SystemDesk

Your Starting Point for Simulation & Validation

SystemDesk acts as the ideal basis for your software-in-the-loop (SIL) process. Based on your existing ECU code, you can create virtual ECUs that make it possible for you to execute and test your code in a cost-effective SIL simulation. If you want to model a new, classic AUTOSAR architecture or modify an existing one, SystemDesk offers powerful yet easy-to-use AUTOSAR architecture tools.

  • New Features

    • A2L Generation based on AUTOSAR descriptions
    • Support of the newest AUTOSAR Release 22-11 for Classic and Adaptive Platform
    • XCP Service Integration according to FMI Layered Standard fmi-ls-xcp (RC1)
    • Export of V-ECUs as FMUs compliant with the FMI 3.0 standard 
    • Linux Support for V-ECU FMUs

    Read more

  • Creating FMI-compatible V-ECUs with SystemDesk

    To simplify the exchange and the porting of V-ECUs, dSPACE SystemDesk is now able to create V-ECU FMUs which can be executed on any FMI-compliant simulator.

    Watch now

  • SystemDesk 5.6

    FMU Export of V-ECUs, and More

    Read more

  • Integration of Elektrobit Basic Software in a Virtual ECU for Diagnostic Testing

    In this free webinar recording, dSPACE and Elektrobit demonstrate how basic software modules can be integrated in a virtual ECU.

    Read more

  • Compound Tests

    As the complexity of a system increases, new measures are required to properly validate its functions. This is why Volkswagen is using virtualization more than ever in its validation processes.

    Read more

  • SIL for Early Validation

    The Global Electrical Engineering and Software - Virtual Engineering Team (EE&SW VE Team) of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is implementing a new and improved software development and test platform that embraces agile technology practices and virtualization capabilities to enable early validation.

    Read more

  • Naturally Virtual

    Testing new functions as soon as they become available – a task that requires flexibility and the frontloading of tests. For this purpose, Volkswagen relies on automatically generated virtual ECUs. The dSPACE tools SystemDesk and VEOS help developers generate and simulate the software.

  • Smart Software, Smart Trucks

    Safety, efficiency, and availability are the core requirements for commercial vehicles. Technology supplier WABCO has implemented a consistent process to optimize the development of safety-critical, reliable systems. It is based on a comprehensive tool chain in which SystemDesk and TargetLink pave the way to AUTOSAR- and ISO 26262-compliant development.

    Read more

  • Faster Engine Validation

    Can you execute testing activities faster without the physical hardware? Tula, a Silicon Valley technology company, has seen a 50% reduction in time required to complete validation and verification activities since establishing a virtual validation environment.

    Read more

  • How do I do Software-in-the-Loop Testing right?

    Software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing has become an integral part of software development in the automotive industry. At the same time, the short abbreviation SIL covers a very wide range of topics. This blog article describes what SIL simulation means and which requirements and challenges it entails.

    Read more

  • How to Simulate Adaptive AUTOSAR V-ECUs in VEOS

    With VEOS, Linux-based ECUs can be tested early and efficiently, and synchronized with other simulation components.

    Read more

  • How Adaptive AUTOSAR Enables Autonomous Driving

    The automotive industry is reinventing itself. With autonomous driving, the requirements for software architectures have changed fundamentally.

    Read more

Application Areas

SystemDesk lays the foundation for successful software-in-the-loop testing. Regardless of whether you are working with Classic AUTOSAR, Adaptive AUTOSAR, or without AUTOSAR (non-AUTOSAR), SystemDesk helps you create your system under test (SUT).

No matter your output data, SystemDesk supports you in creating a virtual ECU (V-EC). For example, you can import an existing Classic or Adaptive AUTOSAR architecture to use as a basis for configuring your basic software (BSW). In addition, you can use your fully integrated code directly with application software and basic software to create the V-ECU. Here, SystemDesk gives you countless options for perfectly tailoring and implementing your system under test according to your requirements. You can also follow the industry staple FMI standard and export V-ECUs as FMUs. This means you can execute the V-ECU at any time in VEOSor any other FMI-compatible simulation platform. This flexibility provides the perfect basis for your subsequent SIL and HIL tests.

Aside from importing an existing architecture, SystemDesk allows you to model your complete AUTOSAR software architecture. An advanced validation function guides you through the individual steps to ensure compliance with the schema. This architecture then forms the basis for implementing the software components and for the basic software configuration.

Key Benefits

Generating V-ECUs

  • Executing ECU code directly on a standard PC by providing RTE, AUTOSAR OS, CAN and LIN stacks, and the MCAL layer.
  • Extreme flexibility for various test scenarios: V-ECUs at the application and basic software level in AUTOSAR and non-AUTOSAR environments.
  • With our many years of experience, dSPACE can provide you with advice and help you implement complex scenarios.

