On the 23rd of last month, automotive software experts from Hyundai Motor Group’s major partner companies came together to attend Hyundai AutoEver’s event, “AUTOSAR Day With Mobilgene 2024.”
 
Following last year’s “AUTOSAR Day With Mobilgene 2023” held in November, this year’s event introduced Mobilgene Classic 2.0 and discussed functional safety applications. Hyundai AutoEver’s Automotive Electronics Software Center showcased the enhancements made to Mobilgene Classic 2.0 to comply with upgraded functional safety standard and provided solutions to address potential production issues.



If you’re interested in the automotive industry, particularly in automotive software, you may have heard of AUTOSAR and Mobilgene. AUTOSAR stands for AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture—a standardized platform that defines the architecture of automotive software, essentially an international standard for building automotive software.
 
Mobilgene is Hyundai AutoEver’s automotive software platform based on AUTOSAR. The name Mobilgene comes from combinations of two words which are ‘mobility’ and ‘gene’. To compare to smartphones, AUTOSAR is like Android and Mobilgene is like OS created by smartphone manufacturers.


What Functional Safety Standards Does Mobilgene Classic 2.0 Meet?



In 2021, Mobilgene Classic received the highest degree, ASIL-D, from the world’s leading certification body, DNV, in compliance with an international functional safety automotive standard, ISO 26262. DNV highlighted Hyundai AutoEver’s ability to meet the stringent requirements for technological development for functional safety and specific regulatory standards, stating “Hyundai AutoEver has fulfilled the rigorous requirements to receive the highest degree, which is ASIL-D.” Following such impressive achievements, Mobilgene Classic 2.0 has also successfully met both AUTOSAR standards
and ISO 26262 functional safety standard.
 
Let’s learn more about ISO 26262.
 
The complexity of automobiles has dramatically increased. As we enter the era of electric vehicles, mechanical complexity has decreased while software-controlled areas have expanded, emphasizing the need to prevent accidents caused by software errors.
 
Under these circumstances ISO 26262, international functional safety automotive standard, was established. 27 manufacturers and parts suppliers across 10 countries came together to establish this standard. It consists of 12 parts covering safety requirements for hardware, software, and processes from design, implementation, integration to production.
 
Adhering to this standard not only enhances automotive software safety but also improves efficiency of processes. Furthermore, in the event of product liability litigation, automobiles and parts manufactured to ISO 26262 safety standards have stronger legal defenses. If evidence of the application of state-of-the-art safety technology application is presented, liability may be waived or reduced even if a lawsuit occurs.
 

How Does Functional Safety Apply to Mobilgene Classic?

Let’s look at how functional safety is applied to Mobilgene Classic, based on the presentation from ‘AUTOSAR Day with Mobilgene 2024’. Yonghyun Han from Classic AUTOSAR Team 2 will walk you through each question in detail for your understanding.



Q1. How does functional safety work in real-life driving situations?
Functional safety refers to the practices and evaluations aimed at achieving a state where there are no unreasonable risks due to malfunctions in electrical/electronic systems. Achieving functional safety in an electrical/electronic system means to manage the safety of hardware and software against failures, operational errors, and environmental changes, ensuring that malfunctions of a given function do not pose unreasonable risks. To narrow it down to automotive controller systems, the goal of functional safety is ‘to eliminate or reduce risks that may arise from the controller malfunctioning under specific conditions’.
 
For example, when driving in the dark without street lights, if the headlight controller fails to work, it could lead to a serious accident. By analyzing and correcting the causes of such failures, such as adding additional light sources, these risks can be mitigated. For example, to prepare for a situation where one light source fails, an additional light source can be installed, allowing for the use of two light sources.



Q2. Why is functional safety-focused software development so important?
Developing ‘controllers’ that comply with functional safety requirements means that the software platform involved is also required to meet the same level of functional safety. Semiconductors, such as MCUs (Micro Control Units), must also meet the same level of functional safety. When a software platform that does not comply with functional safety is used, the customer faces the inconvenience of having to ensure that the entire controller, including the platform, complies with ISO 26262. However, using Mobilgene Classic 2.0 as the software platform address such inconvenience by reducing the overall process.
 
Q3. I notice the term ‘SEooC’ in ISO 26262. What is SEooC, and why is it important in functional safety?
Once the risks for each controller are analyzed, a safety goal is set for each controller to eliminate or reduce those risks. To meet the safety goal, additional actions must be taken for each controller. Safety goals are defined for controllers, but not for software platforms like Mobilgene Classic 2.0 or semiconductors like MCUs. SEooC (Safety Elements out of Context) was introduced as a method to achieve functional safety with technological development for components like software platforms or MCUs, which lack specific safety goals. Just as a reminder, general controllers do have specific safety goals. As there are areas where specific safety goals are lacking, Hyundai AutoEver is carrying out diverse activities.



