New Collaborative Research Center Suggests Update Of Cars Like A Smartphone

Modern cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as cars or production plants, are full of electronic and mechanical components that are controlled by software. It is like a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces are constantly changing. However, since the overall system only works if all components interact perfectly, the design of such systems poses the challenge of keeping the respective system architectures consistent at all times. A Collaborative Research Center (SFB) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will develop new methods for this. Around 11 million euros will flow to KIT for four years.

Vehicles, trains, airplanes, smart homes or even production facilities – CPS combine electronic and mechanical elements with software. The development of these systems is highly complex, as there are many dependencies between the individual components. “If something changes in the wiring harness of a car, for example, the diameter of the cable duct must also change,” says Professor Ralf Reussner, spokesman for the CRC at KIT. For this, electrical engineers and mechanical engineers would have to come to an agreement. There is also a need for coordination when making changes to the software. Today this happens in the industry during regular meetings between the disciplines. These processes are not only cumbersome, but also cumbersome and error-prone, explains Reussner. “It would be ideal

New methods for faster development in industry

In the SFB, software methods for structuring and organizing work in the development of CPS are now to be researched. The new design methods for CPS should ensure faster development cycles in the industry. For this purpose, around 20 new positions for top-level researchers will be created at KIT.

CRCs are long-term research institutions of the universities in which researchers work together in an interdisciplinary research program. They are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The funding period is four to twelve years. The SFB “Consistency in the view-based development of cyber-physical systems” is the sixth at KIT. The TU Munich, TU Dresden and University of Mannheim are also involved.

Graduate School extended

In addition, the DFG recently decided to extend the research training group “Customized Multiscale Methods for Computer Simulations of Nanoscale Materials” at KIT. In graduate schools, doctoral students can do their doctorate at a particularly high level in a structured research and qualification program.