Communication Mechanisms on the Virtual Functional Bus of AUTOSAR

With the rapid growth of automotive electronics, the application requirements increase greatly, the hardware abounds continuously, as a result, software system becomes more and more complex. For this reason, some major OEMs found Automotive Open System Architecture (AUTOSAR), now including a large number of automotive, electronics, semiconductor and software companies. AUTOSAR´s objectives are to implement and standardize basic system functions as an industry-wide standard core solution that offers scalability to different vehicle and platform variants. AUTOSAR defines the virtual functional bus (VFB) as a means for a virtual hardware and mapping independent system integration. VFB makes the integration process of automotive software can be done in much earlier design phases. AUTOSAR also specifies two kinds of communication mechanisms to fulfill different aims. This article gives an overview of the AUTOSAR initiatives and its goals. It describes the VFB concepts, highlights the communication mechanisms.