CIMdata eBook

Sponsored by Siemens Digital Industries Software

Driving the Change for the Future of

Automotive Development

An Integrated Model-Based Systems Engineering

Approach

Global Leaders in PLM Consulting

www.CIMdata.com
Image courtesy of Siemens
Takeaways
Takeaways A fully integrated approach is required to move and sustain an automaker into a leadership position

Takeaway #1
Introduction Today’s traditional automakers (i.e., OEMs and their suppliers) not only have to outmaneuver each other, but they also must outmaneuver new
market disruptors who are more agile and able to rapidly take advantage of the latest digital engineering and manufacturing technologies and best
The Increasing Complexity in practices.
the Automotive Industry
Takeaway #2
The Problem Transcends the The exponential growth of vehicle-related electronics and software has elevated the importance of integrated software development within the
Product overall context of a sound model-based systems engineering (MBSE) practice. This requires bringing software development out of the backroom to
the forefront of vehicle differentiation, development, and lifecycle support.

MBSE’s Impact
Takeaway #3
Only a fully integrated approach can move and sustain an automaker into a leadership position for tomorrow—one that starts integrated and stays
Complexity Drives the integrated.
Digital Twin
Takeaway #4
Solving Automotive A closed-loop approach across all phases of the vehicle lifecycle—from ideation to design to manufacturing, and through service—is critical. It is
Challenges throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle where the automaker must continually learn, adapt, and adjust to stay ahead of its competition.

Siemens’ MBSE Approach Takeaway #5

Siemens Digital Industries Software’s integrated cross-domain MBSE approach has been designed to keep teams integrated, improving decision-
making across an extended enterprise and throughout the entire lifecycle. This comprehensive solution, Software & Systems Engineering, is based
Conclusion on five pillars that enable an automaker to manage, define, connect, validate, and ensure compliance throughout the end-to-end vehicle lifecycle
and across multiple business domains.

2
Introduction
Takeaways New approaches to engineering are required—supported by new solutions

While today’s automotive industry may look like connected vehicle systems that are aware of their According to Siemens, “…complexity in the
yesterday’s, and decade’s prior, it is significantly surroundings to make safe, quick, and robust automotive industry demands continuous
Introduction different. Change is visible in many facets, decisions. The role of automotive software, both engineering across domains, and to be successful,
including major shifts in global competition and in-vehicle and off-vehicle, is where significant a company must start integrated and stay
production, enhanced and evolving regulatory innovation is taking place. Providing operational integrated.” It is with this in mind, that CIMdata
The Increasing Complexity in requirements, the emergence of rideshare services within an automotive product is provides its view of Siemens’ approach.
the Automotive Industry services, and semi- to fully-autonomous occurring more often, oftentimes, after it is
capabilities. In addition, there are significant manufactured. Siloed product development and
increases in product and manufacturing systems integration as a final step is too risky—at
The Problem Transcends the complexity, durability, reliability, and safety. least for those who want to stay successful. Only
Product Traditional automakers are still innovating. But a more end-to-end and integrated approach is
new, and perhaps more agile, disrupters are going to get the job done. Albert Einstein defined
entering the automotive market from all sides, insanity as “…doing the same thing over and over
MBSE’s Impact often looking to topple the status-quo. To address again and expecting different results.” To stay
this, many have tried to apply yesterday’s process competitive, from new competitors willing and
thinking and enabling technologies to address able, to disrupt the market, to vehicle-related
Complexity Drives the these evolving challenges. Unfortunately, they fall software innovations, a new approach and
Digital Twin far short of reaching the new level of business supporting solutions are required.
support required to be successful. This is forcing
In this eBook we will discuss the need automakers
automotive original equipment manufacturers
and their supplier network have for a modern
Solving Automotive (OEMs) and supply chain participants (i.e.,
systems engineering approach, and show how
Challenges automakers) to reimagine and rethink how they
Siemens, a proven provider for the automotive
design, manufacture, deliver, and support their Image courtesy of Siemens
industry, is enabling a highly integrated MBSE
products.
approach, Software & Systems Engineering (SSE).
Siemens’ MBSE Approach Vehicles now consist of far more systems of This approach has been designed to address
systems as engineers consider IoT-enabled and evolving challenges in new and innovative ways.

