Practical validation of model based code generation for automotive applications

Graphical modeling and programming specifications are becoming increasingly popular due to the need for executable specifications that are easy to understand. In order to fully leverage the advantages of graphical models, it is necessary to provide extensive automation support. Automation can potentially be applied to software design analysis, verification, validation, and automatic code generation. The automation requires a clear and concise definition of the graphical design and implementation specification. A unique approach has been established that permits Computer Aided Control System Design (CACSD) models to be prepared with software design information that is compatible with various commercial software support tools and internally developed tools. The neutral design approach permits implementation decisions to be deferred until late in the development cycle. This permits the optimal target processor, real time operating systems (RTOS), test tools, and automatic code generation tools to be selected once all of the system requirements are known and modeled in the CACSD tool. In order to realize a software implementation, it is critical to establish a mapping between specification and implementation. This paper describes the neutral software design specification approach and how the specification is used in design, testing, and automatic code generation. The paper further discusses tool technology, information representation, synthesis approaches, and automation.

<div class="htmlview paragraph">Computer Aided Control System Design (CACSD) tools are widely used in the development of embedded control systems. Automatic code generation for CACSD models is the subject of increasing interest. In this study, Software-in-the-Loop Simulation (SILS) and Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) are proposed as a development framework for the design of real-time control systems. SILS is a simulation environment to consider functional behavior as well as temporal behavior of control systems. RCP supports seamless development from design to implementation through automatic code generation. SILS/RCP environments make it possible to design and analysis control systems under conditions similar to real execution during off-line simulation and to realize controllers in the early design phase.</div>

Wind energy has the advantages of wide distribution, renewable, and non-polluting, so it is receiving more and more attention from more and more countries. As more and more wind power systems are integrated into the grid, it has an impact on the stability of the grid. To keep the power system stable, there is an urgent need for a grid simulator that can simulate various behaviors of the grid and test the reliability of the wind turbine before grid integration. Inverters, especially multilevel inverters, as the core part of the grid simulator, have been widely studied by scholars in recent years. However, compared to conventional inverters, multilevel inverters are characterized by high code development effort, great difficulty, and a long development period. In this paper, we adopt an automatic DSP code generation method with MATLAB hardware support package and give a complete system design method and development flow based on MATLAB and TMSF28335 automatic code generation. Finally, we take the closed-loop three-level MMC inverter as an example, propose an equalization algorithm suitable for automatic code generation for the capacitor-voltage balancing part, and verify the feasibility of the DSP automatic code generation in a multilevel inverter development. The feasibility of DSP automatic code generation in the development of a multilevel inverter is verified. The experimental results show that the proposed equalization algorithm with variable reference coefficient and DSP automatic code generation method can be used in the development of a multilevel inverter, which can improve development efficiency and reduce development costs.

: The goal of the project has been to create new tools for control system design and to establish 'pathfinders' for implementing new design principles in operational control systems. Four topics were addressed in the subject project: Neural Networks for System Modeling and Nonlinear Control; Stochastic Robustness of Control Systems; Computer-Aided Control System Design; Optimal Rule-Based Guidance for Autonomous Vehicles. The principal result of the first task is the development of a new method for training neural networks using extended Kalman filtering to match not only multivariate functions but the gradients of their surfaces. The principal result of the second task is the development of a powerful new method for characterizing the robustness of control systems and for designing controllers with satisfactory stability and performance robustness. The principal result of the third task is the identification of a new computational structure for multidisciplinary control system design. The principal result of the fourth task is a new approach for designing real-time rule-based controllers that can operate in uncertain environments, with particular application to the guidance of vehicles on a roadway with traffic.... Neural networks, Tobust control, Computer-aided control system design, Autonomous vehicles, Intelligent control.

The increasing reliance on automatic code generation integrated with Generative AI technology has raised new challenges for cybersecurity defense against code injection, insecure code templates, and adversarial manipulation of an AI model. These risks make developing advanced frameworks imperative to ensure secure, reliable, and privacy-preserving code generation processes. The paper presents a novel Hybrid Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) Framework to alleviate the cybersecurity risks associated with the automatic code generation using Generative AI. The proposed framework integrates the predictive capability of ANN and structured analysis of ISM for the identification, evaluation, and treatment of common vulnerabilities and risks in automatic code generation. We first conduct a multivocal literature review (MLR) to identify cybersecurity risks and generative AI practices for addressing these risks in automatic code generation. Then we conduct a questionnaire survey to identify and validate the identified risks and practices. An expert panel review was then assigned for the process of ANN-ISM. The ANN model can predict potential security risks by learning from historical data and code generation patterns. ISM is used to (1) structure and visualize (2) relations between identified risks and mitigation approaches and (3) offer a combined, multi-layered risk management methodology. We then perform an in-depth examination of the framework with a case study of an AI-based code generation company. We further determine its practicality and usefulness in real-world settings. The case study results show that the framework efficiently handles the primary cybersecurity challenges, such as injection attacks, code quality, backdoors, and lack of input validation. The analysis characterizes the maturity of several mitigation practices and areas for improvement for security integration with automatic code generation functionality. Advanced risk mitigation is enabled in the framework across multiple process areas, where techniques such as static code analysis, automated penetration testing, and adversarial training hold much promise. The Hybrid ANN-ISM Mechanism is a stable and flexible solution for cybersecurity risk reduction in automatic code generation environments. The coupling of ANN and ISM, in terms of predictive analysis and structured risk management, respectively, contributes effectively towards the security of AI-based code generation tools. More research is required to improve the scalability, privacy preserving, and dynamic integration of the framework with cybersecurity threat intelligence.

