The increasing complexity of software in automotive systems has resulted in the rise of firmware-related vehicle recalls due to undetected bugs and software faults. AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture) represents a significant effort to incorporate automotive software testing and verification at the design stage; however, current automotive systems lack a systematic approach and infrastructure to support post-market runtime diagnostics for control software. Once a vehicle leaves the dealership lot, its performance and operation safety are a “black box” to the manufacturers and the original equipment providers. Amongst the standard diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) for software none targets the ECU software even though systems such as stability, cruise, and traction control are critical for safety.

The wait-and-see approach to recalls has a significant cost in both time and money and may have a negative impact on the vehicle manufacturer’s reputation. Consequently, there is an urgent need for systematic post-market in-vehicle diagnostics for control system software so that issues can be detected early.

The aim of 3Ccar is to achieve major improvements in Comfort, Control and Costs in electrified Cars by using new semiconductors and system integration technologies for getting more electrified vehicles on the roads.

3Ccar proposes in-vehicle systems that could monitor sensor values, perform runtime evaluation of the states of the system controls and could allow remote reprogramming. 3Ccar is the first European project in our knowledge addressing the development of common-standard HW-SW platforms that could allow the remote monitoring of the critical parameters and the update of the software. This would have a considerable impact on the design of new architectures and on security. In view of more automated functionalities, from car parking to full autonomous driving, the remote update of powertrain and steering software related functions would become an ever-increasing problem opportunity addressed for the first time by 3Ccar.

System partitioning is more and more crucial to assure higher robustness, simplicity, higher fail-safe redundancy, cost reduction and simplified maintenance independency from suppliers. Rather than stressing system integration, EVs demand smart partitioning of the macro functionalities. For example, the conventional approach adopted by most OEMs relying on a multifunctional centralized body computer will be challenged by 3Ccar  approaching the overall system design with a high level of partitioning allowing OEMs to become more independent from suppliers, reducing complexity and related costs, simplifying maintenance, monitoring and update the functionalities.

The collaboration proposed in 3Ccar is the natural continuation of the same virtuous process started with the project ENIAC E3CAR later on complemented by projects launched in Artemis and within the EU Green Car Initiative.