Conclusion

3
The Increasing Complexity in the Automotive Industry
Takeaways Comprehending Smart Products Across Lifecycles
Image courtesy of Siemens

In the Automotive industry, the design, manufacture, delivery, and support of driver
assisted, autonomous, and electrified mobility products are at a critical inflection point. CIMdata believes that the work to date in
Introduction Vehicle development has always been challenging. That would be true as compared to
many other products, but this pales in comparison to tomorrow’s anticipated
enterprise digitalization and digital
complexities. Automotive software is enabling broader connectivity (both inside and engineering barely scratches the surface of
The Increasing Complexity in outside the vehicle), improved sensing on and around vehicles, and increased “thinking.”
This “thinking” will expand as computing horsepower for input processing and control what is possible
the Automotive Industry actuation becomes less expensive. Additionally, we at CIMdata recently stated our belief
that this is an untapped capability. To properly address this, it will take an integrated
Many of the key enabling technologies, like
The Problem Transcends the MBSE process and technology revolution focused on SSE. the IoT, Digital Thread/Digital Twin, MBSE
Product Software has become a significant differentiator, and at times, the most prominent and AI/ML are early in their adoption
detail in a new vehicle. Software is used to control the vehicle, connect the vehicle to the
owner and service organization, as well as sense what is happening around the vehicle. lifecycle so there is still a lot of
Many functional driving features that were predominantly mechanical are now
MBSE’s Impact accomplished using electronics and software. And many user-convenience features that experimentation driving learning and
did not even exist a decade ago (e.g., Automated Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)) are now creating engineering best practices
possible thanks to on vehicle electronics and software. Automotive software has
expanded as connectivity technology has become ubiquitous. It is everywhere from a
Complexity Drives the chip in the vehicle to a city’s infrastructure in which the vehicle must be integrated. Pervasive
Digital Twin Making things more challenging, the amount of software within a vehicle’s complex Sensing
systems is constantly increasing. What started with improved mechanical controls and
their reliability, has expanded over the years to also improve areas such as safety and Connected
Solving Automotive durability. by Clouds
Challenges Other automotive factors driving increased technological complexity include the
electrification of propulsion systems. This requires innovation in battery management to
provide competitive travel range, and motion sensors requiring synthesis of images to
Siemens’ MBSE Approach enable an autonomous transportation service. The continued effects of Moore’s Law
(cheaper and cheaper computing power) and vastly improved network speeds, have
provided much greater capacity both for an individual vehicle or a fleet of vehicles. This
trend will no doubt accelerate with the adoption and rollout of 5G wireless
Conclusion communications.

4
The Problem Transcends the Product
Takeaways Technology complexity is running head long into consumer expectation complexity

An additional challenge deals with new connected

transportation systems. These systems go beyond Image courtesy of Siemens
Introduction the boundary of an individual vehicle. Complexity
is caused from connecting vehicles to
infrastructure—starting with service and moving
The Increasing Complexity in quickly toward travel efficiency. A systems
the Automotive Industry engineering view of the boundary diagram of these
different systems shows that the vehicle is now a
sub-system of a connected transportation service.
The Problem Transcends the And the services provided are changing as quickly
Product as the pace of technology advances coming from
Silicon Valley. In essence, technology complexity is
running head long into consumer expectation
MBSE’s Impact complexity. Tackling this requires Systems Design
Thinking, making sure your solution is robust
enough in all its delivered capabilities. This
Complexity Drives the includes those you may not be able to foresee, and
Digital Twin an increased vigilance of the competition. Even
forces outside the industry are changing customer 2005 - Diagnostics To Email 2020+ Emerging Transportation Systems
expectations, for example: music playlists from
Solving Automotive your phone are available in your vehicle; and Alexa
Challenges can pay at the gas station (via telematics in the Vehicles are becoming a subsystems in interconnected transportation systems
car). Leading and managing this complexity
requires MBSE processes and tools like those being
Siemens’ MBSE Approach brought to market by Siemens.