Automatic code generation is a standard method in software engineering since it improves the code consistency and reduces the overall development time. In this context, this paper presents a design flow for automatic VHDL code generation of mppSoC (massively parallel processing System-on-Chip) configuration. Indeed, depending on the application requirements, a framework of Netbeans Platform Software Tool named MppSoCGEN was developed in order to accelerate the design process of complex mppSoC. Starting from an architecture parameters design, VHDL code will be automatically generated using parsing method. Configuration rules are proposed to have a correct and valid VHDL syntax configuration. Finally, an automatic generation of Processor Elements and network topologies models of mppSoC architecture will be done for Stratix II device family. Our framework improves its flexibility on Netbeans 5.5 version and centrino duo Core 2GHz with 22 Kbytes and 3 seconds average runtime. Experimental results for reduction algorithm validate our MppSoCGEN design flow and demonstrate the efficiency of generated architectures.

Embedded real-time systems employ a variety of operating system platforms. Consequently, for automatic code generation, considerable redevelopment is needed when the platform changes. This results in major challenges with respect to the automatic code generation process of the architecture analysis and design language (AADL). In this paper, we propose a method of template-based automatic code generation to address this issue. Templates are used as carriers of automatic code generation rules from AADL to the object platform. These templates can be easily modified for different platforms. Automatic code generation for different platforms can be accomplished by formulating the corresponding generation rules and transformation templates. We design a set of code generation templates from AADL to the object platform and develop an automatic code generation tool. Finally, we take a typical Data Processing Unit (DPU) system as a case study to test the tool. It is demonstrated that the auto-generated codes can be compiled and executed successfully on the object platform.

With cost efficiency a technological imperative today, the future impact of control technology does not depend on new algorithms and theories alone. Such developments need to be employed rapidly, reducing the time involved in deploying controllers for new applications. Furthermore, the insertion of advanced control on a large scale cannot require significant numbers of highly skilled (e.g., Ph.D.-degreed) staff. Thus control technology must be packaged in a form that allows small teams of control engineers to efficiently exploit new research developments and to minimize the cycle time from specification to product. It is a sign of the maturity of control that this packaging is now being accomplished through the development of computer-aided control system design (CACSD) tools. In industries where customized control applications are a frequent demand, CACSD tools that automate several of the steps involved in the practice of control design are now regularly used. At the same time, research continues toward the goal of end-to-end (specification to deployment-ready software) control design automation. No practicing control engineer today can afford to be ignorant of CACSD; it must be considered as much a part of one's professional education as, say, the first course in nonlinear control. This chapter provides an introduction to CACSD, with specific emphasis on control design automation. System modeling, performance specifications by way of mathematical criteria, and iterative algorithms for realizing an ultimately satisfactory controller are among the topics covered. In other chapters in this volume, the state of the art and current research trends in CACSD are discussed in depth from the perspective of two control application domains???-???automotive powertrain control (Chapter 12) and flight control (Chapter 13). The latter application is also used to illustrate the general observations in this chapter.

A structured methodology for hybrid robot controllers design is presented. The key elements of the proposed technique are: the object-oriented approach, compliance with international standards, hybrid models and automatic code generation. In particular, a life cycle model for the control system development is considered, functional and implementation reference models are introduced, and a computer aided control system design environment is described. Such tools support the robot controller design, by means of structured modelling, simulation and run-time control generation. Furthermore, the development and implementation of robot mission for an industrial manipulator is illustrated as an application example of the proposed methodology, showing how the different design phases are dealt with.

