On the development of a high quality software design methodology for automotive applications

Microprocessor systems are beginning to be used in a variety of safety-critical applications in the automotive industry. Throttle, brake and steering systems are changing from mechanically controlled systems to electrical systems. Thus there is a need for safe and reliable actuators and controllers. The issue of reliability should be considered by the customer from a system viewpoint, since it is affected by both hardware and software. There already exist stringent standards for hardware design, such as the German TUV standard, but there remains a need for rigorous standards to produce more reliable software. A systematic approach to software design throughout its lifecycle is presented. Particular emphasis is paid to software documentation and maintenance. To assist various phases of the design process, a set of guidelines which are invoked for the development of safety-related systems are introduced in order to assist various phases of the design process.