Virtualization Based Development

Abstract

Virtualization involves replacing all elements of an embedded development environment, including paper specifications, target hardware, test instruments, and plant and equipment, with software representations, for an all-in-software path to creating working executable versions of an embedded system or of any of its components or sub-systems. A virtualization based development process leverages virtualization in all phases of development. It enables acceleration by allowing development tasks to start earlier and by proceeding at a higher pace and on a wider front, for example through automation of development and test, optimization of design, increased test scope and coverage, and calibration procedures that are not feasible with real hardware implementations. This paper outlines the concepts and some of the applications of virtualization based development, defines the technology, tool and process requirements, and introduces VLAB™ as a tool and operating environment for virtualization based development of embedded software and systems. In order to make these concepts as fully covered and easily understood as possible, we will focus and contain the scope of the paper to their application to the development of automotive controller modules, or ECUs, for modern engine systems control.

VLAB Works™ is a company of ASTC, and can be contacted at http://www.vlabworks.com.