Experiences from Model Supported Configuration Management and Production of Automotive Embedded Software

Configuration management of products containing software with complex interrelationships is a challenge for the automotive industry. Configurations are usually addressed through hierarchical product structures based on a mechanical tradition. We report experiences from the development of a demonstrator: a scale model truck, including a software platform, active safety functionality and a tool environment. Our experiences in particular indicate that commercial Product Data Management (PDM) systems meet the needs for embedded software configuration management, providing improved traceability, configuration and production support for in-vehicle software. The software middleware provides execution independent of location, facilitating portability. Supplemented with an adapted PDM solution this provides efficient configuration support. The need for analysis support for the timing behavior of distributed applications was identified but not implemented. We conclude by discussing experiences and future opportunities with the demonstrator.