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About
DySCAS is a research project funded by the European Commission within
FP6. The project started June 1 2006 and will end in November 2008.
Background
Future application scenarios for vehicle electronic systems include
simultaneous access to a number of mobile devices that build ad-hoc
networks with the built-in devices and utilize network-based services.
Due to the nature of automotive systems (simple intuitive interfaces
which are highly integrated with the car environment) there is a strong
need to provide a platform that is capable of hiding the inherent complexity
of the system from the user whilst nevertheless enabling advanced features
and making optimal use of resources as and when they become available.
This imposes very high demands on the configurational flexibility and
scalability of the systems which cannot be fulfilled by current state-of-the-art
vehicle electronic architectures.
Goals
The main objective of the DySCAS project is the elaboration of fundamental
concepts and architectural guidelines, as well as methods and tools
for the development of self-configurable systems in the context of embedded
vehicle electronic systems. To achieve this, the DySCAS project will
develop or adapt the technologies for the following aspects of dynamically
reconfigurable systems:
- Base Technologies: The DySCAS project will develop or adapt basic
mechanisms and concepts for the dynamic reconfiguration of systems,
ranging from algorithms for run-time configuration, middleware solutions,
to basic software implementation technologies, e.g. operating systems
and communication networks. The different mechanisms and algorithms
developed here will be evaluated and compared according to previously
identified requirements, such as performance, stability and effectiveness.
Within the DySCAS project, such mechanisms will mainly be developed
using state of the art results from two research domains: autonomic-computing
and control-theoretic approaches to computer systems.
- Architectural Guidelines: To integrate the aspect of dynamic self-(re)configuration
into a system several architectural aspects must be considered. One
of the goals of DySCAS is to provide architectural patterns for a
layered software architecture suitable for deployment in automotive
control systems that supports the generic provision of self-management
behaviours (which include self-configuration, self-healing, self optimisation,
and self protection) and context-awareness.
- Methods and Tools: The tool chain utilized for the design and development
of electronic systems must support these new mechanisms effectively.
In the DySCAS project appropriate tool support and modelling techniques
shall be developed supporting the development and evaluation of dynamically
reconfigurable systems. Scientific aspects include the identification
of appropriate modelling techniques and their evaluation
The DySCAS project will draw benefits both from established techniques
in the industry and from state of the art research results. Moreover,
to ensure wide usability, the results will be developed in conformance
with AutoSAR.
Use cases
DySCAS will especially consider reconfiguration in the following
situations:
• Automatic discovery and usage of new devices: When a consumer
device, such as a mobile phone or navigation system, is being connected
to the vehicle it should be seamlessly integrated with the vehicle system,
e.g., be able to use the vehicle display.
• Software download: When the vehicle enters a WLAN hot spot,
it should automatically download and install (or replace) new software
at runtime.
• Software relocation: If an ECU fails, e.g., due to loss of power,
software should be automatically relocated to ensure that the system
functionality is maintained.
These use cases are all necessary to handle in future vehicles but are
hard to implement using the system design of today.
European Competitiveness
The DySCAS project will increase the European competitiveness in a number
of ways:
- Advanced automotive technology promotes employment since it keeps
influence and know-how within Europe.
- A common platform increases the competition among suppliers and
opens up for new companies on the automotive market.
- OEMs and suppliers can test new ideas and concepts faster, thus
reducing the development cost.
- Product dependability, quality and resource utilization will be
improved.
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