What Is AUTOSAR?

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Prerequisites:

Reader reading this and using AUTOSAR must have knowledge of Embedded Systems, C programming,
layered Architecture, knowledge of communication protocols like CAN, I2C, etc. AUTOSAR is advanced stage of
Embedded Systems so reader is expected to have knowledge of terms given above.

AUTOSAR stands for AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture which is a layered architecture with standard
specifications founded by consortium of companies like BMW Group,
BOSCH,Continental,Daimler,Ford,General Motors,PSA Group,Toyota, and VOLKSWAGEN.These are the
core members of the AUTOSAR partnership who founded AUTOSAR. There are different types of memberships
by which a entity can contribute to AUTOSAR development those are Core members, Premium Members,
Development Members. I have listed above the Core members but there are many premium members who are
engaged in tool development, service providers,etc. AUTOSAR aims to standardize the software development of
the ECUs used in automotive applications.

AUTOSAR has implemented a layered architecture similar to OSI model. It has different layers to handle and
abstract different operations of code. AUTOSAR is used for micro controllers which targets applications mostly in
automotive space which utilizes CAN, Flex Ray, Ethernet etc. Being used in applications based on micro
controllers, it is developed with a view to use least memory possible as micro controllers have resource
constraints.

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 Fig: Simplified AUTOSAR Layered Architecture

Above image is a simplified AUTOSAR layered architecture. Its called simplified because there are
also deep layers in each block which are hidden as this post discusses about AUTOSAR introduction. I
will brief below about layers:

Application Layer: This layer has the application code which resides in top. It can have
different application blocks called as Software Components(SWCs) for each feature which the
ECU needs to support according to application. For example, the functions like power window
and temperature measurement will have separate SWC. This is not a norm, but it depends on
the Designer.
AUTOSAR RTE: This is one of the important layers of AUTOSAR, it provides communication
between different SWCs and also between ECUs. Application layer uses this layer while

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 communicating with other layers below using ports. For more information on RTE, I request you
to read this article.
Services Layer: This layer provides different services for application to use. Services like:
System Services, Memory Services, Crypto Services, Off board communication services,
Communication services.
ECU Abstraction Layer: This layer provides ECU related abstractions. It contains different
abstracted layers like I/O Hardware Abstraction layer, On board device abstraction, Memory
hardware Abstraction, Crypto hardware abstraction, etc. to make applications hardware
independent.
MCAL: This is Micro Controller Abstraction Layer it has drivers using which the above layers
communicates with Micro controller hardware peripherals.

What Is The Need Of AUTOSAR?

Listed below are the problems faced in conventional ways of writing software for ECUs:
Embedded systems is a vast field having n number of semiconductor manufacturers, hardware
and software platforms which can be selected based on application requirements. Due to such
varieties, the development effort is tough and the portability of code is hard which further
increases the development cost.
A automotive is a complex machine which consists of n number of small embedded systems
called Electronic control Unit(ECUs) so maintenance and development of code for such
controllers is not easy. Further complexity is increased if different ECUs use different MCUs for
meeting cost requirements, then each ECU will have different software as hardware platforms
will be different.
To partially standardize things, sometimes there is also a need to develop and follow custom
created standard ( Custom standard means to develop a protocol for communication which is
agreed by all ECUs in network ) to communicate with other ECUs. This is the conventional way
of writing software which is very hard to maintain and has very less chance of code portability or
reuse ability.
A automobile has n number of parts which are manufactured by different companies called Tier
1 companies which supplies the parts to OEMs like BMW, Volkswagen, etc. Today almost all
mechanical parts are becoming intelligent by adding ECU in them to increase control and
efficiency. So those ECUs also need to have a common way of communication to communicate
with the ECUs of OEM for this again a custom standard needs to be implemented and
maintained.

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Hence a standardized software development infrastructure was needed to solve these problems and AUTOSAR
solves this very well.

