OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2015. Today’s vehicles are computer systems on wheels. A new vehicle contains some 70 minicomputers, known as embedded systems. They monitor, control, and regulate certain driving functions. For example, driver assistance systems use smart sensors to constantly analyze the vehicle’s surroundings and driving behavior so that in a dangerous situation they can react in an instant. Automakers are increasingly networking these systems to enhance safety and comfort for drivers and passengers.

The trend towards automated driving means that individual computers have to run more and more software, and the overall system is becoming considerably more complex. That’s why embedded systems will need more computing power in the future. Bosch is now heading an international research team that is working on laying the foundations for highly efficient use of state-of-the-art, high-performance hardware. The AMALTHEA4public project involves 21 partners from Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, with the German project partners focusing primarily on automotive industry requirements. AMALTHEA4public will run through August 2017.

Computing in parallel
By using several central processing units (CPUs) that work in parallel, it’s possible to give the computing power of embedded systems a major boost. Compared to the single-core CPUs used today, these parallel CPUs are several times faster at the same cycle frequency. There are multi-core processors and many-core processors. They differ by the number and connectivity of their cores; many-core processors usually have more than eight cores. Multi-core hardware has been used in desktop computers for several years now, while many-core hardware is considered to be a promising new technology for processing large volumes of data.

Setting standards and connecting developers
Currently, the programs that industry is using to develop embedded systems are not designed to incorporate parallel computing with multi- and many-core processors. To make optimum use of the new hardware, developers will have to divide the software up and assign it to the various cores. The AMALTHEA4public project team is establishing a methodology for this and setting up a comprehensive software platform. With the help of this platform, engineers will be able to efficiently develop multi- and many-core systems for their applications. The demands placed on the new hardware and software are extremely high, especially regarding quality and safety. When it comes to automated driving, human lives ultimately depend on them.

The researchers are working off of AMALTHEA, a previous project, which designed and launched a software platform for multi-core systems. They plan to expand this platform to support many-core systems, so companies can connect it with all their development tools. The researchers are also drawing from the findings of other publicly funded projects. The platform is based on Eclipse, an open-source development environment, and is available free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. What’s more, the consortium intends to set up an Eclipse project and community that will support the developers and keep them in touch with each other even after the project has finished. This should make the outcome of AMALTHEA4public available to a wider circle and establish it as the standard for developing embedded multi- and many-core systems.

Strengthening Germany as an industrial and research location
As one of the world’s biggest suppliers of embedded systems, Germany in particular stands to benefit from AMALTHEA4public. And in focusing on the future technology of many-core processors, the project also serves to consolidate Germany’s position as an industrial and research location. Teams of developers, such as those working for automakers and their suppliers, can use the standard platform to share data more efficiently and thus improve teamwork.

Industry and academia working together
The German consortium covers nearly the entire automotive value chain. Besides suppliers Bosch and Behr-Hella-Thermocontrol (BHTC), the consortium includes tool manufacturers itemis and Timing-Architects; TWT, the European subsidiary of the Eclipse Foundation; the OFFIS Institute for Information Technology; the Institut f?r Automation und Kommunikation (ifak); the project group for Mechatronic Systems Design of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT-EM); Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts; Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg; and the University of Paderborn. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the work by the German project partners as part of the Industry 4.0 initiative to the tune of some 3.3 million euros. In addition, the universities receive a lump sum for the projects.

AMALTHEA4public stands for “Enabling of results from AMALTHEA and others for transfer into application and building a community.” The project belongs to the ITEA2 (IT for European Advancement) program, which in turn is part of the European EUREKA research initiative. Embedded systems are a major driver of innovation not just in the automotive sector but also in aviation, medical technology, electronics, and in manufacturing facilities, to name but a few. This means the project findings are sure to be of interest for many industries.