Conclusion

5
MBSE’s Impact
Takeaways MBSE is essential due to the design complexity of today’s vehicles and the associated ecosystem

Systems engineering (SE) has been used by The automotive industry uses MBSE to organize
experts in the aerospace and defense industries new ways of work (e.g., simulation replacing
Introduction for decades, originally developed in the era of and/or augmenting physical testing), taking
space exploration in the 1950s and 1960s. It is a advantage of new technologies in support of
proven practice for one of a kind, mission critical obstacle detection, learned performance, and
The Increasing Complexity in systems development. Over the past decade, the new materials or subsystems. MBSE is becoming
the Automotive Industry movement has been towards replacing a more valuable, even mission critical as the
document-centric SE approach with a process benefits of reuse, model partitioning, and other
based on broad, varied digital models. Doing so linking technologies are realized. MBSE is now
The Problem Transcends the allows them to be used to perform all types of essential due to the design complexity of today’s
Product vehicle performance simulations and be vehicles and the associated ecosystem required
continuously updated, shared, and managed for developing automotive software systems. SSE
across the various organizational domains and starts with a domain-agnostic understanding of
MBSE’s Impact throughout the end-to-end product lifecycle. the system intent for all domains, while the
These functional, logical, and physical models logical and physical implementation tradeoffs,
comprise the systems architecture that describe including automotive software considerations,
Complexity Drives the the system’s intent. Such models can then be are examined. This enables innovative disruptions
Digital Twin linked with system-level physics-based behavioral without compromising the existing domains of
models, as well as subsystem and component mechanical, software, and electrical engineering.
models, including 3D views and assemblies.
It is important to note that MBSE applies well
Solving Automotive Requirements verification and validation can
outside of the vehicle that one might own. When
Challenges begin early in the design process, leveraging
it is a subsystem within a transportation system, a
digital models to ensure the systems design will Image courtesy of Siemens
fleet, or a sensor for contact tracing, the
meet customers’ expectations and “best design
boundary of the system keeps expanding. In fact,
Siemens’ MBSE Approach alternatives” from a cost and manufacturing
different solutions and services will have common
perspective. Alternatives can also be identified
elements or subsystems, the customer’s vehicle
and ranked prior to committing to a detailed
being just one element of a much larger
design and build. This cross-domain integrated
ecosystem.
Conclusion process is commonly referred to as MBSE.

6
Complexity Drives the Digital Twin
Takeaways A comprehensive digital twin is required to continuously evaluate new capabilities throughout the lifecycle

Customer use data has always been collected and enables rationalization, configuration
summarized to make future product development management, and traceability of information
Introduction actionable, and often to deliver critical insights. throughout the virtual enterprise and across the
MBSE can provide a platform to organize and entire product lifecycle.
learn from field experiences. Historically, when a Image courtesy of Siemens
The Increasing Complexity in quality issue occurred, recalls and repairs
the Automotive Industry proceeded as quickly as possible, but often
products were delivered to customers before
corrective action could be applied. Today’s
The Problem Transcends the connected technologies allow faster monitoring
Product and, one would expect, faster problem
resolutions for services in the field. This leads to
much lower warranty costs by simply shortening
MBSE’s Impact the collection and investigation time and effort.
As system complexities evolve, faster response to
customer demands and improvements in quality
Complexity Drives the will occur.
Digital Twin A comprehensive digital twin to continuously
evaluate new capabilities throughout the product
lifecycle is now required. Many instances of the
Solving Automotive comprehensive digital twin will be used for the
Challenges purpose of predicting and optimizing the range of
performance characteristics required to satisfy
consumer wants and safety requirements. These Complexity in vehicle development is greater than ever imagined.
Siemens’ MBSE Approach digital twin instances must all be based on the
most up to date product data as systems progress
from development to manufacturing, and finally
into service. The digital thread is the glue that
Conclusion