AUTOSAR uses a layered architecture which has different layers dedicated to perform different
operations and abstraction. The application code is fully portable as AUTOSAR is designed in such a
way that the application code is written independent of the hardware so the same application code can
run on different hardware platforms. AUTOSAR has a layer dedicated to support hardware
functionalities called MCAL (Micro controller abstraction) layer which has drivers for accessing the
underlying hardware peripherals of MCU. As AUTOSAR provides standard way of communication,
ECUs can communicate with each other irrespective of ECU developer (whether OEM or Tier1) and
hence there is no need to maintain custom standard of communication. ECUs utilizing AUTOSAR can
communicate with each other irrespective of underlying differences in hardware. Mostly chip
manufacturers provides MCAL layer of AUTOSAR, but if they don’t then the developer needs to write
his own MCAL layer or outsource to companies providing such services.

Isn’t this a limitation as AUTOSAR has all drivers and layers implemented already?

Actually its not a limitation because, in today’s fast paced world, there are strict deadlines to be met for
project completion. But considering above shared problems in conventional software design, its not
possible to rapidly develop software to meet demand, so AUTOSAR is useful. Although AUTOSAR
seems to have everything already implemented, but we have to manually write code for functionality of
SWC in a Runnable of SWC.

What if I am using a external peripheral device which AUTOSAR don’t support?

If you are using a device which is not supported by AUTOSAR, then you can use the Complex Device
Drivers SWC for it. This layer gives you direct access to MCAL layer from application and you can
directly interface the device with the ECU, but you need to develop its software by your own and due
to its highly hardware dependency, its not reusable or portable like SWC.

Types Of AUTOSAR:
There are two types of AUTOSAR architectures named as Classic and Adaptive. The classic have all
the modules which are generally needed for a application whereas the Adaptive can be configured and
adapted according to application by removing unnecessary modules. Current Classic release version
is 4.4.0 and current adaptive version is 19.03

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 I guess introduction of AUTOSAR is done till now. If you have any doubts or suggestions please let me
know in comments.

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12 Thoughts On “What Is AUTOSAR?”

UNKNOWN
NOVEMBER 10, 2019 AT 11:25 AM

How can we make project on AUTOSAR? How can we start learning AUTOSAR?

Reply

ALPHA
NOVEMBER 10, 2019 AT 11:35 AM

Hi,
Thanks for comment.
For creating AUTOSAR project you will need software like DaVinci Configurator and developer from Vector. These
software generate code based on AUTOSAR framework for your selected hardware, you cannot generate code
directly without these software as we do in normal Embedded systems program by using IDE.

And regarding learning you need to read their documents given on their website which is very hard. It is hard
because they have n number of documents and its intimidating to normal engineer to go through all those
documents. That is the reason I started this blog to help people like us. I am experienced in AUTOSAR so I can give
knowledge on each in very easy language.

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Please stay tuned for future blog posts you learn much. Please also share your feedback on this post so I can
improve if needed.

Reply

AMANDEEP
FEBRUARY 13, 2020 AT 2:33 AM

Really looking forward!

Reply

ALPHA
FEBRUARY 15, 2020 AT 9:45 AM

Hi Amandeep,
Thanks you for your comment. Please bear with me. I have ported my website from blogspot blog to this website
and its under development yet. I am improving it. After improvement I will add more tutorials regularly.

Reply

BEXEL O J
MARCH 11, 2020 AT 1:44 PM

that will be really helpful

Reply

ALPHA
MARCH 18, 2020 AT 1:43 PM

Thank you!

MRUNAL AHIRAO
NOVEMBER 10, 2019 AT 12:56 PM

You have explained in very simple language thanks! Waiting for future posts.

Reply

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 AMANDEEP
FEBRUARY 13, 2020 AT 2:33 AM

Very Nice article!

Reply

KEVIN
APRIL 20, 2020 AT 12:52 AM

Thank you so much for this Article, I am software engineer, trying to get into automotive but struggling where to
start. You made my job easy

Reply

ADMIN_ALPHA
APRIL 20, 2020 AT 11:45 AM

Thank you for kind words!

Please view other posts too and please read other posts in basics for more information. Also let me know if you
need help on posts not covered in this website.Please subscribe.

Reply

EUNICE
MAY 6, 2020 AT 2:16 AM

Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give
something back and aid others like you aided me.|

Reply

SIRI
JULY 1, 2020 AT 11:16 AM

Really help full tq

Reply

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