Automotive Engineering Projects

Conducted several parallel projects for various automotive clients:

• Management/Development of the System Architecture for the INEOS Grenadier Model Year 2028/29:
• Ensured the interaction of all components of the E/E system, GB/T 32960.
• Resulted in a product reference model of the entire E/E system of the vehicle.
• Requirements BMS for VW/Porsche:
• Coordinated requirements between OEM and supplier at SYS.1 and SYS.2 levels.
• Coordinated requirements for the BMS fan control and OBD and created them in POLARION.
• Resulted in created and coordinated requirements.
• Steer-by-wire OEM:
• Developed a steer-by-wire system.
• Developed a safe system architecture, ECU HW/SW/communication.
• Resulted in a steer-by-wire architecture for safe operation.
• Integration of CARIAD process design approaches (SAFe, FUSE/FAME, RFLP) with ASPICE requirements:
• Demonstrated feasibility and potential pitfalls of introducing SAFe in the development of complex embedded systems networks.
• Participated in process design and implemented a process model.
• Resulted in a process model (ESCAPE) showing all essential components of SAFe with mapping to ASPICE.
• Lead-Architect for Electric Drive Development (Parklock and Cooling & Lubrication functions) for Mercedes AMG:
• Built systems engineering models of the electric drive for Mercedes AMG and ASPICE assessments.
• Created generic models of Parklock (electric parking brake) and Cooling & Lubrication functions in UML.
• Described various scenarios in sequence diagrams.
• Results: Complete cooling model (water & oil circuits) with cause-and-effect chain analysis (ESCAPE), navigation model for the entire project in EA, process model for the development of the park lock function (E/E & mechanics).

• The goal was to create a data model for the entire communication of process data within any vehicle, between multiple vehicles (M2M), and between the vehicle and infrastructure (M2x).
• The problem addressed was that the current management of communication via CANdb is insufficient for future Ethernet-based systems, requiring a universal data model.
• A universal data model was specified, taking into account the rules for software components and interfaces defined by the AUTOSAR consortium.
• Results included the specification of the data model in UML (Enterprise Architect) and a requirements specification in WORD.

• Analyzed and modeled the software architecture of an ASIL-B(C) control unit in UML (Enterprise Architect) from requirements and C-code.
• The project aimed to improve processes to achieve ASPICE Level 2 certification.
• Challenges included missing requirements documents and having the software architecture only in Visio.
• The solution involved creating an HW/SW model of the ECU with ESCAPE, transferring the architecture to Enterprise Architect, and linking requirements from DOORS using MDG-Link.
• The results were UML models for various ECU variants, synchronized with requirements in DOORS, and an analyzable hardware and software model with full traceability from sensor to actuator.

• The goal was to specify a system architecture for a new vehicle platform to be shared by several brands.
• The problem was that highly networked vehicles must allow access to real-time data, which creates security risks from unauthorized external access that the system architecture needed to mitigate.
• A new system architecture was defined based on a "Data Objects Master" on a vehicle gateway, along with the necessary implementation-independent bus protocols (CAN, LIN, Flexray, Ethernet).
• The result was the specification of a new system architecture, with key elements and recommendations adopted into the series architecture. The first vehicle with this architecture started production in March 2018.

• ESCAPE: Led the development of an integrated engineering platform for the functional design of complex embedded systems. Managed team selection, concept development, implementation, sales, marketing, and key accounts (BMW).
• Automatic Generation of Electrical Schematics: Managed a project to link functional architecture models with wiring & harness design. Cooperated with AUCOTEC to enable automatic generation of schematics in EB (Engineering Base) from ESCAPE models, first used on the CHERY EXEED.
• Automatic Generation of CAN Communication Data: Managed a project for model-based design of real-time communication (CAN, LIN). Transformed data from Excel and CANdb into a graphical model for generating production data. First used on the CHERY EXEED, reducing validation time from 4 months to 2 days.
• 3E-volution: Led the development of a Class L7 electric vehicle with a camping body, aimed at rural and third-world countries. Imported a UTV from China, developed a battery-swap system, and added a touchscreen HMI and Body Control Module. Resulted in a prototype with German approval and ongoing negotiations for series battery supply.
• CAN2FUN: Project lead for a tool to transform CANdb communication definitions into a fully graphical, analyzable functional model for use in ESCAPE. Piloted in the agricultural machinery sector.
• SL2FUN: Project lead for a model-to-model transformation tool to automatically convert complex MATLAB-Simulink models and libraries into an XML-based reference model for import into PDM/PLM systems and other authoring tools.