 

AUTOSAR Modeling

  • From a simple introduction to AUTOSAR to large-scale production projects thanks to sophisticated editors
  • Completely valid AUTOSAR architectures during the entire development process
  • Easy automation of all tasks

Creating a Valid and Realistic System Under Test (SUT) for SIL Testing

A V-ECU is ECU software that can be executed in a SIL environment. The V-ECU can be based on Classic AUTOSAR, non-AUTOSAR-compliant code, Adaptive AUTOSAR, or even POSIX applications. SystemDesk offers complete support for creating any type of V-ECU for SIL testing.

Interchangeability and sharing of V-ECUs is important to many of our customers. This is why SystemDesk lets you generate not only V-ECUs for the dSPACE SIL solutions but also standardized V-ECU FMUs. V-ECU FMUs are 100% FMI-compliant, do not use proprietary interfaces, and therefore offer maximum compatibility with numerous simulation platforms.

In the classic AUTOSAR context, a V-ECU can contain production code for the features to be tested, either only at the application level or including the basic software. The V-ECUs can be created including the application software and dSPACE basic software or with your own basic software. By using dSPACE basic software, you can create a V-ECU quickly and easily without extensive knowledge of AUTOSAR, whereas integrating your own basic software makes it possible for a realistic virtual ECU to simulate your real ECU. Non-AUTOSAR-compliant code can also be used as a basis for a classic V-ECU. This is done by entering functions, their cycle times, and interfaces. V-ECUs can even be created for non-AUTOSAR ECUs with basic software.

In addition to V-ECUs in the conventional context, V-ECUs can also be based on dynamic architectures. This includes both POSIX applications and Adaptive AUTOSAR. Adaptive AUTOSAR has a different architecture, in which a run-time environment is used independently of the application level, which is referred to as middleware. As a result, applications can be exchanged and updated flexibly while still using middleware features that were standardized by AUTOSAR. For the V-ECUs, you can use either your own middleware or the middleware from the AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform Demonstrator.

You can use VEOS to simulate the generated V-ECU, thus validating your software in a PC-based simulation. Of course, this also applies to Linux-based V-ECUs from the adaptive environment. Together with experiment software such as ControlDesk, you can evaluate the results.

Did you define a behavior in the software that you want to change? Simply load your software architecture in SystemDesk and change the necessary components or adjust the C code. After generating your V-ECU again, you can check the results of your changes directly with VEOS. Short paths to quick and valid results.

The Right V-ECU for Your Tests

On the way to the real ECU at the end of the development process, SystemDesk supports V-ECUs at the application, simulation BSW, and production BSW level.

Application Level V-ECUs

Application-level V-ECUs, which we also call level-1 V-ECUs, can be used to perform comprehensive functional testing on application software. Both individual software components and a complete application software can serve as the basis for the V-ECU. Even at this initial level, the V-ECU can be used within a continuous testing process to detect errors early on in the development process.

Simulation BSW V-ECUs

In addition to the first level, a level-2 V-ECU includes non-productive basic software that was created only for this specific V-ECU and its simulation. Thus, the V-ECU can be connected to a virtual bus and tested in a broader context.

Production BSW V-ECUs

In addition to the application software, production BSW V-ECUs also contain the productive basic software. This way, level-3 V-ECUs simulate the hardware-independent software of the real ECU. Because these V-ECUs are suited for complete ECU software tests, they are often used by ECU managers in HIL frontloading. 

Modeling Your Software Architecture

Create your own AUTOSAR software architecture from scratch or enhance an existing architecture.

SystemDesk offers comprehensive modeling tools. For example, you can create individual or multiple software components down to the last detail before combining them into an integrated composition. As a result, it is possible to model the entire application layer of an individual ECU or even application software spread out across multiple ECUs.

The modeling of a classic AUTOSAR architecture is supported in SystemDesk by intuitive preconfigured dialogs to maintain an overview of your model at all times. The comprehensive graphical support not only helps you use the product for the first time but also promotes efficient work with reduced errors in large-scale projects. 

In such large-scale projects, AUTOSAR files are usually stored centrally in a version control system, such as git, so that various developers and architects can work separately and in parallel. If any conflicts arise or if you simply want to obtain a quick overview of any changes, dSPACE AUTOSAR Compare supports you completely independently of your other tools. Combined with SystemDesk, you can even display the differences between a specific file and the current project state in SystemDesk.

To improve the quality of the projects, SystemDesk includes a function for the comprehensive, rule-based validation of consistency and correctness.You can validate both the entire architecture and individual components or elements from the dialogs.

To provide even more comfort, SystemDesk can help you automate recurring tasks. An advanced API allows for a high level of automation using simple Python scripts.

