Stuttgart and Saarbrücken, April 9, 2024 — A key requirement for autonomous driving and x-by-wire systems is the correct timing of fail-operational systems. Coordinated software tools and a close cooperation between Vector Informatik and AbsInt make it easier for ECU developers to analyze the worst-case execution time (WCET) of projects based on MICROSAR from Vector, and to prove that the timing behavior of autonomous driving systems meets the strict safety standards and requirements.
The collaboration between Vector and AbsInt brings together the expertise of two industry leaders in the field of safety-related embedded systems. The partners attune Vector’s safety-certified MICROSAR platforms with AbsInt’s rock-solid timing analysis tools. This enables predictable systems that are able to fulfill significant fail-operational requirements.
Interprocedural control-flow graph with timing analysis results.
Determining safe upper bounds for the execution time of each software function
is crucial in the development of systems for autonomous driving.
With the advent of “hands-off” autonomous driving, vehicle control is shifted to autonomous systems within specified scenarios. During active driving, these systems need to adhere to very strict functional-safety and timing requirements. It is essential to have precise knowledge of the upper bound on a function’s runtime, also referred to as its worst-case execution time (WCET). Determining the WCET is a challenge and typically requires significant effort. By joining forces, Vector and AbsInt enable easier analysis of systems where timing is absolutely crucial to functional safety.
Fail-operational systems are systems that must continue to operate even in the presence of single faults or failures, such as autonomous driving or x-by-wire systems. These use cases require a high degree of safety, reliability, and availability, as well as predictable and deterministic behavior. Vector’s MICROSAR platforms offer a state-of-the-art solution for developing fail-operational systems. Based on the AUTOSAR standard and additional extensions, they support in the realization of adaptive and scalable software architectures. AbsInt’s timing analysis tools enhance Vector’s solution by providing rigorous and certified methods for determining the worst-case execution time of the software functions, which is a crucial factor for ensuring the proper timing behavior of the system and avoiding timing faults.
“Our collaboration with AbsInt is essential to enable WCET analysis of complex automotive software. Together, we are shaping the future of fail-operational systems, ensuring safety in autonomous driving”, says Dr. Falco Bapp, Manager Solution Management at Vector.
“Good analysis precision requires a precise understanding of the underlying Vector software. Our joint customers benefit from many years of close cooperation”, adds Dr. Christian Ferdinand, CEO of AbsInt.
Furthermore, Vector’s TA Tool Suite and AbsInt’s timing analysis tools complement each other to provide a full timing tool chain for all phases of the project lifecycle. The tools assist developers in improving the timing behavior of their fail-operational systems, and in demonstrating compliance with safety standards and requirements.
AbsInt will be presenting its timing analysis tools at the Embedded World 2024 in Nuremberg (hall 4, booth 138).
About Vector Informatik
Vector is the leading manufacturer of software tools and embedded components for the development of electronic systems and their networking with many different systems from CAN to Automotive Ethernet.
Vector has been a partner of automotive manufacturers and suppliers and related industries since 1988. Vector tools and services provide engineers and software developers with the decisive advantage to make a challenging and highly complex subject as simple and manageable as possible. Vector employees work on electronic innovations for the automotive industry every day. Customers worldwide in the automotive, commercial-vehicle, aerospace, transportation, and control-technology industries rely on the solutions and products of the independent Vector Group for the development of technologies for future mobility.
Vector currently employs more than 4 000 people worldwide, with sales of €1.16 billion in 2023. The company is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with subsidiaries in Brazil, China, France, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, Austria, Romania, Sweden, South Korea, Spain, and the US.
For further information, visit vector.com.
About AbsInt
AbsInt provides state-of-the-art development tools for embedded systems with a focus on validation, verification and certification of safety-critical and safety-relevant software. Key products include static analysis tools for the verification of coding guidelines, timing and stack usage analysis, and detection of critical programming errors in C/C++ code, as well as the formally verified compiler CompCert, recipient of the prestigious ACM Software System Award. In their combination, the AbsInt tools can ensure memory safety for C/C++ programs.
Founded in 1998, AbsInt is a privately-held company based in Saarbrücken, Germany. Its customers come from 40+ countries around the world and from various industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy.
For further information, visit absint.com.
Press contact:
Sylvie Tritz
+49 (681) 38 36 023
press[at]absint.com