Técnicas que partem de modelos de alto nível de abstração são requeridas para lidar com a complexidade encontrada nas novas gerações de sistemas embarcados, sendo cruciais para o sucesso do projeto. Uma grande redução do esforço pode ser obtida com o uso de modelos quando código em uma linguagem de programação pode ser gerado automaticamente a partir desses. Porém, ferramentas disponíveis para modelagem e geração de código normalmente são dependentes de domínio e o software embarcado normalmente possui comportamento heterogêneo, requerendo suporte a múltiplos modelos de computação. Nesta tese, estratégias para desenvolvimento de software embarcado baseado em modelos de alto nível usando UML e Simulink são analisadas. A partir desta análise, observaram-se as principais limitações das abordagens para geração de código baseadas em UML e Simulink. Esta tese, então, propõe estratégias para melhorar a automação provida por estas ferramentas, como por exemplo, propondo uma abordagem para geração de código multithread a partir de modelos Simulink. A comparação feita entre UML e Simulink mostra que, embora UML seja a linguagem mais usada no domínio de engenharia de software, UML é baseada em eventos e não é adequada para modelar sistemas dataflow. Por outro lado, Simulink é largamente usado por engenheiros de hardware e de controle, além de suportar dataflow e geração de código. Porém, Simulink provê abstrações de mais baixo nível, quando comparado a UML. Conclui-se que tanto UML como Simulink possuem prós e contras, o que motiva a integração de ambas linguagens em um único fluxo de projeto. Neste contexto, esta tese propõe também uma abordagem integradora para desenvolvimento de software embarcado que inicia com uma especificação de alto nível descrita usando diagramas UML, a partir da qual modelos dataflow e control-flow podem ser gerados. Desta maneira, o modelo UML pode ser usado como front-end para diferentes abordagens de geração de código, incluindo UML e a proposta geração de código multithread a partir de modelos Simulink. / The use of techniques starting from higher abstraction levels is required to cope with the complexity that is found in the new generations of embedded systems, being crucial to the design success. A large reduction of design effort when using models in the development can be achieved when there is a possibility to automatically generate code from them. Using these techniques, the designer specifies the system model using some abstraction and code in a programming language is generated from that. However, available tools for modeling and code generation are domain-specific and embedded software usually shows heterogeneous behavior, which pushes the need for supporting software automation under different models of computation. In this thesis, strategies for embedded software development based on high-level models using UML and Simulink were analyzed. We observed that the embedded software generation approaches based on UML and Simulink have limitations, and hence this thesis proposes strategies to improve the automation provided on those approaches, for example, proposing a Simulink-based multithread code generation. UML is a well used language in the software engineering domain, and we consider that it has several advantages. However, UML is event-based and not suitable to model dataflow systems. On the other side, Simulink is widely used by control and hardware engineers and supports dataflow, and time-continuous models. Moreover, tools are available to generate code from a Simulink model. However, Simulink models represent lower abstraction level compared to UML ones. This comparison shows that UML and Simulink have pros and cons, which motivates the integration of both languages in a single design process. As the main contribution, we propose in this thesis an integrated approach to embedded software design, which starts from a high-level specification using UML diagrams. Both dataflow and control-flow models can be generated from that. In this way, an UML model can be used as front-end for different code generation approaches, including UML-based one and the proposed Simulink-based multithread code generation.

