TargetLink

Production code generation for the highest demands

The production code generator TargetLink generates highly efficient C code straight from MathWorks® Simulink®/Stateflow® and allows early verification through built-in simulation and testing. It supports efficient, modular development, is certified for ISO 26262, ISO 25119 and IEC 61508, and provides high-performance Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR support. 

  • TargetLink 2022-B

    Higher efficiency in modeling and tool use as well as more performant code

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  • ISO 26262:2018

    Using TargetLink 5.0 to develop safety-relevant systems according to ISO 26262:2018

  • Support for MATLAB® Code in Simulink® Models

    The new optional module is available with dSPACE Release 2018-B and TargetLink 4.4.

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  • Great Wall Motors: The Versatile Electric

    Electric and hybrid vehicles developed with dSPACE TargetLink

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  • WABCO: Efficient Processes for Developing Safety-Critical Driver Assistance Systems

    With dSPACE TargetLink and SystemDesk to AUTOSAR- and ISO 26262-compliant development

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  • FAW: AUTOSAR-Based Development for the Electric and Hybrid Drives of the Future

    Implementation of new propulsion technologies supported by dSPACE tools

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  • MISRA C Made Easy with the TargetLink Ecosystem

    In this Webinar you will learn how to efficiently exploit the TargetLink Ecosystem to meet MISRA C:2012 requirements in your model-based development projects. You will also see how dSPACE TargetLink, MES MXAM, and AbsInt Astrée work jointly towards MISRA compliance.

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  • On-Target Bypassing with TargetLink

    In this webinar recording, dSPACE demonstrates how to perform automotive function development and prototyping with an early focus on production code constraints. By using the production code generator TargetLink together with dSPACE ECU interface software to use a production ECU for on-target bypassing, users can keep a clear production focus and reduce project risks.

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  • Webinar Series "Living MBD"

    20 Years of Excellence in Model-Based Development

    This webinar recording introduces the dSPACE webinar series on modern model-based software development. The series provides an overview of both the key customer challenges of the last 20 years and dSPACE's answers to these challenges.

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  • dSPACE TargetLink Celebrates 20th Anniversary

    The global auto industry has been relying on the dSPACE TargetLink code generator for 20 years to help its users quickly and automatically develop control software for everything from power windows to powertrains. Read more in the AutoBeat Daily Viewpoint!

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  • 20 Years of TargetLink

    TargetLink has been generating highly efficient code for series production quickly and reliably for 20 years. Read more in the dSPACE Magazine 2/2019!

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  • Happy Birthday, TargetLink!

    Since 1999, TargetLink supports our customers to take highly efficient code into series production.

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Application Area

Model-based design has become the established development method across many industries, and production code generation is the logical step for turning models into efficient, production-ready code. TargetLink generates production code (C code) straight from the Simulink/Stateflow graphical development environment. The C code generation options range from plain ANSI C code to optimized fixed- or floating-point code for AUTOSAR platforms. Versatile code configuration options ensure that the production code can handle processor constraints. 

Key Benefits

With TargetLink, you can convert graphical models directly and deterministically into highest quality production code. Benefit from TargetLink’s numerous strenghths, such as:

  • Tool and code proven in practice – in countless production projects and millions of vehicles
  • Best-in-class code – highly efficient, highly configurable and with fully traceable model/code dependency
  • Powerful software design features, e.g., with the TargetLink Data Dictionary
  • Convenient software verification due to the push-button model-in-the-loop (MIL)/software-in-the-loop (SIL)/processor-in-the-loop (PIL) simulation concept – verify your concepts and code early and avoid expensive ECU software errors
  • Ideal for the automotive industry (including e-mobility, ADAS, and autonomous driving applications), and also for other industries 
  • Suitable for AUTOSAR and non-AUTOSAR projects
  • Strong partner tools (TargetLink Ecosystem) for model design, validation, and verification
  • Certification for ISO 26262, ISO 25119, and IEC 61508 and derivative standards
  • Tool integration with the simulation software VEOS and the system architecture software SystemDesk
  • Perfect for on-target bypassing together with dSPACE’s ECU interface software – closing the gap between function and production development

Main Features and Benefits

 