This paper seeks to begin a discussion with regard to developing computer aided control system design (CACSD) tools to promote undergraduate controls laboratory development. The advocated CACSD design tools are based on the popular, commercially available MATLAB environment, the Simulink toolbox, and the Real-Time Workshop toolbox. This paper describes how these tools can be utilized to address several issues that are confronted by control systems educators including: standardization, budget constraints, and limited resources. Specifically, by confronting the standardization issue, the following advantages are realized for laboratory development: (1) the required computer hardware will be low cost; (2) commercially available plants from different manufacturers can be supported under the same CACSD environment with no hardware modifications; (3) both the Windows and Linux operating systems can be supported via the MATLAB based Real-Time Windows Target and the Quality Real-Time Systems (QRTS) based Real-Time Linux Target; and (4) the Simulink block diagram approach can be utilized to prototype control strategies, thereby, eliminating the need for low level programming skills. The advantages related to standardization of the CACSD design tools will enable educators to confront the additional budget constraint and limited teaching resources issue by facilitating: (1) the sharing of laboratory resources within each university (i.e., between departments); (2) the development of Internet laboratory experiences for students (i.e., between universities); and (3) the initiation of an Internet-based archive of laboratory tutorials and Simulink files for in-house developed plants and commercially available plants.

"Software development is an important area in software engineering, which is why a wide range of techniques, methods, and approaches has emerged to facilitate software development automation. This paper presents an analysis and evaluation of tools for automated software development and automatic code generation in order to determine whether they meet a set of quality metrics. Diverse quality metrics were considered such as effectiveness, productivity, safety, and satisfaction in order to carry out a qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The tools evaluated are CASE tools, frameworks, and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). The evaluation was conducted to measure not only the tools’ ability to be employed, but also their support for automated software development and automatic source code generation. The aim of this work is to provide a methodology and a brief review of the most important works to identify the main features of these works and present a comparative evaluation in qualitative and quantitative terms of quality metrics. This would provide software developers with the information they need to decide the tools that can be useful for them."

A realization method is suggested for real-time distributed software-in-the loop (DSIL) simulation for distributed control systems. The realization is composed of several personal computers for sub-plants and their controllers, an Ethernet network connecting them, and a general-purpose computer-aided control system design (CACSD) tool for the easy design of controllers. Requirements on real-time DSIL simulation are investigated in terms of network-related control issues and CACSD tool issues. CEMTool, a CACSD tool which is suitable for real-time DSIL simulation, is proposed for easy programming of control algorithm and plant dynamics and for their easy connection. To reduce a sampling interval and guarantee real time, a network scheduling algorithm is suggested for red-time DSIL simulation. It is demonstrated via an experiment of turbine-generator system that this real-time DSIL simulation is very useful for distributed control system design.

GAMMA-1PC is a computer-aided control system design (CACSD) tools for controllers algorithms synthesis of multivariable plants. It intends for engineers/developers of real control system. It consists of an USER-ENV environment for a user and tools for modernization and increase of directive quantity by the researcher. In the framework of CACSD GAMMA-1PC researcher's environment was developed. It does not require the knowledge of special researcher's languages. It provides a block-diagram input of the new directive and automatically translates it into the software for user interface and calculation part of the directive. The researcher's environment includes a modules library (a set of ready modules for directive creation), an editor for building a block-diagram of directive with these modules and a translator of block-diagram into the program in researcher's languages.

A review of research on the applications of symbolic computing in the manipulation of control system models and equations is presented. The review is focused on two areas: the simplification of signal-flow-graph and block-diagram models and the manipulation of state variable models and equations. A number of applications based on software, including MACSYMA, LISP and PROLOG, are examined and compared to some of the more conventional approaches used in computer-aided control system design (CACSD) software. The author's work, which is aimed at the development of a graphic-symbolic preprocessor of control system models that can be integrated with existing CACSD software packages, is described. The benefits of coupling symbolic and numerical processing in the context of CACSD are discussed and some research topics that may develop as a result of such coupling are suggested. >

The paper seeks to begin a discussion with regard to developing standardized computer aided control system design (CACSD) tools that are typically utilized in an undergraduate controls laboratory. The advocated CACSD design tools are based on the popular, commercially available MATLAB environment, the Simulink toolbox, and the Real-Time Workshop toolbox. The primary advantages of the proposed approach are as follows: 1) the required computer hardware is low cost, 2) commercially available plants from different manufacturers can be supported under the same CACSD environment with no hardware modifications, 3) both the Windows and Linux operating systems can be supported via the MATLAB based Real-Time Windows Target and the Quality Real Time Systems (QRTS) based Real-Time Linux Target, and 4) the Simulink block diagram approach can be utilized to prototype control strategies; thereby, eliminating the need for low level programming skills. It is believed that the above advantages related to standardization of the CACSD design tools will facilitate: 1) the sharing of laboratory resources within each university (i.e., between departments) and 2) the development of Internet laboratory experiences for students (i.e., between universities).