Técnicas que partem de modelos de alto nível de abstração são requeridas para lidar com a complexidade encontrada nas novas gerações de sistemas embarcados, sendo cruciais para o sucesso do projeto. Uma grande redução do esforço pode ser obtida com o uso de modelos quando código em uma linguagem de programação pode ser gerado automaticamente a partir desses. Porém, ferramentas disponíveis para modelagem e geração de código normalmente são dependentes de domínio e o software embarcado normalmente possui comportamento heterogêneo, requerendo suporte a múltiplos modelos de computação. Nesta tese, estratégias para desenvolvimento de software embarcado baseado em modelos de alto nível usando UML e Simulink são analisadas. A partir desta análise, observaram-se as principais limitações das abordagens para geração de código baseadas em UML e Simulink. Esta tese, então, propõe estratégias para melhorar a automação provida por estas ferramentas, como por exemplo, propondo uma abordagem para geração de código multithread a partir de modelos Simulink. A comparação feita entre UML e Simulink mostra que, embora UML seja a linguagem mais usada no domínio de engenharia de software, UML é baseada em eventos e não é adequada para modelar sistemas dataflow. Por outro lado, Simulink é largamente usado por engenheiros de hardware e de controle, além de suportar dataflow e geração de código. Porém, Simulink provê abstrações de mais baixo nível, quando comparado a UML. Conclui-se que tanto UML como Simulink possuem prós e contras, o que motiva a integração de ambas linguagens em um único fluxo de projeto. Neste contexto, esta tese propõe também uma abordagem integradora para desenvolvimento de software embarcado que inicia com uma especificação de alto nível descrita usando diagramas UML, a partir da qual modelos dataflow e control-flow podem ser gerados. Desta maneira, o modelo UML pode ser usado como front-end para diferentes abordagens de geração de código, incluindo UML e a proposta geração de código multithread a partir de modelos Simulink. / The use of techniques starting from higher abstraction levels is required to cope with the complexity that is found in the new generations of embedded systems, being crucial to the design success. A large reduction of design effort when using models in the development can be achieved when there is a possibility to automatically generate code from them. Using these techniques, the designer specifies the system model using some abstraction and code in a programming language is generated from that. However, available tools for modeling and code generation are domain-specific and embedded software usually shows heterogeneous behavior, which pushes the need for supporting software automation under different models of computation. In this thesis, strategies for embedded software development based on high-level models using UML and Simulink were analyzed. We observed that the embedded software generation approaches based on UML and Simulink have limitations, and hence this thesis proposes strategies to improve the automation provided on those approaches, for example, proposing a Simulink-based multithread code generation. UML is a well used language in the software engineering domain, and we consider that it has several advantages. However, UML is event-based and not suitable to model dataflow systems. On the other side, Simulink is widely used by control and hardware engineers and supports dataflow, and time-continuous models. Moreover, tools are available to generate code from a Simulink model. However, Simulink models represent lower abstraction level compared to UML ones. This comparison shows that UML and Simulink have pros and cons, which motivates the integration of both languages in a single design process. As the main contribution, we propose in this thesis an integrated approach to embedded software design, which starts from a high-level specification using UML diagrams. Both dataflow and control-flow models can be generated from that. In this way, an UML model can be used as front-end for different code generation approaches, including UML-based one and the proposed Simulink-based multithread code generation.

Context. The share and importance of software within automotive vehicles is growing steadily. Most functionalities in modern vehicles, especially safety related functions like advanced emergency braking, are controlled by software. A complex and common phenomenon in today’s automotive vehicles is the distribution of such software functions across several Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and consequently across several ECU system software modules. As a result, integration testing of these distributed software functions has been found to be a challenge. The automotive industry neither has infinite resources, nor has 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 tester’s experience, can lead to test gaps and test redundancies. Hence, there is a pressing need within the automotive industry for a feasible and effective verification strategy for testing distributed software functions. Objectives. Firstly, to identify the current approach used to test the distributed automotive embedded software functions in literature and in a case company. Secondly, propose and validate a feasible and effective verification strategy for testing the distributed software functions that would help improve test coverage while reducing test redundan- cies and test gaps. Methods. To accomplish the objectives, a case study was conducted at Scania CV AB, Södertälje, Sweden. One of the data collection methods was through conducting interviews of different employees involved in the software testing activities. Based on the research objectives, an interview questionnaire with open-ended and close-ended questions has been used. Apart from interviews, data from relevant ar- tifacts in databases and archived documents has been used to achieve data triangulation. Moreover, to further strengthen the validity of the results obtained, adequate literature support has been presented throughout. Towards the end, a verification strategy has been proposed and validated using existing historical data at Scania. Conclusions. The proposed verification strategy to test distributed automotive embedded software functions has given promising results by providing means to identify test gaps and test redundancies. It helps establish an effective and feasible approach to capture function test coverage information that helps enhance the effectiveness of integration testing of the distributed software functions.

