Traceable and Efficient Validation of Mechatronic Products – A Conflict of Objectives?

Abstract

A great challenge in advanced engineering of mechatronic products in automotive applications is an efficient way to solve a conflict of objectives: On the one hand a high degree of flexibility is necessary due to frequent changes of requirements. On the other hand, keeping the traceability is required to guarantee Automotive SPICE (ASPICE) conformity. A particular challenge is the use of a heterogeneous verification tool landscape from various specialized suppliers. Most of the test runs require setups with flexibly scalable measurement devices from additional suppliers.

MAHLE encounters this challenge by deriving project specific test cases out of a global requirements database which are used consistently at each system integration level of a mechatronic product. Simulations for Model-in-the-Loop (MiL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) as well as Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) and dyno testing use the same test procedures out of a superordinate automation database which does not differentiate between the levels of system integration and maturity. This leads to standardized test procedures at all system-specific, model-based verification steps and allows a comparability of the results after standardized post-processing during advanced engineering. In this paper, for the first time a comparison of the results between multiple integration levels with heterogeneous tools is presented on the example of an electric traction drive system. Thus, quick V-model iteration loops with instant findings about the mechatronic product in development are enabled.