• The goal was to analyze the chassis software of the Integrated Chassis Module (ICM).
• The problem was that the ICM, programmed in MATLAB-Simulink, was overly complex due to variant management, making it difficult to understand. Code generation took 8 hours, leading to a 3-day turnaround for each change and test cycle.
• Activities included:
• Analyzing the ICM's software structure.
• Developing a transformation tool (Simulink-ESCAPE) for analysis.
• Automatically generating function models of the ICM and a master library from the original Simulink code.
• The results included documentation of the problems, a specification for a solution, a conference presentation at a BMW IT fair, and an order for Bosch to redevelop the ICM from scratch.

• The goal was to develop an architecture design and evaluation tool for automotive electronics and communication systems.
• The customer needed to ensure that architecture proposals generated by a cable tree tool (eSCOUT) were also viable from a communication perspective, which required full CAN and LIN bus configuration for each proposal.
• Activities included concept development, specification, and project management for an automatic bus configuration system for CAN and LIN.
• The results included an integrated engineering solution (CAPEmaster / eSCOUT) with automatic CAN/LIN configuration. This contributed to DELPHI securing a €50 million order for the body electronics of a small vehicle platform. Also gave a conference speech titled “Code vs. Cable”.

• Analysis of the BMW airbag system:
• Analyzed the implementation of the airbag system of the BMW 7 series car.
• Managed the development of a C-Code parser to transform the ECU software into an analyzable function model using ESCAPE.
• Presented the differences between the specification and the implementation.
• Fault analysis E60/PL2 (BMW 5 series):
• Managed a project to improve fault diagnosis, as up to 80% of electronic components were being needlessly replaced.
• Developed an interface to the BMW onboard network database (BNDB).
• Transformed BNDB data into a functional model to identify failure causes.
• Resulted in a functional network of the E60 for model-based workshop diagnosis.

• ADtranz MVB bus processor emulator: Developed a PC-based emulator for the Multipurpose Vehicle Bus (MVB) processor to test ECU functions on real hardware.
• ABB Transportation KEVIN (Knowledgebased Evaluation of Vehicle INformation): Managed the development of a knowledge-based diagnosis system for rail vehicle I&C systems, used in workshops. The system featured a graphical UI and reduced vehicle residence times in workshops by up to 30%.
• ABB Daimler Benz Transportation SDR (System Design for Reusability): Managed research centers and teams (ABB & Daimler) to develop a prototype for model-based systems engineering of rail vehicles.
• ABB Daimler Benz Transportation CAPE/C: Led a cross-border project (Switzerland, Sweden, Germany) to create a standardized engineering system for all ABB Transportation embedded systems. Managed a team of 30, resolved internal conflicts, and established a unified vision. The project introduced the IEC 61131 standard, developed a functional approach ("virtual solution design"), and automated bus configuration for the MVB. This significantly reduced development costs and times (e.g., bus configuration from one person-year to a button click).
• ABB Transportation Drivers Displays development: Led the development department for PC-based driver displays for various rail vehicles (ICE, trams, metros).
• ABB Henschel Change management: Participated as a Change Agent to restructure the company organization for flatter hierarchies and faster decision-making. The project was discontinued after the merger with DaimlerBenz Transportation.
• ABB Transportation TBM (Time Based Management): Led a team to survey and optimize development and production processes across multiple sites for ABB Henschel Germany to reduce costs. The project became obsolete after the merger.