This thesis presents the design and evaluation of an operating system kernel specially designed for dataflow software. Dataflow is a style of software architecture that is well suited for control and "signal flow" applications. This architecture involves many small processes and lots of inter-process communication, which impose too much overhead on traditional RTOSes. This thesis describes design and implementation of the Dataflow Architecture Real-time Kernel (DARK). DARK is a reconfigurable, multithreaded and preemptive operating system kernel that introduces a special data-driven scheduling strategy for dataflow applications. It uses the underlying hardware for high-speed context switching between the kernel and applications, which is five times faster than the ordinary context switch. The features of the kernel can be configured according to performance requirements without change to the applications. Along with the performance evaluation of DARK, the performance comparison results of DARK with two commercial RTOSes: MicroC/OS-II and Analog Devices VDK++ are also provided. / Master of Science

本研究以研究者本人實際創業的P軟體公司之實際戰略轉型案例，從台灣軟體產業、全球嵌入式軟體產業、台灣電資通產業的創新轉型相關政策與產業動態的初級和次級資料，以質化分析，探討下列三面向之問題（價值、資源、體系）：P公司想要轉型進入『嵌入式軟體業』未來營運範疇為何？P公司轉型所能憑藉的資源與能力為何？P公司如何在外界的環境中辨認出正確且有力的策略夥伴？應該如何找到他們？結合的方式為何？ 本研究之方法適用夏恩博士的理論『科技創業聖經』，原名為『尋找肥沃田地---為新事業辨識絕佳的機會』（Finding Fertile Ground – Identifying Extraordinary Opportunities for New Ventures）作者夏恩Scott A. Shane結合北美一流企業管理及創新研究學府諸多重量級學者之理論成果及實戰經驗歸納於其十大議題，並於每一議題敷設十分深刻且具穿透力的自我檢核，對於創業者及如本研究者一般的轉型經營者提供極有啟發及值得深思、明辨後做出策略取捨的好問題。本研究之主軸是圍繞著如何以P公司自身轉型情境來回應十大議題進行。 本研究發現是藉由P公司實務與夏恩理論十項議題的對話發掘出P公司轉型實際作法，在價值面向：選擇正確的產業、找出有價值的機會、辨識並滿足實際市場需求、了解顧客採用行為；在資源面向：利用既有公司的弱點、管理智慧財產權、將報酬導向創新；在體系面向：管理科技演變、選擇正確的組織結構、管理風險和不確定性，以夏恩十項重點問題為理論透鏡，檢視P公司實務體會心得，並整理規納到三面向的框架，從而對P公司戰略轉型起到指導性的作用。結論部份，則將研究與實務雙向交流的過程中，在實務上有其效用之處，及理論上獲印證之回饋點，匯整而闡明之。 / This research adopts researcher him self’s real practice in founding the P software company as the case study of strategic transformation. Since P software company transforms herself from the domestic enterprise project field to Taiwan’s hi-tech industry software solution exporting to the worldwide market, such a big change in a short period（within a year）, the research needs to review the environment factors from Taiwan’s SW industry, global embedded SW industry, Taiwan’s ICT industry(IT/Consumer Electronics/Telecom). With P software’s first hand experience and quality research approach, we intend to explore the following questions from 3 dimensions（value/resource/network）: What would be the future operation scope for P company to transform to be? What are the resources and competences which P company can reply upon during her transformation？How P company to identify the correct and powerful strategic partners to boost up her transformation among the outside indutrial environment？How to find them？What would be the best joint alliance model with them？The research approach applies Scott A. Shane’s theory framework－ Finding Fertile Ground – Identifying Extraordinary Opportunities for New Ventures, and we have key findings after a dialog procedure which P Company’s real practices interact to Shane’s 10 initiatives. The result shows the power and change exercised upon P Company’s transformation out of it.

The aim of this report is to give a description of a diploma work of 20 points that has been performed during the spring 2006 at Ericsson AB in Borås. The report accounts for the problem and procedure during the diploma work. The software used for this project was embedded in a radio link. The RAM in this radio link was divided into several regions where two were used for memory allocation. The current allocation of memory in the radio link was not optimized with regards to performance, security and memory use and the configuration used made it difficult to determine the memory use of the system and the actual memory need. Furthermore, no garbage collection existed; this resulted in fragmentation and reduction in performance arising over time. The objective of the diploma work was to optimize the allocation of memory in the radio link's software and being able to measure the processor load and memory use. The project was managed according to a work method where UML-diagrams were used and the project deliverables were defined according to a process specification from Ericsson AB. The project was time-limited and has been performed in ten weeks by two students. The project was divided up in three iterations, each iteration consisting of a number of tasks. A milestone is set after each at which the intended tasks are validated and done with. An application fulfilling these requirements was developed, using C#.NET and Visual studio 2005, and that presents its results graphically. It is applicable in development, error search and verification of the radio link's software. ANSI-C and x86-assembler were used for development and modification of the software that is being executed in the radio link. Due to secrecy policies at Ericsson AB the report has been censored and the removed sections replaced with […]. / Uppsatsnivå: C