From the Starting Point to the Complete SIL World

You have created a V-ECU with SystemDesk based on your software architecture: this marks your start in the flexible and cost-effective world of software-in-the-loop simulation. Thanks to the scalability of a V-ECU, you can save valuable time spent on HIL testing, run different tests simultaneously, and even perform tests directly on the developer PC. Level-1 V-ECUs can even be used on SCALEXIO as a restbus.

In addition to the easy integration of SystemDesk into your existing tool chain, dSPACE offers compatible products for optimizing your workflow in the SIL world. For example, you can simulate one or more V-ECUs in VEOS and test them in a realistic environment. ControlDesk allows you to evaluate all of the values in a concise overview, while AutomationDesk allows you to run your tests completely automatically.

AUTOSAR files can be saved centrally to allow various developers and architects to access them in parallel from all of these products, in a version management system such as git, for example. If any conflicts arise or if you simply want to obtain a quick overview of changes, dSPACE AUTOSAR Compare supports you completely independently of your other tools.

Functionality Description
AUTOSAR modeling
  • Modeling of software architectures and systems according to both Classic AUTOSAR and Adaptive AUTOSAR standard
  • Clear overview due to graphical modeling with diagrams
  • Sophisticated editors and dialogs for easy and faultless data entry
  • Data exchange: flexible and easy-to-configure import and export of ARXML files
  • Complete support of the AUTOSAR meta model
  • Import of communication matrices (DBC, LDF, FIBEX)
  • Support of AUTOSAR Splittables lets you reimport splitted AUTOSAR elements without changing other parts
V-ECU generation
  • V-ECU generation based on AUTOSAR-compliant and non-AUTOSAR-compliant code
  • Export of V-ECU FMUs: virtual ECUs in Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) 3.0 format
  • Creating V-ECUs for the AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform
  • For testing application software, V-ECUs can include dSPACE basic software
  • For testing basic software or functions that require realistic basic software functions, production basic software can be integrated
  • For testing application software, you can use the mostly automatic configuration and generation of required basic software modules
  • Integration of your own basic software modules (optional), e.g., for diagnostics tests and test of the complete ECU software
  • Let V-ECUs go to sleep state and wake up again during the simulation in VEOS
  • Support of basic software based on the AUTOSAR MCAL modules for VEOS
  • Generation of A2L files including memory sections
Process support
  • Comprehensive rule-based validation of the system architecture and ECU software regarding consistency, correctness, and completeness
  • Easy data exchange with dSPACE’s code generator, TargetLink
  • Usable with every AUTOSAR-compliant basic software configuration tool
  • Support of Classic AUTOSAR Revisions R22-11, R21-11, R20-11, R19-11, R4.4.0, R4.3.1, R4.3.0 R4.2.2, R4.2.1, R4.1.3, R4.1.2, R4.1.1, R4.0.3, and R4.0.2
  • Support of AUTOSAR R22-11 for developing Adaptive Platform software. For exchanging data, AUTOSAR R21-11, R20-11, R19-11, and R19‑03 are supported.
  • Completely documented automation API for automating tasks such as report generation, software architecture creation, and automatic V-ECU generation
  • Hyperlink connection between model elements and single requirements in a requirements management tool, such as IBM® Rational® DOORS®
  • Scripts running on Python 3.11
 

We would be happy to help you achieve your goals in the SIL world. Our Engineering Services team can help make a start or changeover as easy as possible for you.

  • They are your partner for creating and discussing ideas, plans, and concepts for SIL testing.
  • They accompany you when you introduce SIL and V-ECU testing in your company
  • They support you in creating a first V- ECU for a proof-of-concept
  • They help you scale SIL testing for many users by automating the V-ECU creation process.
    • For agile development.
    • For continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes.
    • For SIL in the cloud.
  • They contribute experience gained in V-ECU projects for OEMs and suppliers from around the world.

You are planning on using SIL or our SIL tool chain for the first time? Our experts would be happy to help you set out on your simulation and validation journey.

Software-in-the loop (SIL) testing

SystemDesk is part of the dSPACE SIL testing solution for PC- and cloud-based simulation.
Click to find out more.

More Information Success Stories Documentation Contact Information

Drive innovation forward. Always on the pulse of technology development.

Subscribe to our expert knowledge. Learn from our successful project examples. Keep up to date on simulation and validation. Subscribe to/manage dSPACE direct and aerospace & defense now.

Enable form call

At this point, an input form from Click Dimensions is integrated. This enables us to process your newsletter subscription. The form is currently hidden due to your privacy settings for our website.

External input form

By activating the input form, you consent to personal data being transmitted to Click Dimensions within the EU, in the USA, Canada or Australia. More on this in our privacy policy.