The Automotive open system architecture (AUTOSAR) standard is a development partnership of companies and organizations from the automotive, electronics, semiconductor and software industries.
Is AUTOSAR a tool?
No, AUTOSAR is a standard defining embedded software and a development flow that supports tasks surrounding basic automotive functions in the context of vehicle system development.Capital ® Embedded AR Classic ™, part of Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, is an example implementation of the AUTOSAR standard. It is a complete offering with tools and software to meet all electronic control unit (ECU) platform needs, from ECU extract updates to software platform configuration.
What are the advantages of AUTOSAR?
Since 2003, AUTOSAR has brought together the combined knowledge and experience of most major automotive manufacturers and suppliers. The middleware platforms specified by AUTOSAR are supported by workflow and exchange file formats, defined in the standards, supporting an open ecosystem, available from a selection of members. AUTOSAR supports a comprehensive set of automotive use cases. It integrates or interoperates with the technologies needed in vehicle ECU software and e/e architectures – e.g., SOME/IP, DDS other middleware types used as part of a heterogeneous software platform and standards such as those from ASAM, IEEE and more.
AUTOSAR Classic Platform
This software platform is suitable for a wide range of statically defined functions, used in traditional automotive ECUs with simple or complex functions.The AUTOSAR Classic Platform architecture supports a range of automotive network technologies, CAN, LIN, FlexRay and Ethernet and functional safety up to ASIL D. It can be extended to support cyber security.OSEK-based, API in C, application code – commonly C or C++ – is often generated from control engineering models.
AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform
This flexible software platform, supporting application-type functions and updates, is suitable for high-computing power, complex ECUs.The AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform supports service-oriented, IP-based communication and architectures. It has strong cyber security capabilities and currently supports up to ASIL B functional safety.POSIX-based, application code is commonly written in C++ language.
AUTOSAR Foundation
Elements of AUTOSAR, supporting both Adaptive Platform and Classic Platform, are specified in the Foundation standard to ensure interoperability is maintained between platforms.
AUTOSAR partners
The AUTOSAR standard is developed and maintained by its partners, with consideration of the use cases needed to support the roadmaps of the users.Partners are categorized by their type of membership. Multiple categories exist for different levels of contribution, development, implementation and usage of the standard. The main categories are:
- Core partners – the founding members of the standard
- Premium partners, including Siemens – typically actively involved in leading the development of the standard and its usage
- Development partners – are typically users of the standard and contributors to the development of the standard
- Associate partners – typically have a production usage of AUTOSAR planned or in place but take a limited role in developing the standard