7
Solving Automotive Challenges
Takeaways Leveraging MBSE to start integrated and stay integrated

Additionally, industry leaders are now using Change is necessary, that is clear. Change or
“What is needed, are refined and new processes
artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) become irrelevant, or perhaps go out of business.
Introduction to understand, predict, and resolve field issues as That is the concern for many. But what can be
that allow Automakers to move as fast as these
technology disruptors and use their 100+ years of
they happen. ML applied to fleet management, done? What approach should be taken? One
expertise to remain competitive. A way in which
especially for shared vehicles, is becoming a proven approach is to look to and work with the
The Increasing Complexity in they can start integrated and stay integrated. For
common practice for delivery companies. leaders in the market. These leaders, including
the Automotive Industry example, leveraging processes such as design
Another key element is gathering unstructured Siemens, must have the experience solving
verification in real time, product verification
data from multiple sources (i.e., marketing, take- automotive challenges of the past and present,
across all engineering disciplines, electrical system
rates, consumer-insights, service-issues, vehicle- and the vision for how future problems will be
The Problem Transcends the downtimes, regional use patterns, etc.) and solved. Additionally, they must provide a
automation, and vehicle performance validation
Product and feedback into future designs.”—Siemens
making it available to engineers with meaningful comprehensive, flexible, and open solution
Digital Industries Software
business-intelligence for product enhancements framework that addresses the industry’s
thus accelerating and enhancing product designs. complexities. This is where Siemens’ Automotive
MBSE’s Impact As transportation becomes a service as opposed MBSE approach is positioned.
to vehicle ownership, the data collected gets used
increasingly to improve the overall efficiency for
Complexity Drives the systems of systems. The embedded computers
Digital Twin are located onboard and in the cloud that greatly
benefits consumers and service providers. Yes, IT
departments managing cloud installations will be
Solving Automotive part of the future transportation services
Challenges leveraging MBSE. They need a framework that
allows dynamic configurations of services using
proven and new components with known
Siemens’ MBSE Approach performance capabilities. The framework will
help manage the development, testing, and
packaging of future transportation services.

Conclusion
Image courtesy of Siemens

8
Siemens’ MBSE Approach
Takeaways Siemens’ MBSE approach for Software & Systems Engineering is comprised of five pillars

Siemens’ MBSE approach for Software & Systems

Engineering, which enables cross-domain model-
Introduction based dataflows, is comprised of five pillars that
support an integrated environment for the
management, definition, connection, validation,
The Increasing Complexity in and compliance of complex vehicle systems and
the Automotive Industry their end-to-end lifecycles. These five pillars are:
▪ Integrated Program Planning—manages all of
the interconnected digital information that
The Problem Transcends the defines the systems of systems
Product ▪ Product Definition—ensures that the “right
product” has been defined before it goes to
engineering
MBSE’s Impact ▪ Connected Engineering—productive and
efficient engineering for concurrency and
collaboration within and across domains
Complexity Drives the ▪ Product Validation—the virtual verification and
Digital Twin validation of the intended product combining
functional and physical behaviors
▪ Quality Engineering—ensures compliance in an
Solving Automotive ever more regulated world where delivering a
Challenges safe, reliable, and secure vehicle is the goal
Each of these pillars is described below.
Image courtesy of Siemens
Siemens’ MBSE Approach
Software & Systems Engineering: An Integrated MBSE Approach

Conclusion

9
Siemens’ MBSE Approach
Takeaways The pillars that support SSE

Integrated Program Planning complex and integrated systems. The best

simulation engineers then use ML to continuously
Introduction This pillar enables simultaneous development
groom managed data from across hundreds of
across an extended enterprise. For far too long,
different scenarios to make better decisions. This
planning and project managers have used
ensures all stakeholders have a common
The Increasing Complexity in spreadsheets or other personal computer-based
understanding of the “right product” with
project management tools for their projects.
the Automotive Industry Typical output from these is often of little value
realistic models of the system, product, and
process intent before engaging engineering for
to the engineers and is usually out of date until
detailed implementations.
The Problem Transcends the the next project review, which is too often
Product focused on data collection and finding Connected Engineering
configuration mismatches. Connected Engineering is at the center of the
Product Definition complete transportation system of systems,
MBSE’s Impact The enablement of today’s vehicle definition that where an individual vehicle is only one of many
has mechanical, electrical, and software needs to moving parts. Today, engineers must develop
be more integrated than ever. Seeing each parts and services that address today’s
Complexity Drives the discipline’s development progress in the context requirements and also understand the
performance envelope their solution can be used
Digital Twin of the virtual 3D assembly in motion greatly
in for tomorrow’s products. They need to be
improves understanding and thus quality. The
ability to integrate parameter and requirements connected in a network of developers that allow
Solving Automotive management with functional and systems them to explore uses of any design and/or
Challenges modeling in a multi-domain architecture supports process element. Whether this is a mechanical
better decision making. This allows everyone to part, some embedded software, or even the flow
be on the same page to influence downstream of information between the disciplines being
connected with accurate configurations—all of
Siemens’ MBSE Approach development for compliant design of vehicles.
which are crucial.
Physical testing is significantly reduced as
confidence and discipline grow. Designers
execute component analyses and simulation
Conclusion experts become data and robustness engineers of

