An effective verification strategy for testing distributed automotive embedded software functions : A case study

• Integration testing of automotive embedded software functions that are distributed across several Electronic Control Unit (ECU) system software modules is a complex and challenging task in today’s automotive industry. They neither have infinite resources, nor have the time to carry out exhaustive testing of these functions. On the other hand, the traditional approach of implementing an ad-hoc selection of test scenarios based on the testers’ experience typically leads to both test gaps and test redundancies. Here, we address this challenge by proposing a verification strategy that enhances the process in order to identify and mitigate such gaps and redundancies in automotive system software testing. This helps increase test coverage by taking more data-driven decisions for integration testing of the functions. The strategy was developed in a case study at a Swedish automotive company that involved multiple data collection steps. After static validation of the proposed strategy it was evaluated on one distributed automotive software function, the Fuel Level Display, and found to be both feasible and effective. © Springer International Publishing AG 2016.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Programvaruteknik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Software Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Case study

Distributed automotive embedded software

Test coverage

Test process improvement

Verification strategy

Automotive industry

Computer software

Control systems

Embedded software

Integral equations

Integration testing

Process engineering

Redundancy

Verification

Automotive companies

Automotive software

Data driven decision

Electronic control units

Test process

Traditional approaches

Software testing

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)