Figure 5. Vector CANtech’s VN7600 FlexRay/CAN USB bus interface has two FlexRay and three CAN channels in one device simplifying precise synchronization of the different bus systems.

In general, this cooperative attitude can be oberved at many companies and in diferent areas. To support model referencing, dSPACE Real-Time Interface (RTI) provides automatic implementation of MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow models on dSPACE hardware. Models in separate files can be integrated into other models via model referencing and code can be generated for them incrementally.

For model-based design, The MathWorks recently introduced Embedded IDE Link MU automatically deploys code generated from Simulink models into the Green Hills MULTI integrated development environment (IDE) (Figure 3). The new software enables seamless transition and execution of code on a wide range of embedded microprocessors.

Ansoft's AnsoftLinks facilitates the transfer of design databases from third-party EDA layout tools and Mechanical CAD (MCAD) packages into the company's electromagnetic field simulation products. In addition to EDA links for a number of tools offered by Cadence, Zuken, Mentor Graphics and Synopsys, the software has MCAD links to support common file formats, such as IGES, STEP and Pro/E (refer to Figure 4). Specific functionality includes enhanced automation for Mentor Graphics Expedition translation and support for Cadence Allegro/APD v15.5.

While it does not qualify as cooperation at the company level, synchronizing different bus systems has been an issue in the past. With a FlexRay bus added to provide high-speed control, Vector CANtech developed the VN7600 FlexRay/CAN USB interface. As shown in Figure 5, the VN7600 is a bus interface with two FlexRay channels and three CAN channels in one device. This allows simultaneous access to both bus systems with just one hardware module and simplifies synchronization of the different bus systems with highly precise timestamps on a common time base.

At the recent SAE 2008 Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium, several software suppliers displayed tools for hybrid vehicles. With hybrid development accelerating, software tools have also expanded, including tools that interface to accepted model-based development tools from The MathWorks and others.

One of the functions of ETAS INTECRIO V3.0 is the integration of MATLAB/Simulink models as well as the company's ASCET models and C code modules.

In addition to linking to its own ThermNet thermal simulation software, Infolytica Corporations MagNet can be invoked by ActiveX compliant applications including MATLAB.

One final example of tool linking is MotoTron's Moto-Hawk. This development tool allows users to create Simulink diagrams that run on its embedded control modules providing a prototyping system for Simulink/Stateflow users.

Since AUTOSAR provides standard file formats at different steps of the development process, it is much easier for toolmakers and users to couple tools together. As a result, software and tool suppliers can compete and cooperate with each other much easier.

“With AUTOSAR being a different kind of a model, a bus of TargetLink, Simulink, we will see in the future both levels interacting,” said Niggemann. He expects to see code generators in Simulink and Target-Link that will write the algorithm and on top possibly even the software architecture system models. “The development we are going to see in the next years is that the system models also become simulatable — that you can simulate a network of different ECUs on the PC,” said Niggemann.

Randy Frank is president of Randy Frank & Associates Ltd., a technical marketing consulting firm based in Scottsdale, AZ. He is an SAE and IEEE Fellow and has been involved in automotive electronics for more than 25 years. He can be reached at r.frank@ieee.org.