Infineon and Delphi partner to develop a new AUTOSAR-based platform for central body modules
(Technology News, 14 Jan 2008 )
Infineon and Delphi have agreed to collaborate closely on developing a new generation of body control units based on the standard AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture).
Delphi is to contribute comprehensive systems and software know-how and long-standing experience in the area of body electronics, while Infineon will provide expertise in automotive microcontrollers to the co-development project. The focus is on classic automotive sector requirements, such as optimized functionality and costs and reliability, as well as on flexibility, compatibility and real-time performance. Delphi and Infineon see their collaboration as a significant milestone in efforts to incorporate AUTOSAR into automotive electronics, and both companies want to acquire valuable knowledge that will enable further optimization of control unit hardware and software components for body electronics.
The co-development project bases on Infineon’s XC2200 family of microcontrollers. “Our XC2200 microcontroller family offering 32-bit performance is designed specifically to meet the needs of body applications,” said Jochen Hanebeck, senior vice president and general manager of the Microcontrollers business unit at Infineon. “We will also be supplying the low-level AUTOSAR software drivers for the Microcontroller Abstraction Layer (MCAL). This will allow Delphi to take full advantage of an AUTOSAR-based development process at the control unit level.”
The XC2200 microcontrollers enable system makers to cover almost the entire body applications segment with just one hardware and software architecture, because the controllers are scalable and compatible from the low-end all the way up to the high-end range. “Besides classic scalability by functionality, memory and peripherals, the XC2200 family is the first to also offer scalability across different package variants. This means that system makers can align their ECU platforms exactly with a comprehensive range of requirements,” said Hanebeck.
Delphi will support the partnership by contributing basic software (BSW) modules for the AUTOSAR core. Building on its many years of experience, Delphi has developed a number of BSW modules, including communication management (CAN, LIN bus), memory management, and IO hardware abstraction for the AUTOSAR core. Delphi assures the quality of the software modules it develops by using proven and efficient processes defined in Automotive SPICE standards. One crucial prerequisite for the efficient configuration and integration of AUTOSAR-compatible control units is the availability of an integrated tool chain. As part of its AUTOSAR initiatives, Delphi has designed a strategy for the automated, tool-assisted configuration and integration of AUTOSAR-compatible control units.
Delphi and Infineon share the view that mastering the increasing complexity of electronics in automobiles is becoming more and more important. They also agree that AUTOSAR, an organization set up to promote the standardization of software in automobiles, represents a solid, global partnership and platform but would benefit from specific collaborative initiatives. “All the players in the value chain – from automakers to system suppliers to integrators to component vendors – have to closely work together to develop robust, error-free or fault-tolerant and, above all, innovative solutions for the system as a whole. This means getting involved early on in new development initiatives and redefining how systems are structured in order to create affordable solutions,” said Hanebeck.