Q4. What is a “Safety Case”?
A Safety Case is a set of documented evidence demonstrating that a system meets functional safety requirements. Mobilgene Classic 2.0 provides safety assessment reports, compliance certificates, and safety manuals. However, these documents are not disclosed externally as they are considered as safety cases.
 
 
Mobilgene C-Studio, An Optimal Tool for Automotive Software Developers



Developers using the Mobilgene Classic require tools for software development. Hyundai AutoEver created Mobilgene C-Studio to help developing process more convenient. Yoonho Kim from Classic AUTOSAR Team 2, who is involved in developing Mobilgene C-Studio, will explain more in detail.
 
Q1. What is Mobilgene C-Studio?
Mobilgene C-Studio is a software tool that assists users of the Mobilgene Classic platform with AUTOSAR-based software design and development. It allows users to easily edit and manage numerous ARXML (AUTOSAR XML) files through a GUI. Additionally, Mobilgene C-Studio automatically configures the complex and difficult Mobilgene Classic platform settings.



Q2. What are the main features of Mobilgene C-Studio?
Mobilgene C-Studio has five main features which are ARXML Editing, DB Importer, SWC Implement & Connect, Harmonize, and Build.

1. ARXML Editing

This feature allows editing ARXML format files in a GUI environment. ARXML is designed according to the AUTOSAR standard specifications, taking into account the inheritance/referencing relationships of classes, so editing it through simple text editing is quite difficult. Therefore, Mobilgene C-Studio provides a feature that allows GUI-based editing according to the hierarchical structure of ARXML.
 

2. DB Importer

DB refers to a separate database file that defines automotive communication, not the commonly used SQL-based database. The DB Importer feature allows the user to input a custom communication database file and map the settings for each module accordingly.

3. SWC Implement & Connect

This feature provides a GUI environment for designing and implementing the functions and interfaces of Software Components (SWC) defined by the customer.

4. Harmonize (Automation)

Mobilgene Classic includes a variety of modules, each with complex and diverse settings. It is difficult for the user to manually configure everything. However, Mobilgene C-Studio offers a ‘Harmonize’ feature that automatically configures related items based on the database or user settings.

5. Build

The ‘Build’ process refers to generating code from the Mobilgene Classic module settings (ARXML) edited through Mobilgene C-Studio, then compiling that code to produce an executable file.
 
 
Q3. What are the differences between Mobilgene C-Studio 1.0 and 2.0?
Mobilgene C-Studio 1.0 and 2.0 differ depending on the version of the AUTOSAR specification they support. Version 1.0 is for the Mobilgene Classic 1.0 platform, which supports AUTOSAR Spec. 4.0.3, while version 2.0 is for the Mobilgene Classic 2.0 platform, which supports AUTOSAR Spec. 4.4.0. Therefore, you should check the AUTOSAR version and platform version you are using and select the appropriate version of Mobilgene C-Studio.



Q4. What are the benefits of using Mobilgene C-Studio?
When customers choose Mobilgene C-Studio, they can expect the following benefits.
 
First, it simplifies the complex configuration process through an intuitive user interface. This allows users to easily configure and manage modules that comply with the AUTOSAR standard.
 
Second, productivity is improved. Repetitive tasks are automated, code quality is enhanced, and the overall development cycle is shortened. Additionally, user errors are reduced, improving the reliability and stability of the code. Mobilgene C-Studio automatically generates high-quality AUTOSAR-compliant code, saving developers time on code writing and allowing them to focus on logic implementation that is more critical.
 
Third, an integrated deployment and validation environment is provided. The validation, generator, and build systems for each module are integrated, enabling users to obtain docker images with just a single click. It also helps identify the causes of errors, allowing developers to quickly address issues and verify if it is functioning properly.
 
Mobilgene Classic presents a new standard for automotive software and will become a key technology in the era of electric vehicles and autonomous driving. Through Mobilgene C-Studio, developers can develop software more efficiently and intuitively, which will shorten the entire development cycle and improve quality. Hyundai AutoEver will offer safer and smarter mobility solutions through Mobilgene Classic 2.0, leading the future of the automotive software industry. ‘AUTOSAR DAY with Mobilgene 2024’ will also be held in the second half of the year. We ask for your continued support and encouragement.