AUTILE Framework: An AUTOSAR Driven Agile Development Methodology to Reduce Automotive Software Defects

Abstract

This article introduces AUTOSAR Driven Agile Development (AUTILE) Framework as a new methodology to develop automotive software with an aim to reduce the number of defects and their severity. Automotive software, developed in a traditional/legacy way, currently must be rewritten from scratch to support new features or modifications in associated hardware. Disruptive automotive megatrends: connectivity, electrification, and autonomous driving continue to demand new features in a complex software-base. As a result, greater quality issues are faced when more functionality is added to traditional, nonstandardized automotive software. Several researchers have proposed standardization of automotive software to improve the software quality. However, as yet, the industry lacks a de facto standard. At the heart of the AUTILE Framework, we recommend following automotive open system architecture standard as the basis to design modular and open software architecture. To further realize the benefits of modular software architecture designed in the first phase, AUTILE chooses and integrates Agile methodologies as its software development approach. Widespread adoption of Agile methodologies for automotive software development has not occurred and this research highlights the enablers and barriers in this domain. The proposed framework was applied practically to develop automotive software projects, demonstrating that defect reduction can be accomplished using the steps outlined in this new methodology.