall be used in the system and what is their impact on the development projects. This knowledge can facilitate other industries developing large complex software systems in managing architectural updates in the development.