Feature Description Benefit

Code efficiency

  • Efficient fixed-point or floating-point production code directly from Simulink®/Stateflow® (with support for included MATLAB code, see optional module)
  • Your specifications – models and diagrams – are directly translated into efficient C code
Code reliability
  • Consistent, deterministic translations of models into stress-tested C code
  • Errors such as typing errors, oversights, misunderstandings are avoided
Human readability
  • Concise, yet readable code
  • Code reviews are easy to perform
Automatic scaling
  • Intelligent scaling based on worst-case propagation of signal ranges and simulation-based scaling
  • Shortens the time-consuming and error-prone scaling process
Test mechanisms
  • Various test levels to test the production code against the specification (MIL, SIL, PIL)
  • Malfunctions are found at the earliest stage
Incremental code generation
  • Modular code generation, i.e., for specific subsystems
  • Faster code generation, preserving approved code
Model referencing support
  • Developing models on a modular/component basis
  • Distributed development by large teams is much easier, and large models can be handled more efficiently.
Multirate code
  • Full support of multirate systems with intertask communication
  • You can define tasks at block level
TargetLink Data Dictionary
  • Central container to handle variables, data structures, scaling formulas, tasks, functions
  • You can manage complex data to plan and structure your projects
Code generation straight from the Data Dictionary
  • Generation of code files and A2L files for Data Dictionary variables independently of their use in TargetLink models
  • Simplified software integration and integration testing for code from multiple TargetLink models/subsystems and legacy variables
‘Modeling Only’ and ‘Full-Featured’ operation modes
  • The Modeling Only operation mode (not licence-protected) lets function developers prepare and design a model without generating production code for it.
  • Easy model exchange in a workgroup (Simulink® and TargetLink users)
Compliance with standards
  • Compliance with relevant standards such as ASAM-MCD 2MC (ASAP2), AUTOSAR, and MISRA
  • Quality and interoperability guaranteed
Classic AUTOSAR support
  • Support for modeling and code generation for AUTOSAR software components (SWC), and generation of SWC descriptions
  • TargetLink bridges the gap between model-based design and AUTOSAR-compliant software development
Adaptive AUTOSAR support
  • Support for modeling and code generation for Adaptive AUTOSAR-compliant C/C++ code (for information on supported features, please contact dSPACE)
  • Closely resemblant modeling styles for non-, Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR
  • Simple and convenient Adaptive AUTOSAR code generation
Calibration data generation
  • Calibration data exported as ASAM-MCD 2MC (ASAP2) file for calibration tools
  • Automated and complete process with perfect consistency between model and calibration data
Documentation
  • Automatic model and code documentation
  • Your projects are transparent and trackable
AUTOSAR software component (SWC) container exchange
  • Exchanging AUTOSAR SWC containers between TargetLink and SystemDesk
  • Safe and convenient round trips for AUTOSAR software development
  • Access to SystemDesk simulation for proper software integration testing
Component-based development
  • Innovative interface concept for ports, measurement signals and calibration parameters
  • Easily increase software reuse across different projects
Connection to dSPACE VEOS
  • Export virtual ECUs from TargetLink and run them in VEOS in combination with other virtual ECUs and standard dSPACE tools like ControlDesk
  • Easy testing and experimenting with TargetLink code
FMI support
  • Export of Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs) from TargetLink models based on the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard
  • Execution of TargetLink-generated code with offline and real-time simulators from third parties and dSPACE
On-Target Bypassing
  • Integrating new functions directly into existing ECUs (using TargetLink and dSPACE ECU interface software)
  • Seamless transition from prototyping to series production
  • No need to perform complex software integration

   

Our engineering portfolio includes special TargetLink customer services, for example: 

  • Hands-on support during introduction of TargetLink
  • Support during evaluations and pilot projects
  • Customer-specific TargetLink training
  • Integrating TargetLink into your development processes
  • Model analysis and advice
  • Support for developing Classic and Adaptive AUTOSAR-compliant software and integrating Classic AUTOSAR software components
  • Support for integrating the generated code in the ECU’s software environment
  • Tool chain development and maintenance
  • Process consulting

  

  

 

Software-in-the loop (SIL) testing

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

  • TargetLink Product Information, PDF, English, 8271 KB
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