Layered Architecture of the AUTOSAR:
In AUTOSAR, the ECU software is abstracted and subdivided into basic software, runtime environment and application layer.
Runtime Environment:
The Run-Time Environment (RTE) is at the heart of the AUTOSAR ECU architecture. It abstracts the application layer from the basic software.
It controls the runtime behavior of the application layer and implements the data exchange. In the application layer, the application functionality of the ECU is implemented in the form of “individual software components”.
It’s enable the communication between AUTOSAR software-components together in the application layer from the behave of scheduling or sharing, and the communication between AUTOSAR software-components with the basic software layer.
This layer model simplifies porting of software to different hardware. Previously, such porting required extensive adaptations at various points all the way up to the application layer in the case of poorly designed software architectures.
With AUTOSAR, all that needs to be done is to replace the basic software if you need to change the microcontroller with no changes in the application software component. This significantly reduces implementation and testing effort and associated risk.
It’s optional to use the RTE in the project, if you suppose that you need to call the APIs of the basic software directly, but you will miss the functionalities and the advantages of the existence of the RTE layer.
Basic Software (BSW):
The basic software is divided into the following layers:
- Services
i.e. diagnostic, watchdog, ECU state management, Crypto, NVRAM management, and Network management services. - ECU abstraction
It offers an API for access to peripherals and devices regardless of their location and their connection to the µC. - Microcontroller abstraction
It’s the lowest software layer of the Basic Software, and it’s responsible for abstract the hardware from the upper basic software layer. - Complex Drivers Layer
It provides the possibility to integrate special device drivers and to comply the microcontroller and the AUTOSAR standard, because it’s included in the AUTOSAR i.e. UART communication protocol.
Sincerely,
Amr Ashraf
Embedded Software Engineer
Embeddive 