10
Siemens’ MBSE Approach
Takeaways The pillars that support SSE

Product Validation Quality Engineering

Introduction The Product Validation (also known as Compliance is an ever more regulated field where
Verification & Validation) pillar provides proven delivering a safe, reliable, and secure
0D through 3D multi-physics performance transportation mechanism is the ultimate goal for
The Increasing Complexity in simulation and testing capabilities, traditionally all automakers. Quality Engineering can no longer
used to verify product designs versus physical be a separate silo of experts who arrive after
the Automotive Industry prototypes. These same capabilities can now be there is a problem. Rather, they need to monitor
applied up front to predict overall system and influence designs and services from the
The Problem Transcends the behavior and to optimize system, sub-system, beginning, assuring lessons learned are applied to
Product and component designs versus end user all products. This drives the need for well-
requirements based on key performance integrated Quality Engineering (i.e., safety,
indicators. In-house systems and practices at reliability, and security) tools and databases.
Image courtesy of Siemens
automakers have often managed these
MBSE’s Impact simulation activities and related data in custom IT
solutions and semi-manual processes for years.
But the complexity of today’s cyber-physical
Complexity Drives the systems, such as hybrid and electric powertrains
Digital Twin and autonomously operated vehicles, now
require an elevated level of multi-domain
systems modeling and simulation that spans
Solving Automotive software, mechanical, sensor, and electrical
Challenges engineering domains and even includes the end
user interaction with both the vehicle and its
operating environment. The volume and
Siemens’ MBSE Approach complexity of both simulation and empirical data
requires a platform that can capture, manage,
and share.

Conclusion Integrated MBSE supported across all phases of development and disciplines

11
Conclusion
Takeaways Siemens’ SSE is an MBSE-enabling solution designed to keep teams integrated from start to finish
The challenges facing many of today’s leading automotive companies can no used Siemens’ various solutions for more than 30 years, starting with drawings,
longer be solved with yesterday’s solutions, or by throwing more people at moving to geometric models for both products and their factories, then
Introduction them. Today’s automakers not only have to outmaneuver each other, but they managing simulations to replace physical prototype evaluations.
also must outmaneuver new, more agile, and technologically savvy disruptors.
Product Configurators are being used across their applications to provide
Increased complexity exists on multiple fronts, especially in the areas of
consistent, on demand configuration management. CIMdata recently
The Increasing Complexity in autonomy electrification, and mobility (e.g., the integration of vehicles within a
summarized a specific example—E/E Systems Development solution for wiring
the Automotive Industry managed transportation network). This has driven an exponential growth of
harness configuration and software systems.* Comprehensive configuration
vehicle-related electronics and software, which in turn has pushed software
management is a keystone to an effective and comprehensive MBSE approach
and systems engineering (e.g., MBSE) out of the backroom to the forefront of
The Problem Transcends the for the expanding complexity of transportation systems. That expanding
vehicle differentiation, development, and lifecycle support. To strive and
complexity is in the interaction of all the systems of systems throughout
Product thrive, a fully integrated enterprise solution approach must be taken that can
today’s rapidly evolving transportation networks, especially those that have
move and sustain an automaker into a leadership position for tomorrow—one
not yet been predicted. Ultimately, Siemens is enabling a holistic Digital Thread
that starts integrated and stays integrated. It is critical that such a solution
that is meant to future proof an automaker’s transportation products and
MBSE’s Impact provide a closed-loop view throughout all phases of the vehicle lifecycle—from
services.
design to manufacturing, and finally to service. It is throughout the entire
vehicle lifecycle where the automaker must learn, adapt, and adjust continually * See: Capital Expansion Addressing E/E Systems Complexity Commentary
Complexity Drives the to stay ahead of its competition. Delivering vehicles that stay fresh even after
sale is a growing necessity.
Digital Twin
Siemens’ SSE is an MBSE-enabling solution designed to keep teams integrated
from start to finish, while improving decision-making across an extended
Solving Automotive enterprise and throughout the entire lifecycle. This comprehensive solution is
Challenges based on five pillars that enable an automaker to manage, define, connect,
validate, and ensure compliance throughout the end-to-end vehicle lifecycle
and across multiple business domains. Leading automotive companies have
Siemens’ MBSE Approach

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