With continuous advancement in silicon technology and high feature demands on consumer electronics, the complexity of embedded software has led the software development effort to dominate System-On-Chip (SoC) design. Virtual Prototype (VP) addresses the problem by enabling early software development before hardware arrival. However, VP still poses challenges: 1) Instruction Set Simulator (ISS) degrades simulation time, 2) Development is restricted to embedded processor specific tools and 3) Applications and drivers are dependent on system software completion. In this work, we propose an abstraction framework which: 1) Removes ISS from VP, achieving native host software execution time, 2) Activates rich suites of desktop development tools in host by compiling embedded software in host binary and 3) Allows system software independent application and driver development. With this framework, we successfully demonstrated up to 2000% speed-up in VP run-time over conventional VP and improved software development productivity significantly.

With continuous advancement in silicon technology and high feature demands on consumer electronics, the complexity of embedded software has led the software development effort to dominate System-On-Chip (SoC) design. Virtual Prototype (VP) addresses the problem by enabling early software development before hardware arrival. However, VP still poses challenges: 1) Instruction Set Simulator (ISS) degrades simulation time, 2) Development is restricted to embedded processor specific tools and 3) Applications and drivers are dependent on system software completion. In this work, we propose an abstraction framework which: 1) Removes ISS from VP, achieving native host software execution time, 2) Activates rich suites of desktop development tools in host by compiling embedded software in host binary and 3) Allows system software independent application and driver development. With this framework, we successfully demonstrated up to 2000% speed-up in VP run-time over conventional VP and improved software development productivity significantly.

In this thesis, the Test Driven Development method (TDD) is studied for use in developing embedded software. The required framework is written for the development environment Rhapsody. Integration of TDD into a classical development cycle, without necessitating a transition to agile methodologies of software development and required unit test framework to apply TDD to an object oriented embedded software development project with a specific development environment and specific project conditions are done in this thesis. A software tool for unit testing is developed specifically for this purpose, both to support the proposed approach and to illustrate its application. The results show that RhapUnit supplies the required testing functionality for developing embedded software in Rhapsody with TDD. Also, development of RhapUnit is a successful example of the application of TDD.

Hybrid renewable energy system was introduced to improve the individual renewable energy power system’s productivity and operation-ability. This circumstance has led towards an extensive technological study and analysis on the hybrid renewable energy system. The extensive technological study is conducted using many different approaches, but in this research the linear programming, artificial intelligence and smart grid approaches are studied. This thesis proposed a complete hardware system development, implementation and construction of real-time DC Hybrid Renewable Energy System for solar-wind-battery energy source integrated with grid network support. The proposed real-time DC HRES hardware system adopts the hybrid renewable energy system concept which is composed of solar photovoltaic, wind energy system, battery energy storage system and grid network support. The real-time DC HRES hardware system research work is divided into three stages. Stage 1 involves modelling and simulation of the proposed system using MATLAB Simulink/Stateflow software. During this stage, system’s methodological design and development is emphasised. The obtained results are considered as fundamental finding to design, develop, integrate, implement and construct the real-time DC HRES hardware system. Stage II is designing and developing the electronic circuits for the real-time DC HRES hardware system using PROTEUS software. Real time simulation is performed on the electronic circuits to study and analyse the circuit’s behaviour. This stage also involves embedded software application development for the microcontroller PIC16F877A. Thus, continuous dynamic decision-making algorithm is developed and incorporated into microcontroller PIC16F877A. Next, electronic circuits and continuous dynamic decision-making algorithm are integrated with the microcontroller PIC16F877A as a real-time DC HRES hardware system to perform real time simulation. The real-time DC HRES hardware system simulation results are studied, analysed and compared with the results obtained in Stage 1. Any indifference between the obtained results in Stage 1 and Stage 2 are analysed and necessary changes are made. Stage 3 involves integrating, implementation and construction of real-time DC HRES. The continuous dynamic decision-making algorithm is also incorporated into the real microcontroller PCI16F877A development board. Real-time DC HRES’s experimental results have successfully demonstrated the system’s ability to perform supervision, coordination, management and control of all the available energy sources with lease dependency on the grid network. The obtained results demonstrated the energy management and optimisation of the available energy sources as primary power source deliver.