Task: Agile Development with SIL and HIL Testing
More complex electronic control unit (ECU) functionality and the growing number of ECU variants increase the amount and complexity of testing for ECU software validation. To implement an efficient test process that masters this challenge, software developers and testers have to cooperate closely. For this purpose, processes already established in general software development, such as agile development with continuous integration and continuous testing on SIL and HIL systems, are making their way into ECU software development.
Challenge: Mastering Demanding Release Schedules
Continuous integration and testing create the need to meet tight and accelerating release schedules. It must be ensured that the correct models, new or modified, including variant-specific parts and parameterizations, are used for the automatic build. Apart from the model, also the right ECU software build, real-time application, and parameterization on the test system must be used for triggering the relevant tests.
Solution: Using SYNECT to Enable Efficient CI/CT
With SYNECT, continuous integration (CI) and continuous testing (CT) as a company-wide process for ECU software verification and validation can be introduced. SYNECT ensures that the right chain of actions is processed when individual artifacts are modified. It also evaluates the relevant variant dependencies by using variant-dependent data management, which accelerates continuous integration because it verifies only modified variants. Actions include the rebuild of model containers after a model is checked in, or the use of these containers during a recurring nightly build of the real-time application. SYNECT allows the user to schedule test system preparation as well as overnight and weekend tests. It is also possible that a new version of ECU software, provided only via a configuration management system, must trigger a set of regression tests using the latest build of the real-time application on the HIL system and the proper parameterization corresponding to the ECU software variant. The high automation that SYNECT offers speeds up the development and test cycle, reduces error-prone manual work, and automatically provides full traceability between all the artifacts used in the process. It reduces the testing complexity caused by software variants and versions by providing pre-configured and easy-to-use workflows for all testers.
